Canada 150 - War Time Trade Board - Price Fixing

During our country's 150th anniversary celebration of confederation I will write posts titled Canada 150 with a link to a publication or website I find that may help you tell the story of your Canadian ancestors.
Click on the Canada 150 label on the right or at the bottom to see all the posts.

Today I have for you...

Report of The Wartime Prices and Trade Board 

The War Time Prices and Food Board was established at the beginning of the war, in 1939 to regulate not only the prices of food, but what food would be exported and what is kept at home for domestic use. The government publication explains how they chose which products to provide subsidies to keep the price low for the average consumer, and fixed maximum prices for others. I am using the following examples from the 1943 Report.

Meat Products 1943, pg 33

Rules were added, amended and revoked throughout the war, as were war taxes and duties on products. 

Besides food and other trade products, the Board had control over many services, such as plumbing, dressmaking, undertaking, harbour services, etc.. In 1941 all real property other than farm land was under the control of a board, including restaurants and room rentals. 

Rental Controls 1943, pg 63-65

There is a Directory of Officials for the governing board and for the associated companies and local offices.

Directory of Officials 1943, pg 73-76

Relevant Links

Report of The Wartime Prices and Trade Board 1939-1946 w/ directory of officials

War Time Food Production Posters




Note:  The US had the War Industries Board. In Australia price fixing came under the War Precautions Act.