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U.S. economy was booming
The U.S. economy was booming and it was effecting the growth of Canadian business in a geographic way. Almost 300 million dollars worth of metals came out of northern mines. -
Hydroelectric power beginning expansion
Hydroelectric power was beginning its rapid expansion as a crucial source of power for business and the population. -
Canadian wheat exports exploded
By 1928 Canada harvested 567,000,000 bushels of wheat and sold it for about $1.60 a bushel. Canada had become the largest wheat exporter in the world. -
Period: to
The Great Depression
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Unemployed stage peaceful protest in Edmonton, Alberta
A group of 500 unemployed men staged a peaceful protest in Edmonton, Alberta. The police distributed meal and bed tickets. Provincial government offers unemployed men a bed and two meals a day to help them to survive. Economists warn that these short term solutions will soon become inadequate. -
Drought
An unprecedented decade of drought set in on parts of the prairies. The once-lush fields dried up and the crops burned in the sun. -
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Rules in the persons case that women are eligible to be senators -
Black Thursday
The crash starts to impact the country. -
Black Tuesday - Stock market crash
The crash of the New York Stock Exchange marks the beginning of the Great Depression. Prices on the Montreal and Toronto stock exhange have plunged the worst in Canadian history. After the tidal wave of liquidization in Toronto and Montreal there has been a total slump of 525,000 shares. -
A second stock market crash hits Canada
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R.B. Bennett wins federal election and becomes P.M.
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Farmer's plight is harsh
• Farmers cannot afford food for their animals, thousands of horses are starving -
• Government sets up cots in offices to provide overnight shelter for homeless
Government sets up cots in offices to provide overnight shelter for homeless -
Soup Kitchens established across the country
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Bennett government plans to spend $20 million on make-work projects
Make-work projects focused on highways, wharves, railways and other public projects -
Unemployment Relief Bill passed by Parliament
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Police disperse crowd demanding relief in Vancouver
Unemployed demanding relief; riots break out; police charge 29 with vagrancy -
Canada can not distribute welfare to umemployed.
With almost 33% of its gainfully employed still engaged in agriculture in 1931, Canada did not have an adequate system of dispensing welfare to the jobless -
Relif Costs cause people to leave the Prairie Provinces
Relief costs for the Saskatchewan government escalated to $62 million, which was higher than its total revenues. At least 250,000 people left the Prairie Provinces between 1931 and 1941. -
Two dust storms hit Winnipeg
Two dust storms bring tons of silt in Winnipeg12 Jan 1931 - This made life for farmers unbearable as they could plough or harvest their land -
Miners strike
A seven-month miners strike occurs in Crowsnest Pass -
Federal Spending Cut Back
Bennett had cut back severly on federal spending. This only deepened the depression as government employees were put out of work and public works projects were cancelled. -
The Social Credit Movement
Began in Alberta, this gave the people a person to look up to, and this man was William Alberta. He was a fundamentalist and believed in getting away from evils of the modern world. -
Leafs win the Cup
Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup Vs. New York Rangers -
The Ottawa Imperial Conference is held
It creates a zone of preferential trade within the Commonwealth -
Henri Bourassa leaves le Devoir
Le Devoir - A Newspaper -
Saskatchewan Farmer Salary Decrease
In 1933 Saskatchewan farmers earned only $66 while in 1928 they earned $1614 -
Canadian Provinces-- Income drops
In 1933 the income of each province went down by 36-72% -
Tax- Free Rights for Indians
In Ottawa 1933 Those chosen for forced enfranchisement become citizens with voting rights and relinquish their special tax- free rights as Indians -
Drought in the West begins - lasts 4 years
30% of labor force unemployed. Farming income dropped to 11 mill -
July Wednesday 12:Congress passes the first federal minimum wage law in U.S.: 33 cents per hour.
