Welcome to Socials!

• Today we will be learning the last bit of info for the interwar unit!

• Please grab the hand-outs at the front (and check – in)

Reminders:- Short essay questions from last class due today - Test date: Jan 21 (NEXT WEDNESDAY!) Start preparing

Laissez Faire – King Part 1

• Mackenzie King did not believe in government support for the unemployed.– Said he would not give a

nickel to a Provincial Government to help with Pogey (if the government was Conservative)

RB Bennett – Laissez-Faireish 2

• Unemployment Relief Act– Too little too late– Kept Pogey low

• Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act

• Relief Camps– Put unemployed in work

camps – – .25$ per day

• Tariffs– Led to retaliatory tariffs

Relief Camp Worker Strike

• On to Ottawa Trek– Relief Camp Workers

from BC form a union– Try to go to Ottawa by

rail to meet Bennett– Wanted unemployment

insurance and fair wages– Stopped in Regina

• Regina Riot– One police officer killed– Trek Broken Up

Protest Parties

• CCF– Socialist Party led by James

Woodsworth– Their party platform was

called the Regina Manifesto– Would become the NDP

• Social Credit– Led by William Aberhardt– Wanted $25 per month

• Union Nationale– Farm Credit Policies

The New Deal

• Bennett decided to try Roosevelt’s idea from the US– Keynsian Economics– Deficit Financing

• Govt spends money they don’t have to create jobs

• New Deal does not occur as Bennett loses next election

Mackenzie King – Laissez-Faire 3

• King is reelected– Does not support

unemployment insurance until economy improves• Would occur after WW2 begins

• Rowell-Sirois Report– Recommends payments from

Federal Govt to Provincial Govt for Pogey

– Poor Provinces get more• Doesn’t occur till after

Depression

Rowell – Sirosis Report - Two Important Recommendations

• 1. Equalization PaymentsThe federal government should give money to the poorer provinces so every province can offer the same level of services.

• 2. Federal responsibilities increasedThe federal government should be responsible for unemployment insurance and other social benefits such as pensions.

Who was unhappy? Why?

• The wealthier provinces did not like their tax dollars going to the poorer provinces.

• The provinces thought their provincial powers were being taken away because the focus was on federal responsibilities.

From Bennett to King

1930 Election

R.B. Bennett becomes Prime Minster

Supports government intervention in the economy

1935 Election

Mackenzie King becomes Prime Minster

Does not support government intervention in the economy

Socials 11New Political Parties

CCF

• Party Leader: J.S. Woodsworth• Founded in 1932• Prairie provinces• Party Platform:

– Against capitalism– Support socialism (government controls the economy so all

Canadians benefit equally)– Party platform known as the Regina Manifesto– Advocated for social programs to help the elderly, the

unemployed, the homeless, and the sick– Thought government money should be spend on public works to

create jobs

Social Credit Party

• Party Leader: William “Bible Bill” Aberhart• Founded in 1935• Western Canada• Party Platform:

– Based on the belief that capitalism was a wasteful economic system

– Wanted the government to release money hoarded by the government into the economy so people could spend it – promised citizens $25 a month

– Popular in Alberta where the Great Depression had a larger effect

– Wanted greater provincial control over the economy

Union Nationale

• Party Leader: Maurice Duplessis• Founded in 1935• Quebec• Party Platform:

– Supported Quebec nationalism– Believed Quebec’s social and economic problems were because

of the English minority in Quebec– Support came from the Roman Catholic Church and rural voters– Wanted to improve working conditions, social insurance

programs, publically owned companies, and a system of farm credits