Canada. Royal Commission on Prices : The Royal Commission on Prices was established under Order in Council P.C. 3109, 8 July 1948, under Part I of the Inquiries Act (R.S.C., 1927, c.99) and on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Commission was mandated to continue the work initiated by the Special Committee on Prices appointed by the House of Commons, the inquiry into price structures, factors leading to price and cost increases and increased profit margins in Canada, paying particular regard to essential commodities and services in common daily use. The Commissioners were Clifford Austin Curtis, Chairman, Henri C. Bois and Mary Sutherland. The Secretary was A.G.S. Griffin.
At the outbreak of World War II, the Wartime Prices and Trade Board was established with power to control the price, supply, and distribution of all goods and services. In 1941 it instituted a wage and price freeze and in 1942 some essential goods were rationed. Removing controls began after the war but was not complete until 1950. As economic controls were gradually removed, the cost of living of the average Canadian family increased by nearly one-third as measured by the cost-of-living index. The House of Commons, concerned about this situation, passed a resolution on 10 Feburary 1948, providing for the appointment of a Special Committee on Prices. The mandate of the committee was to examine and report upon:
"the causes of the recent rise in the cost of living; prices which have been raised above levels justified by increased costs; rises in prices due to the acquiring, accumulating or withholding from sale by any persons, firms or corporations of any goods beyond amounts reasonably required for the ordinary purposes of their business."
In its investigations, the special committee found that in certain instances opportunists, who were taking advantage of existing conditions, made unprecedented profits. The committee found that the high prices that produced these profits raised the cost of living substantially. The committee concluded that the significant causes of the recent rise in the cost of living in Canada were:
"the rise of external prices, the increase in the costs of production, the expansion of purchasing power in relation to goods and services available, certain supplementary factors which operate in specific cases."
In its report to the House of Commons, 25 June 1948, the committee recommended, that the Government of Canada consider the appointment of a commission under the Inquiries Act to continue the work it had initiated. On 28 June, the House of Commons concurred in this report and on 8 July the Royal Commission on Prices was appointed. See Journals of the House of Commons, Ottawa: 1948, pp. 684-687 and Report of the Royal Commission on Prices, Ottawa: King's Printer, 1949, Vol. 1, p. 1.
Hearings of the commission were held at Ottawa from 3 August to 16 December 1948. The commission invited 12 national organizations to present briefs. In addition, a number of private individuals and government officials were consulted. RG33-58 General Inventory
