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Politics of Protest

Politics of Protest. Cooperative Commonwealth Federation & Social Credit. As the federal government struggled to find a way to deal with the Depression, many looked to alternative political parties for solutions… Conservatives (in power) – Prime Minister R.B. Bennett

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Politics of Protest

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  1. Politics of Protest Cooperative Commonwealth Federation & Social Credit

  2. As the federal government struggled to find a way to deal with the Depression, many looked to alternative political parties for solutions… • Conservatives (in power) – Prime Minister R.B. Bennett • Liberals (in opposition) – William Lyon Mackenzie King • Neither of these men seemed to know what to do….

  3. Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) – western based • Appealed to dissatisfied farmers, labourers, intellectuals etc. • CCF was a “Socialist” party • Leader = J.S. Woodsworth • Political platform called the “Regina Manifesto” • Believed in: • Public ownership of key industries • Social programs to assist the elderly, unemployed, homeless, sick etc. • Woodsworth believed government should spend money on public works to create jobs • CCF did not win seats in 1930’s elections…but an alternative

  4. Social Credit – Alberta based • Leader – William “Bible Bill” Aberhart– preacher and high school teacher • Weekly radio program – “Voices of the Prairies” • Believed: • Capitalism was wasteful and banks hoarded $ - this prevented customers from buying the goods capitalism produced! • Govt. should release $ into the economy so people could spend it • Promised: • Each citizen a “basic dividend” of $25 a month for necessities – but…only the federal govt. can issue money • Social Credit in power in AB until 1971 under Aberhart’s successors

  5. Provincial Solutions: • In Ontario, the Liberals came to power in 1934 for the first time in 29 years Leader = Mitch Hepburn • Populist farmer who championed the “little man” but really did little for the unemployed • In Quebec, the Union Nationalecame to power in 1936 Leader = Maurice Duplessis • Nationalistic French-Cdn. Party – relied on Church and rural voters and blamed Quebec’s problems on English minority which controlled the province’s economy • Few reforms…little done to improve economy or society

  6. In BC, the Liberals were elected in 1933 Leader = DufferinPatullo • Believed in provincial spending and promised a “New Little Deal” • Reforms to shorten the work week, increase minimum wage and increase relief pay • New public works projects – Fraser River Bridge, Vancouver City Hall…

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