The Canadian Depression

The Great Depression in the 1920's and 30's were some of the hardest times in history for many people in Canada. The stock market crashed, demand for goods dropped and exports plummeted. It was a time of the most desperate poverty Canada had ever known. In this dire state, families begged for some kind of relief but it would not come. In regards to providing this relief and dealing with the Depression, the Canadian Government was not successful because they supported a "laissez-faire" system of government, their vouchers did not provide people with what they needed, and they placed high tarrifs on foreign goods. However, they did create relief work camps, they bailed the provinces out with relief money, and the Dole somewhat helped those who received it.

During this time of horrible economic hardship, the Canadian Government failed to lift the country out of its depression because it supported a "laissez-faire" system of government, its vouchers did not provide people with what they needed, and it placed high tarrifs on foreign goods. Firstly, the Government at that time supported "laissez-faire" which caused many problems when the depression first became evident. In a lassez-faire system of government there is little to no interference in the economy by the government. This resulted in the government sitting back and relying on the people to fix the economic slump that the country was in. But when the poeple could not relieve this slump, things just got worse and worse. Secondly, the government attempted to help people who had lost their jobs by giving them vouchers for food and other necessities. However, these vouchers were hardly enough for people to survive and they were rationed sparingly. Also, people felt that it was very humiliating to live off of these vouchers when there were those living the high life. Overall, the vouchers were a failed attempt to help poeple survive if they had no job. Finally, in an attempt to increase Canadian bussines, the...