World War Two was a time of horror and death as millions of young men and women walked into the battlefields Europe to face uncertain life and death. Across the ocean, Canadians began to prepare for the war in Europe. Throughout this war a new and prosperous Canada emerged. With its powerful military, large industries, and a vast landscape with untouched resources, Canada has finally become one of the leaders in the world. World War Two marks the beginning of Canada’s journey towards world recognition and a multicultural society. In this essay I will prove that World War Two was a success for Canada both economically, politically, and socially.

With the start of World War Two, the Great Depression finally ended and “Canada's factories hummed as war material rolled off the assembly lines.”(Canada and the World, p. 4) During World War Two, most of Canada was untouched by the bombs and shells that ravaged Europe. Its factories and homes were unscathed and its people determined. Canada’s industrial capacity increased greatly since the beginning of the war. Steel making industries were producing 50% more steel than in 1945 and by the end of the war Canada was producing many items that have been previously bought from other countries. With the wartime boom in Canada, many expected a recession would follow, but none came. It was the first time the Canadian government participated actively in controlling the economy and preventing a rapid inflation. Tax rates increased and the Wartime Prices and Trade Board, “an experiment hitherto untried on this continent”, was created for “comprehensive wage and price controls”.(SASKATCHEWAN) The government controls worked and “between October 1941 and April 1945, prices rose in Canada by a total of only 3.8%.”(GC.CA) Canada a country that suffered dearly from inflation after the First World War managed to deflect a recession and prosper with money being spent from eager consumers. Canada proved to the world during World War Two that it was a strong economic power by increasing its industrial capacity to meet wartime needs and successfully controlling inflation.

After the war, Canada became “the first of the Middle Powers.” (Morton, p. 225) Canadian presence has never been stronger in the world. Canada’s military might was at its all time high. War needs allowed Canada to spend $16 billion dollars (1945 currency) and build the world’s third-largest navy and fourth largest-air force (Morton, p.231, 252). Canada became a crucial ally to Britain during the Second World War. In fact, Canada was briefly the largest ally Britain had after France fell in 1940. Some might argue that without Canadian participation Britain would never have won the war. Canadian troops in the war extended Canadian presence by liberating countries like the Netherlands, who still welcome Canadians to their land. “As representatives of a strong middle power, they played a critical role in creating the United Nations and a host of postwar organizations.”(Despond, p. 225) Canada’s contributions allowed it to have a say in the United Nations, which was created to maintain peace, and prevent future wars. Ever since World War Two, Canadian influence has been while participating in the peacekeeping roles from the United Nations, which it helped create. Canada’s economy was prospering during the war, and trade increased with other countries.

“With Latin America increasingly vital as a source of trade and war supplies, missions were appointed to Brazil and Argentina in 1940 and to Chile in 1941. Missions were later opened in Mexico and Peru in 1944 and in Cuba in 1945. Major allies, the Soviet Union and China, were accommodated in 1942. With the liberation of Europe, Canadian diplomats returned to Belgium, France and the Netherlands, and new posts were opened in Norway and Greece.” (Canada and the World, p.5)

The Canadian sphere of influence also started to spread with its trade relations. The war changed Canada from a relatively poor, isolated country that had traded mostly with Britain and the United States, to a “middle power” that trades world wide. (Morton, p. 248) For the most part, Canada’s contributions during the war and its powerful post-war military and economy allowed it to spread influence throughout the world.

World War Two was a time of many social reforms in Canada; these social reforms will change and shape into the equal society that we see today. After the world war, many Canadians believed that they deserved more from all the sacrifices of the soldiers. People wanted better lifestyles and changes in health care, working conditions, unemployment insurance, as well as many other benefits of today’s society, began to take place. Soon Canada would become the world’s best country to live in. The war created self-awareness and a sense of nationalism that Canadians have never felt before, which was reinforced by the Canadian Citizenship Act in 1947. (Knowles, chapter 5, p.1) World War Two changed the views and opinions of the people about the immigrants, women, and aboriginals. Women were treated differently after the war. Their great contributions in factories and in the military during the war earned them respect from men. For the first time, Canada did not create a segregated battalion from the immigrants and aboriginals. Although racist feelings did not disappear, many Canadians started to soften their views on the immigrants after seeing many of them enlist and contribute to the war effort. Postwar Canada began to accept many immigrants from war-torn Europe and later on Asia, Africa and many other places to supply its prospering economy with more workers. These new immigrants brought along their culture to Canada which will help create the multicultural society that is today. People were very slowly beginning to accept these immigrants as the cultural barriers began to weaken and the new Canadian identity starts to form. World War Two not only brought along economic and political benefits to Canada, but also helped form the multicultural society that Canada is famed for.

From World War Two, Canada gained world reputation, a powerful military presence, a strong economy, social reforms, and a sense of nationalism and pride. As the saying goes, “death brings new life”. The sacrifices of the Canadian soldiers in World War Two brought upon new hopes and values for the future generation of Canadians to protect.