Parliament opened on Tuesday 18 August and closed on Saturday 22 August. This was the briefest Parliamentary session in Canadian history. The five-day session included legislative work for the fiscal changes, including laws regulating banking and currency, which would handle the wartime conditions. Parliament also passed the War Measures Act on 22 August. The Act stated that war had existed since 4 August, and outlined the special powers the Governor-in-Council would take on during the war. This act gave the Canadian Government the means to deal with the war with authority and power. The entire session was carried out smoothly; most of the proceedings were carried out almost unanimously because there was no party strife. This parliament session had record-breaking attendance. Every part of the Dominion, in the Senate and Commons, were largely represented. Canada, as a whole, wanted to help ensure that Canada was prepared as possible to help Great Britain during the war. But would they be able to maintain this unanimity as the war progressed?
(“Canadian Parliament Opened,” Elmira Signet, 20 August 1914; “Parliament Session Closed,” Elmira Signet, 27 August 1914; Canada, Parliament, An Act to confer certain powers upon the Governor in Council and to amend the Immigration Act (Ottawa, ON), 22 August 1914 (http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.9_08039/2?r=0&s=1))
