The Quebec government introduced An Act to Protect the Province
Against Communist Propaganda (Padlock Act) in 1937. The Padlock
Act was inspired by an amendment to the Criminal Code that was
introduced following the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919.
Section 98 of the Criminal Code had empowered the federal
government to deport non-citizens and charge individuals with
criminal conspiracy for threatening social order or promoting
revolution. Maurice Duplessis, the Premier of Quebec, introduced
the Padlock Act after the federal government revoked Section 97
in 1936. The Padlock Act empowered local sheriffs (under the
authority of the provincial Attorney-General) to close down
meeting places suspected of promoting communism or Bolshevism
(the terms were not defined in the statute). The "Padlock Act"
is a reference to the practice of placing a padlock on a door to
prevent use a building. Although it was possible to challenge an
order in court, it was extremely difficult and, in practice, the
courts were not an effe