1940 in Canada

"See also:"
1939 in Canada,
other events of 1940,
1941 in Canada and the
Timeline of Canadian history.

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Events

* March 13 - John McNair becomes premier of New Brunswick, replacing Allison Dysart
* March 21 - Alberta election: William Aberhart's Social Credit Party wins a second consecutive majority
* March 26 - Federal election: Mackenzie King's Liberals win a second consecutive majority
* April 3 - Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone is appointed Governor General of Canada replacing the late John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir
* April 25 - Quebec women get the vote in provincial elections
* May 28-June 30 - World War II: The Canadian navy stations seven destroyers in the English Channel these play an important role in evacuating allied troops from France
* June - World War II: The Canadian troops are some of a small number of forces defending Britain
* June 5 - Nazi, fascist, and communist groups are declared illegal in Canada and leaders and members are jailed
* June 10 - World War II: Canada declares war against Italy
* June 13-June 18 - World War II: A small number of Canadian troops land in Brest, France but are forced to evacuate soon after
* June 21 - Conscription is introduced, but only for homeland defence
* July 10 - Alexander MacMillan becomes premier of Nova Scotia, replacing Angus Macdonald
* August 1-September 17 - World War II: 80 Canadian pilots participate in the Battle of Britain
* August 5 - Camillien Houde, the mayor of Montreal is arrested for sedition due to his anti-conscription rhetoric
* August 7 - Unemployment insurance is introduced
* August 18 - The Odgensburg Agreement on continental defence is signed with the United States
* September 5: United Kingdom trades most of its North American military bases to the United States in exchange for 50 destroyers
* The Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies is completed.
* The Rowell-Sirois Commission report on federal-provincial relations is released
* Wilbur Franks invents the g-suit at the University of Toronto

Arts and Literature

:New Works
*Morley Callaghan - "Just ask George":Awards
* See the 1940 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.

Births

*January 10 - Guy Chevrette, Quebec politician
*February 16 - Don Bertoia, middle distance runner
*March 6 - Ken Danby, painter
*March 22 - Dave Keon, ice hockey player
*April 18 - Robert N. Kucey, author
*May 8 - Irwin Cotler, Minister of Justice
*May 10 - Peter M. Liba, joranlist and Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba
*May 20 - Otto Jelinek, politician
*June 6 - Brian Ransom, Manitoba politician
*June 14 - Mark Assad, politician
*June 25 - Louise Dacquay, Manitoba politician
*July 11 - Yvon Charbonneau, politician
*July 15 - Glen Findlay, Manitoba politician
*July 22 - Alex Trebek, game show host
*July 27 - Harvie Andre, politician
*July 28 - Mario Sergio, Ontario politician
*August 7 - Sally McCallum, track and field athlete
*September 11 - Gerry Phillips, Ontario politician
*September 20 - Doug Young, cabinet minister
*September 30 - Harry Jerome, athlete
*October 11 - David McFadden, poet and novelist
*October 19 - Bill Gairdner, track and field athlete
*October 29 - Galen Weston, businessman
*November 20 - George Swede, poet
*November 29 - Denny Doherty, musician
*December 20 - Ed Helwer, Manitoba politician
*December 29 - George Puce, discus thrower

Deaths

*February 11 - John Buchan, former Governor General
*March 3 - Joseph Ovide Brouillard, politician
*May 2 - James Bowman, politician
*October 10 - Berton Churchill, actor
*Laura Bond, wife of Robert Laird Borden