Upon the outbreak of the Korean War (See June 25), Canada immediately rallied to the support of the UN. The first Canadian troops arrived in Korea on Dec. 19. Earlier in the year, the Canadian government had placed three destroyers at the disposal of the UN for action in Korean waters. Defense appropriations were more than doubled, and a 40 percent increase of Canada's armed forces was authorized by Parliament. The Essential Materials Act, adopted in September, gave the government extensive control over defense industries.
Marshall McLuhan (1911–80) published his first book, The Mechanical Bride: Folklore of Industrial Man. He soon became the leading international expert on mass media.
Vincent Massey was appointed governor-general of Canada, to succeed Viscount Alexander of Tunis. His was the first appointment of a Canadian to that post.
