Background
During the First World War the federal government of Canada maintained strict control on the price of goods including newsprint. Typically, the pricing of goods are in the exclusive jurisdiction of the provincial government under the property and civil rights power.
Manitoba Free Press, a Winnipeg newspaper publisher, regularly purchased paper from Fort Frances Pulp and Paper at a price set by the price control scheme. Fort Frances attempted to raise their prices but Manitoba Free Press brought an action against them for violation of the price scheme. Fort Frances argued that the price scheme was unconstitutional. The government argued that they had the constitutional authority to do so under the "Peace, Order, and Good Government" power which allowed the federal government to make laws related to national emergencies.
The issue before the Council was whether the federal government had power to control prices under the "emergency doctrine" and if so for how long.
Read more about this topic: Fort Frances Pulp And Paper V. Manitoba Free Press
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