How did World War II change employment and manufacturing in Ontario?

During World War II, Ontario’s manufacturing sector underwent a massive transformation to support the Allied war effort. Canadian factories, including those in Ontario, shifted production to supply a wide range of military goods, spanning from rifles to Lancaster heavy bombers.1

This industrial mobilization significantly altered employment and economic activity:

• Production Shift: Manufacturing pivoted from civilian goods to critical military supplies, munitions, and advanced weapons technology, with scientists and engineers contributing to projects such as the atomic bomb.1
• Federal Regulation: To manage this surge in production and ensure a steady flow of supplies, the federal government expanded its role significantly. Agencies like the Wartime Prices and Trade Board and the National War Labour Board were established, leading to a vast increase in the civil service and government spending.1
• Economic Impact: The war served as a watershed moment that strengthened the federal government's role in engineering national economic growth. While Ontario remained a primary industrial hub, the period also saw the introduction of new social welfare policies and labor regulations, such as compulsory collective bargaining.1