How Did The Great Depression Affect Canada

The Effect of the Great Depression on Canadians The Great Depression was more than just an economic slump. There was the drought. There was a shift in population, as families went across the country to find work. There was police overkill, as they violently suppressed the protests. It was a time where pride had to take a back seat, a time where people lived on scraps. The government was not ready to deal with something on the scale of the Great Depression and neither were the people. The Great Depression was a time where Canadian's confidence in the government and in themselves were crushed by poor handling of the situation by the government as shown in the relief program and relief camps, and by poor choices by the government The government and business leaders fumbled with the Great Depression. “The businessmen weren't prepared, the politicians weren’t prepared, and the people weren't prepared” (Berton 38). In retrospect, it was clear that the economy wasn't stable, but such an immense economic …show more content…
It was to try and get young men off the streets and force them to work for almost non-existent wages were supposed to be an innovative idea that will keep “restless men off the streets” yet the relief camps ended up being one of the causes for the On-To-Ottawa Trek. Relief camps sounded great. Work, fresh air, food and wages. What could go wrong? First of all, The relief camps housed restless, dissatisfied young men forced to wok in horrible wages and conditions, with narrow cots and poor food. The government had lied to the people, claiming that it was “a Paradise” (Berton, 296). This obviously sowed distrust. After the winter of 1935, the Relief Camp Worker's Union staged a massive walk-out on April 4th, led by the Communist Party (Bain, 127), and the On-To-Ottawa trek was born. This was the height of the government resentment they felt. They felt no confidence in the government, and took it upon themselves to make a

Show More