Video Clip As you watch the clip, write down what your impressions are from it, and any feelings that you may have. What do you think the clip is trying to convey What do you see as some causes of the Great Depression (seen in the video)

Lead up to Depression Canada and the US were facing an issue of over- production because of the ability to mass produce. When factories had to cut down on the number of products it forced owners to lay off workers. The more people that were laid off the fewer the number of people could buy the products the factories made and so the cycle continued. (remember the business cycle?)

Canada and the Depression The depression in Canada was made worse because of the problems American investment had created. Canada depended on American investment which suddenly halted when the stock market crashed on Black Tuesday October 29, 1929.

Desperate Years As people lost jobs, they lost homes and were evicted Loss of jobs also meant the loss of respect Thousands existed on “pogey” Pogey: Government relief payments given to those who had no alternative source of income People waited publicly in line for hours, facing humiliation Declare financial failure Prove that they were evicted and owned nothing of value

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures Private charities helped those who were desperate, Provided clothing and meals Soup kitchen

The Dust Bowl Collapse of the wheat market Prairies were hit by a drought from 1928 that lasted almost eight years Palliser’s Triangle – semi arid area in S. Alberta and Saskatchewan worst hit Plague of grasshoppers, stalled trains, buses, clogged car radiators 1935: Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration Act – helped farmers build irrigation systems and reservoirs

The Dust Bowl

The Women and Minorities Women had few jobs, other than domestic work Aboriginal families on relief got $5/month Immigrants were viewed with hostility when they competed for scarce jobs Jews were targeted, suffered from anti-Semitism

Responding to Depression Mackenzie King believed that it was municipal and provincial responsibility to provide financial help King lost election in 1930 replaced by R.B Bennett (Conservatives)

Bennett’s Response Pledged to “use tariffs to blast a way” into the world markets and out of Depression Raised tariffs by 50% to protect Canadian industries Caused trade barriers against Canada

Work Camps Located in woods, completely isolated Build roads, clear land, digging drainage ditches Paid 20 cents/day; Given room and board Food was terrible, bunks infested with bugs

Video Montage

Politics of Protest: CCF Canadians looked to alternative parties because of Depression Cooperative Commonwealth Federation was formed in West in 1932 Leader was J.S. Woodsworth Appealed to wide range; farmers, labourers, socialists, intellectuals CCF was a socialist party Support for social programs Government to spend $ on public works

J.S. Woodsworth

Provincial Solutions Provincial leaders attempted to put down strikes. In Quebec, Maurice Duplessis, brought the Union Nationale party to power in In an example of worsening French and English relations: Duplessis blamed Quebec’s social and economic problems on the English minority in Quebec.

Provincial Solutions (cont.) Duff Pattullo, Premier in BC, shortened the work day, increased the minimum wage, and increased work relief payments by 20 percent. “A Little New Deal” Mayors and the Premier in BC were resented less than Bennett, but were still blamed for being ineffective in the fight to slow the depression. The reactions of the provincial governments varied depending on which province you were in

Increased Tension King created Rowell-Sirois Commission to examine federal-provincial relations Recommended that federal government grant equalization payments Wealthier provinces were angered, may thought it would be loss of provincial power However, the economy had already made a turn around

It wasn’t all bad… Entertainment: movies, magazines, romance Canadians audiences preferred US shows, federal government created a public radio service which became the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Grey Owl; conservationist Devoted latter part of his life to the preservation of northern Canadian forests and disappearing beaver

Grey Owl – The Conservationist