ALTHOUGH THE REDISTRIBUTION OF POWER IN CANADA HAS BEEN PEACEFUL FOR THE MOST PART, POLITICALLY MOTIVATED DISORDERS DID OCCUR IN THE 1800'S AWAKENING GREAT BRITAIN TO THE NEED FOR CHANGE IN THE FORM OF SELF-GOVERNMENT. LEGISLATION PASSED DURING THE PERIOD OF LABOR UNREST FOLLOWING WORLD WAR I PROHIBITED THE USE OF FORCE, VIOLENCE, TERRORISM, OR PHYSICAL INJURY TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY AND EXTENDED LAW ENFORCEMENT POWERS OF SEARCH AND SEIZURE. LABOR OPPOSED SUCH BROAD GOVERNMENT POWERS AND A STRIKE INVOLVING 35,000 WORKERS IN WINNIPEG ENSUED. POLITICAL PROTEST IN THE 1930'S AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DEPRESSION ENDED IN THE ARREST OF EIGHT COMMUNIST PARTY LEADERS. DISRUPTIVE MINORITY RELIGIOUS SECTS FACED CHARGES OF SEDITIOUS CONSPIRACY RESULTING FROM NUDE DEMONSTRATIONS, ARSON, AND RESISTANCE TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AUTHORITIES. THE IMPACT OF THE DEPRESSION ON EMPLOYMENT WAS MANIFEST IN LABOR STRIFE. MODERN SEPARATISM, A MOVEMENT FOR FRENCH CANADIANS INDEPENDENCE FROM ENGLISH CANADIANS, EMERGED IN THE 1960'S. STUDENT SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENCE WAS VOCAL, AND LABOR UNIONS BECAME MORE RADICAL AS THE ECONOMIC SITUATION DETERIORATED. A POLITICAL KIDNAPPING TOOK PLACE IN 1970, AND THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED BY APPLYING THE PROVISIONS OF THE WAR MEASURES ACT; THIS ACT IS CANADA'S ONLY LEGISLATIVE TOOL OUTSIDE THE CRIMINAL CODE FOR DEALING WITH INSURRECTION, TERRORIST VIOLENCE, AND MAJOR CIVIL DISORDERS. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS RELEVANT TO DISSENT AND DISORDER ARE OUTLINED IN APPENDIXES. (DEP)