National Registration File of 1940
The National Mobilization Act and the War Measures Act
Nov 25, 2008
War Measures Act
During the period of 1940 to 1946, all persons in Canada sixteen years of age or older were required to register under The National Resources Mobilization Act and the War Measures Act. Members of the armed forces and religious orders, or those confined to an institution were exempted from the compulsory registration. The purpose was to permit the mobilization of all the human and material resources of Canada for the nation’s defence and security. Many people were later employed in places such as munitions factories and at airports as a result of the information obtained.
Questions pertaining to occupations, work histories, and military service differed on the forms for males and females. Though the records are arranged by electoral district, a soundex format index exists. It is possible that if a person died between 1940 and 1946, the questionnaire was destroyed.
National Registration File of 1940 Questions:
- name
- address
- age and date of birth
- marital status
- number of dependents
- place and country of birth of individual and his or her parents
- nationality
- year of entry into Canada (if an immigrant)
- racial origin
- languages
- education
- general health
- occupation, employment status, farming or mechanical skills
- previous military service
Family Historians and Genealogists
Material from this file is very useful for family historians and genealogists. They can learn more about their ancestors’ personalities and gain more insight into their hopes for the future in their response to the question, “Is there any particular occupation in which you would like to be specially trained?” On one such copy, it was noted that a Grandfather’s response to the question was somewhat humorous -- a nice surprise for the recipient who remembered her Grandfather as a pleasant but somewhat humourless person.
As registration was done by a mail-in form, some people did not file the information, so the record is not complete. The only way to determine if your relative’s file is there is to request the copy.
Statistics Canada
The records are in the custody of Statistics Canada. Under the provisions of the Privacy Act, “when a person has been dead for more than twenty years the information is no longer considered to be personal and can be disclosed.”
Requests for copies must include:
- Full name, place of residence in 1940
- Country and date of birth (or approximate age in 1940)
- Occupation
- Proof that the person has been deceased at least 20 years -- that could be
copy of death record or a newspaper obituary (the only exceptions are
for the executor of a will; an individual’s personal record; the person of
record is over 110 years of age
- Prepayment of $45 (plus GST) by credit card, cheque, or money order,
per search, except for individuals who request
their own records, or for an executor of a will
Fees and Contact Person
Fees are to be paid by credit card, cheque or money order. Mr. Jacques Dubois, the contact person for this file (Jacques.Dubois@statcan.gc.ca) said that while Statistics Canada does not use PayPal, “All the information that we receive is protected and confidential.” The fee is refunded for unsuccessful searches.
First World War
A similar national registration was undertaken during the First World War in June 1918, but those records have not survived.
