Cooperative Commonwealth Federation & Social Credit Politics of Protest Cooperative Commonwealth Federation & Social Credit

As the federal government struggled to find a way to deal with the Depression, many looked to alternative political parties for solutions… Conservatives (in power) – Prime Minister R.B. Bennett Liberals (in opposition) – William Lyon Mackenzie King Neither of these men seemed to know what to do….

Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) – western based Appealed to dissatisfied farmers, labourers, intellectuals etc. CCF was a “Socialist” party Leader = J.S. Woodsworth Political platform called the “Regina Manifesto” Believed in: Public ownership of key industries Social programs to assist the elderly, unemployed, homeless, sick etc. Woodsworth believed government should spend money on public works to create jobs CCF did not win seats in 1930’s elections…but an alternative

Social Credit – Alberta based Leader – William “Bible Bill” Aberhart – preacher and high school teacher Weekly radio program – “Voices of the Prairies” Believed: Capitalism was wasteful and banks hoarded $ - this prevented customers from buying the goods capitalism produced! Govt. should release $ into the economy so people could spend it Promised: Each citizen a “basic dividend” of $25 a month for necessities – but…only the federal govt. can issue money Social Credit in power in AB until 1971 under Aberhart’s successors

Provincial Solutions: In Ontario, the Liberals came to power in 1934 for the first time in 29 years Leader = Mitch Hepburn Populist farmer who championed the “little man” but really did little for the unemployed In Quebec, the Union Nationale came to power in 1936 Leader = Maurice Duplessis Nationalistic French-Cdn. Party – relied on Church and rural voters and blamed Quebec’s problems on English minority which controlled the province’s economy Few reforms…little done to improve economy or society

In BC, the Liberals were elected in 1933 Leader = Dufferin Patullo Believed in provincial spending and promised a “New Little Deal” Reforms to shorten the work week, increase minimum wage and increase relief pay New public works projects – Fraser River Bridge, Vancouver City Hall…