The Great Depression

On To Ottawa

Socialism in Canada

The Bennett Years Prime Minister Bennett and the Great Depression

PRIME MINISTER BENNETT

At first cautious about committing to a responsibility that according to the constitution belonged to the provinces and municipalities He believed that high tariffs would protect Canadian markets He agreed to reduce tariffs on any country that agreed to reduce tariffs against Canada

Imperial conference of 1932 he won a preferential duties agreement in trade with Britain Ineffective because the amount of trade was not enough to get us out of the depression and we upset the Americans who were our largest trading partner and they increased tariffs against Canadian goods

Radical Proposals for Ending the Depression He created the Bank of Canada to regulate currency and credit and provide services to private banks Acted on allegations of some companies making record profits during the Depression He created a Royal Commission on Price Spreads The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act and the Canadian Wheat Board

These measures were aimed at reviving Canada’s wheat market that was now ravished by drought and grasshoppers He offered a “New Deal”, like President Roosevelt in the U.S. (works projects) As he moved to the 1935 election, he proposed reforms including unemployment insurance, minimum wage law, and a shortened work week

Canadians Reject Bennett Bennett lost the 1935 election He waited too long before taking action His reform policies did not seem to match his tough stance in the on To Ottawa Trek He did not convince Canadians that he cared about their misfortunes

King was able to run a strong anti- Bennett campaign without offering any real alternative He convinced the people that Bennett’s reforms were beyond the power of the federal government and they would be struck down by the courts which they were in 1937 New political parties had split the vote in Canada --the new parties won 26% of the popular vote, basically taking seats from Bennett and the Conservatives