Final answer:
The statement that Canada's total war policy during World War I transformed its economy from agricultural to industrial is true. This transformation was a result of the need to support the war effort and was facilitated by policies like the National Policy that promoted industrialization. The war also led to significant societal changes, particularly in the roles and rights of women.
Step-by-step explanation:
Canada's total war policy during World War I had a significant impact on the country's economy and societal structure. The claim that this policy transformed Canada's economy from an agricultural focus to industrialization is true. When the First World War started in 1914, Canada's economy did indeed shift from primarily farming to becoming more industrial and urban. This shift was due to the need to produce military supplies and support the war effort. Significant migration from rural areas to cities was required to staff the burgeoning industries. As a result, Canada became a more urban nation, with profound effects on public health, welfare systems, and the role of women in society and the workforce.
The National Policy, which was in effect from 1878 until World War II, also played a role in bolstering Canadian industry. By imposing tariffs on imports to protect domestic companies from U.S. competition, it incentivized the growth of Canadian industrial infrastructures, although this policy was controversial across different regions of the country. Nevertheless, it helped set the stage for the wartime economic transformation.
As men enlisted and went off to war, women were mobilized to fill roles previously occupied by men, including factory work and other labor essential to the war effort. World War I demanded much from civilian populations and reshaped societies, not least of all in Canada, where these social and economic changes were deeply felt. The impact on Canadian society was distinguishable with the role of women experiencing particularly transformative changes, as they were essential to both the military production at home and also began to engage in the public sphere with greater impact than ever before.