Government Response to the Great Depression Majority Government Social Services Relief Camps On-To-Ottawa Bennett’s New Deal
King’s View of the Great Depression Believed the situation was temporary Argued that relief and social services were the responsibility of Municipal and Provincial Governments “not a five cent piece” to a Conservative Government Lost 1930 Election
Richard Bedford Bennett Conservative Prime Minister 1930 -1935 Not in favour of relief either, but he introduced several measures to help Canadians - Some did more harm than good
Unemployment Relief Act Gave the provinces 20 Million dollars for work creation programs Ex. Road construction, ditch digging, garbage collection Despite this spending, the economy did not improve as families could not afford to spend
Increased Tariffs Bennett tried to “use tariffs to blast a way” into world markets and out of the depression Raised tariffs by more than 50% to protect Canadian businesses and encourage people to buy Canadian World Wide Domino effect and trade issues worsened
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act 1935 Government funding to help farmers build irrigation systems and reservoirs TOO LATE Many farms already abandoned
Red Scare- ahhhh! Bennett feared the large number of jobless men would come under the influence of the Communist Party and its classless economic policies 1931 Bennett outlawed Communist campaigning
Relief Camps Bennett created a national network of work camps for single men as a way to provide relief 17000 men Problems: Deep in the woods 20 cents a day! Infested housing Rotten food
Bennett Becomes a Joke Bennett became a target for people’s frustration and anger “Bennett Buggy” Bennett Blanket” “Bennett Barnyard”
On-To-Ottawa Trek 1935
On-To-Ottawa Trek 1935 A massive traveling protest by unemployed single men in BC protesting relief camp conditions led by the Relief Camp Workers Union Vancouver to Ottawa By the time they reached Regina, over 2000 men
Bennett’s Response to the Trek Called in the RCMP to stop the Trek in Regina Only Union leaders allowed to carry on to Ottawa Accused of being Communists
Regina Riot 1935 RCMP ordered to clear the Trekkers from the local stadium in Regina Trekkers resisted Battle lasted for hours
Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal US President 1933 introduced the New Deal that created public work programs for the unemployed and farmers - Provided social assistance such as unemployment insurance
Bennett’s New Deal Progressive taxation Unemployment and work health insurance Regulated work hours, wages, conditions Revised old age pensions Canadian Wheat Board to regulate prices Bank of Canada Act to decide national policies