Canada, among other countries was hit the hardest by the Great Depression and suffered substantial losses. Their government failed to provide adequate means of support in time, trade dropped significantly, and the employment rates and the economy were at an all-time low; causing a large number of actions to be taken by citizens to stand up for what they believed they needed. The Great Depression began on October 29, 1929 and would last for 10 years until the Second World War. Canada was faced now with an economic crisis that affected everyone 's lives from rich to poor.
Everyone was affected in one way or another by the devastating effects of the stock market crash. During the 1920’s, it was a time of prosperity. Stocks were bought on a credit …show more content…
"Unemployment reached an average of 32 per cent in Canadian cities. In Windsor, Ont., it reached 50 per cent. In the Maritime provinces, unemployment for ordinary labourers hit 60 per cent." (The Great Depression hit Canada the Hardest). “A chain reaction began in which jobless workers bought fewer goods, and falling demand led to yet more closures.” (Harris 16). Very little was initially done to aid those in need and “as the depression carried on 1 in 5 Canadians became dependant on government relief (soup kitchens).” (Great Depression of Canada). "MacKenzie King thought that it was the responsibility of the provinces to aid their own citizens. He wasn’t prepared for the depression (not many political leaders were) and so he didn’t take an interventionist approach to the Economy." (Political responses to the Great Depression) Had Mackenzie King intervened on the issue, perhaps far fewer families would have faced as many hardships.
“…under the constitution, Ottawa alone had the legal power to borrow theoretically unlimited amounts of money. Quebec…doubled the provincial debt in just three years in order to create jobs; Ottawa did not match that borrowing and spending…It was not until 1938 that Ottawa deliberately borrowed money to stimulate the economy. In both world wars Ottawa borrowed massively—fighting wars was seen as a challenge …show more content…
Canada was faced with economic hardships far beyond what other countries endured. The government’s responses to it were poor and inevitably did little to help the country out of the great economic slump it was stuck in. Many lessons were learned from the crash of 1929 and the Great Depression that followed. “…it is that very specific and personal misfortune awaits those who presume to believe that the future is revealed to them…it may be possible to gain from our view of this useful year some insights into the future.” (Kenneth
Everyone was affected in one way or another by the devastating effects of the stock market crash. During the 1920’s, it was a time of prosperity. Stocks were bought on a credit …show more content…
"Unemployment reached an average of 32 per cent in Canadian cities. In Windsor, Ont., it reached 50 per cent. In the Maritime provinces, unemployment for ordinary labourers hit 60 per cent." (The Great Depression hit Canada the Hardest). “A chain reaction began in which jobless workers bought fewer goods, and falling demand led to yet more closures.” (Harris 16). Very little was initially done to aid those in need and “as the depression carried on 1 in 5 Canadians became dependant on government relief (soup kitchens).” (Great Depression of Canada). "MacKenzie King thought that it was the responsibility of the provinces to aid their own citizens. He wasn’t prepared for the depression (not many political leaders were) and so he didn’t take an interventionist approach to the Economy." (Political responses to the Great Depression) Had Mackenzie King intervened on the issue, perhaps far fewer families would have faced as many hardships.
“…under the constitution, Ottawa alone had the legal power to borrow theoretically unlimited amounts of money. Quebec…doubled the provincial debt in just three years in order to create jobs; Ottawa did not match that borrowing and spending…It was not until 1938 that Ottawa deliberately borrowed money to stimulate the economy. In both world wars Ottawa borrowed massively—fighting wars was seen as a challenge …show more content…
Canada was faced with economic hardships far beyond what other countries endured. The government’s responses to it were poor and inevitably did little to help the country out of the great economic slump it was stuck in. Many lessons were learned from the crash of 1929 and the Great Depression that followed. “…it is that very specific and personal misfortune awaits those who presume to believe that the future is revealed to them…it may be possible to gain from our view of this useful year some insights into the future.” (Kenneth