New Radio, New Parties, New World Order

The Rise of the CBC American radio stations had bombarded Canadian air ways with their ideas and culture during the early thirties. Many people had called for the creation of a distinctly Canadian radio station. The government created a public broadcasting station originally called the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission (CRBC).

1920's Early Radio Broadcast

CBC Logo’s

The Rise of the CBC (Continued) In 1936 the name was changed to the CBC and it became responsible for all of Canada’s public broadcasting innovation. The CBC was, and always has been, publicly funded by the government. Today the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission CRTC, acts as a government run regulatory agency for broadcasting and telecommunications. It was created in 1976 when it took over responsibility for regulating telecommunication carriers. Prior to 1976, it was known as the Canadian Radio and Television Commission, which was established in 1968 to replace the Board of Broadcast Governors. Question: Should the Canadian people support a public broadcasting corporation? Why?

New Political Parties Until the depression Canadian politics was really a 2 horse race between the Liberals and the Conservatives. With the on-set of the depression, people demanded that political leaders take action immediately. When they failed to help the people hit hardest from the depression they looked to newer parties. The CCF and the Social Credit party would gain popularity in the 30s.

Social Credit Party of Canada Insignia

The Social Credit Party Formed in 1935 under leader J.H. Blackmore and dissolved in 1993. Was a federal party which spawned out of Alberta where it was also a provincial party. They wanted to create a credit system to keep the economy going. Under this system people go into debt, the government goes into debt and business lower their prices. When the economy recovers the country eases back out of public spending. The Social Credit Party still exists in BC and Alberta today.

Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Formed in 1932 under J.S. Woodsworth and dissolved in 1961. The party wanted to end the Great Depression by working cooperatively. It achieved success in the prairies. For this reason it is seen as a regional party. The CCF wanted universal pensions, universal health care, unemployment insurance and workers compensation. It was proceeded by the NDP after its collapse.

The Union Nationale The Union Nationale was a political party in Quebec, Canada, that identified with conservative Québécois autonomist nationalism. It was created during the Great Depression and held power in Quebec from 1936 to 1939, and from 1944 to 1960 under the leadership of Premier Maurice Duplessis, and from 1966 to 1970. The Union Nationale enjoyed a surge after a majority of Canadian voters allowed the federal government to pass conscription. Duplessis's administration had problems with labour in general and trade unions in particular this led to a number of strikes. The Duplessis government was also accused of being too strongly aligned with the Catholic clergy. Many priests openly supported the Duplessis government and attacked the Liberals by using the slogan Le ciel est bleu, l'enfer est rouge (Heaven is blue, hell is red)--a reference to the primary colours of both parties (blue for the UN, red for the Liberals). The government was also accused of discrimination against Jehovah's Witnesses and allowing election fraud for its own benefit. In 1960 the Union Nationale lost to the Liberals under Jean Lesage. Lesage’s new government implemented a vast program of social changes, which is now known as the Quiet Revolution.

The Face of Totalitarianism We have seen calls for Communism around Canada while we’ve looked at the depression. Because of how serious the political problems in Europe were after WWI, the Great Depression causes huge problems which allow for the creation of dictatorships. Totalitarianism : An undemocratic system in which the government demands complete obedience from its citizens and runs all aspects of the country.

Fascist Totalitarian Regimes In Russia Joseph Stalin took over the Communist party in the 1920s and ruthlessly created a agricultural system which would fail the people. In 1922 Italy was turned to the leadership of Benito Mussolini who created a fascist government where he used military power to defeat democracy. In 1923 Adolph Hitler began gathering support for his own Nazi party which would take control of Germany in 1933 at the height of the depression.

Think/pair/share 1. How might totalitarianism help against a depression? What does it do differently? 2. Do you think a communist totalitarian regime might have helped Canada? Explain 3. Who were the three totalitarian leaders and when did they come to power?