Congress passes the first federal minimum wage law in the United States: 33 cents per hour. -
Newfoundland's Government Changes due to Depression
St Johns, Newfoundland on November 28 1933 was faced with financial crisis, the legislature votes to relinquish Newfoundland’s dominion status, or self government and revert back to colonial status or government by commission appointed by Britain. -
The economy turns around: GNP rises 7.7 percent, and unemployment falls to 21.7 percent
The economy turns around: GNP rises 7.7 percent, and unemployment falls to 21.7 percent -
April 11th- Bennett announced to the House of Commons his intention to seek changes to the British North America Act.
Bennett announced to the House of Commons his intention to seek changes to the British North America Act. -
On-to-Ottawa Trek
• “On-to-Ottawa trek” – one thousand unemployed men from Western Provinces start a march towards Ottawa to complain to the Prime Minister about the state of relief camps -
Newfoundland fisheries hard hit
• Newfoundland: Forty-five percent of the working male population is employed in various branches of the fishery. Harshly affected by the Depression -
Regina Riot
The Regina Riot was a protest against the conditions at unemployment relief camps, very violent -
Between 500, 000 and 600,000 unemployed Canadians are on public relief, one tenth of population.
Between 500, 000 and 600,000 unemployed Canadians are on public relief, one tenth of population. -
Alberhart wins 53 out of 65 seats in Alberta provintial legislature.
Alberhart wins 53 out of 65 seats in Alberta provintial legislature. -
Bank of Canada Established
March 11 - Bank of Canada established -
Creation of Reconstruction party
A new political party was launched on july 19. Hennery Herbert Steven new leader→ former conservative minister. He quit the government during his inquiry into the Canadian big business. “ Reconstruction party”. People on favour of his new party because R.B bennet for not keeping his promise to eliminate sweatshops and helping the poor. -
Premier Aberhart offers solution to clear provincial debt
Premier William Aberhart announces his government will sell “prosperity bonds” in an effort to clear provincial debt of 150 million in 10 years -
Mackenzie King becomes P.M. for the third time, replacing R.B. Bennett
Mackenzie King becomes prime minister for the third time, replacing R.B. Bennett -
Top tax rate was raised to 79 percent
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Economic recovery continues: GNP grows a record 14.1 percent; unemployment rate falls to 16.9 percent
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The Supreme Court declared part of the Agricultural Adjustment Act to be unconstitutional
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Dropping in birth rate
The birth rate dropped from 13.1 live births per 100 in 1930 to 9.7 in 1937 -
Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commision name change
The Canadian RAdio Broadcasting Commision changed its name to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Also in that same year the Bank of Canada was nationalized. -
Reciprocity Treaty
Mackenzie King dropped the new deal, declaring it unconstitutional and made the new Reciprocity Treaty with the U.S. -
Exports shrunk by 50%
Canadian exports shrank by 50% from 1929 to 1933. Worst hit were areas dependent on primary industries such as farming, mining and logging, as prices fell and there were few alternative jobs. Families saw most or all of their assets disappear and their debts became heavier as prices fell. -
Canada is granted full legislative independence
• December 11 - the Statute of Westminster goes into effect: Canada is granted full legislative independence in national and international affairs, with the Crown represented by the Governor General. -
Canada remained behind others when recovering from economic development
Industrial countries resumed their economic development but Canada remained behind the others. It would take Canada two more years to pull of the Great Depression. And this was at a high cost. -
$25 payout was not done by Social Credit
By 1938 the Social Credit government abandoned its notions about the $25 payouts, but its inability to break with UFA policies led to disillusionment and heavy defections from the party. -
Government Supports Unemployed Canadians
June 1939 the government gives away 10 tons of year old surplus butter to unemployed Canadians. One million Canadians are on relief -
Canadian Government Forms Defense Industries Ltd.
In Ottawa, September 1939 the government forms Defense Industries Ltd. to provide explosives and munitions for the war -
Canada Declares War on Germany
September 10 1939 Canada declare war on Germany allowed many unemployed people to go to war