Post War Economy and Environment Returning Veterans Economic Powers Industry Pollution US Investment

Economy in Transition As soldiers returned home, the government had to find ways to transition from wartime to peacetime economy Complicated as over 1 million people who worked in war industry and close to half a million soldiers were about to lose their jobs Veterans anxious about returning home -Would there be jobs -For some the armed forces was the only job they ever held

Taking Care of Those Who Took Care of Us Part 1 News laws ensured that they got their old jobs back if they wanted them Years at war were counted as years of service on the job- seniority Women encouraged by the government to leave jobs

Taking Care of Those Who Took Care of Us Part 2 Free tuition and living allowances for university Vets and war widows got preference for jobs The Veteran's Land Act gave vets lower mortgage rates

High Employment = Rich Nation The more people employed = more taxes collected and more people spending which = more money for the government and businesses Which = more money for government social programs and business expansion Which = more people out of poverty and more jobs available

Spreading the Wealth…Permanently The provinces transferred taxation powers to the federal government -A wartime measure that was now permanent In return, provinces received grants for social services such as healthcare and education Through equalization or transfer payments the federal government would transfer money to poorer provinces payments

Resource and Industry Canada's traditional industries remained at the heart of the economy -Mining and forestry The discovery of oil in Leduc Alberta in 1947 brought Canada into an international oil market -Became the most valued resource

Massive development industries created an economic booommm!! Boom Towns developed anywhere there was a new mine or resource -In the wilderness -Airlift in heavy machinery -Employees live in tents, trailers, temporary shanties -Far from other cities -Good pay -Mostly single men -Alcoholism and drug use a major issue

Ontario's Post War Economy Manufacturing economy By the 1950s, more than half of the nation’s factories and 99% of the automobile industry were located in Ontario -Close to transportation routes -One province that was able to avoid boom and bust cycle

Megaprojects Governments improving infrastructure -roads, sewer, power plants, schools, hospitals -Creating jobs Prime Minister Laurent undertook Mega Projects -Changed Canada’s landscape Look to page 187 for examples

Cost of Industry and Megaprojects Pollution was the greatest cost -Few people cared or understood the hidden costs of industrial expansion -Few people care today

Industrial Pollution Solid waste was just buried, creating toxic landfills on which schools, homes, and playgrounds were built Pulp and paper and petrochemical plants dumped waste directly into streams, contaminating lakes and rivers Farmers pumped weed killers and chemical fertilizers into the soli contaminating ground water Profits over Protection!!!!!!

Pollution starts at home Individuals contributed to the pollution epidemic Homeowners used insecticide DDT, a contact poison, around homes and yards Wasteful habits

American Investment King argued that US investment in Canada would act as a common plan for the economic defense of the west YET Canadians worried that close economic ties would lead Canada to become the newest US state

US Motivated to Invest US was running short on raw materials so it looked to Canada -We needed investment to extract resources such as oil, iron ore, and uranium By 1957 US controlled 70% of oil and gas investment, 52% of smelting and mining, 43% of manufacturing

Trade unions fought for a greater share of the country’s prosperity frequent strikes as workers fought for the right to form unions and wage increases cents per hour to 95 cents per hour in day 40hour work week -Paid vacations C anadians now had more money to spend on luxury items