Canada's two major naval bases are located in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Esquimalt, British Columbia. The ice-free port of Halifax was by far the busiest harbour during the Second World War.

Apart from being the principal naval base on the east coast, it was from Halifax that the majority of ships sailed in convoy for the UK, often joining up with other vessels sailing from the US.

On Canada's west coast the defended harbour of Esquimalt protected Vancouver, and was Canada's second largest port. It was also the navy's major base in the Pacific and in 1939 it became the first Canadian port to be provided with an anti-submarine net.