The naval force was known as Maritime Command until , when the environmental command was renamed as the Royal Canadian Navy. His Majesty having been graciously pleased to authorize that the Canadian Naval Forces shall be designated the "Royal Canadian Navy," this title is to be officially adopted, the abbreviation thereof being 'RCN'.
During the early years of the 20th century, there was growing debate within the British Empire as to the role the Dominions would play in defence and foreign relations. Because of the developing naval arms race with Germany, a key part of this discussion focused on naval issues. In Canada, the naval debate came down to a choice between two options: either the young country could provide funds, support and manpower to the Royal Navy , or it could form its own navy, which could help support the Royal Navy if necessary.
After extensive political debates, Canadian politicians chose the latter option. The resolution was not successful; however, on 12 January , the government of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier took Foster's resolution and introduced it as the Naval Service Bill. After third reading, the bill received royal assent on 4 May , becoming the Naval Service Act which created a Department of the Naval Service under the Minister of Marine and Fisheries , who also became the Minister of the Naval Service.
Graduates were qualified to enter the Imperial or Canadian Service as midshipmen although a Naval career was not compulsory. The course provided a grounding in Applied Science, Engineering , Mathematics , Navigation , History and Modern Languages and was accepted as qualifying for entry as second-year students in Canadian Universities. The program aimed to develop both the physical and mental including discipline, the ability to obey and take charge, and honour. Candidates had to be between their fourteenth and sixteenth birthdays on 1 July following the examination.
The college was closed in To form the nucleus of its new navy , and to train Canadians for the country's planned fleet of five cruisers and six destroyers, [ 5 ] Canada acquired two ships from Great Britain. She arrived at Esquimalt on 7 November , and carried out fishery patrols and training duties on Canada's west coast. These initial plans encountered significant setbacks following Laurier's defeat in the federal election , in which the debate about naval policy played a significant part.
