Times of Turmoil

It was point out by women groups that grain

should be used to feed soldiers instead of alcohol

In 1918, the Federal government banned
the production, import, and transportation
of liquor across the country

Crime rate dropped and drunkenness decreased

Industrial efficiency improved because fewer days were
missed

Created a new crime: people bought "bootleg liquor"
(illegal liquor made and sold by bootleggers

Bc of the illegal liquor the Canadian gov't lost a lot of
money

This led to the gov't adding more hours for workers
to earn back the money they lost

Causing the Labour unrest

Economically the gov't was not doing well bc of all the
money they were losing

A federal department of health was created in 1919

Took control over nation concerns (border quarantines
and child welfare)

Took some years before it had a real impact but
Canadians were becoming more aware of public
health concerns

Some communities set up a quarantine

To stop the spread of the flu many closed schools
and businesses

Due to the closed schools and businesses this may
have caused the unemployment bc workers were not
working

This event did well Politically bc the gov't kept the health
of the individuals living within the country's borders with
the quarantine

This event probably didn't do well economically bc schools
and businesses closed down

May 1st the building and metal trades councils voted
to go on strike

For, decent wages, 8 hour days, and the right to
bargain collectively for better working conditions

June 21st is known as Bloody Sunday, violence erupted

The crowd overturned a street car and set it on fire

The police charged the crowd and shots were fired

Committee ordered the workers back to their jobs

This event would not have happened if inflation and
unemployment did not occur.

Also if workers were treated nicely and with respect

For the time during the strike the country probably
didn't do well economically bc workers were not working
and earning money

It also had an crumbling industry

Maritime Rights Movement

Wanted the federal government to increase subsides
(payment to the provinces), and help protect Maritime industries with higher tariffs (taxes on imported goods)

In the west, farmers were suffering from post-war
slump

1920, farmers formed their own federal political
party, the national progressives

While they did not last they showed that the
traditional 2 party system was not enough to
represent the diverse concerns of groups across
the country

The farmers gave a voice to diverse groups across the country
Which is different to when workers were not being heard during the Labour Unrest

Socially, the farmers made the gov't see that they needed
a change which developed the gov't and all farmers

In the future, it would impact more workers/groups

A training program to help Veterans find a job

Veterans still couldn't find jobs after the program

Veterns that found jobs found their disabilities or injuries had worsened making it difficult to work

Soldier Settlement Act in 1919 offered those who wanted
to farm a grant of land

Farmers found it difficult to keep up their mortgage payment

The Pension Act was passed in 1927

British subjects over the age of 70 were entitled to a
pension

Pensioners had to have lived in Canada for 20 years

Anyone who earned more than $365 a year could not
get a pension

Not that positive

Women could only receive a pension if they were a widow

Non-British subjects could not get a pension

The pension act was not fair and the social support didn't
really help the veterans

Because of the rent and inflation this led to Soldiers
not being able to afford mortgage to farm land

Socially, this event developed the life for veterans, widows and children of veterans

economically, the gov't was doing well with keeping the country out of depression

The gov't was also able to earn money to give enforce
the Pension Act

The gov't aimed to assimilate aboriginal children was
through residential schools

Could not speak their language or follow their traditional cultural practices

Aboriginal people who tried to live off reserves in Canadian towns faced prejudice

In 1919 a Mohawk veteran organized the League of Indians

After the war the gov’t wanted to enfranchise (the veterans have the right to vote, but only if they give up their status) Aboriginal veterans

In response the gov’t made it illegal for aboriginal to raise funds for land claims + forming organizations

Because of how unfairly the Aboriginals were being treated
it made them want to fight back and form an organization

This is similar to the strike from the Labour Unrest bc
it all started with unfair situations and workers wanting
to fight back

Politically, the gov't did not protect the rights of the Aboriginals

For example, the right to vote without having their status taken away

During the war Canadians had become more suspicious and less tolerant of “foreigners” and ethnic minorities

Changes to the Immigration Act in 1919 reflected feeling of xenophobia (intense dislike of foreigners)

Compulsory for immigration to pass on English literacy test

BC discrimination was mostly directed against Asians, they were paid lower wages than other workers for the same job

Did not have a right to vote, excluded from most professions

On July 1st 1923, Chinese Exclusion Act passed

Banned all Chinese except students, merchants, and diplomats from entering Canada

Bc during the Labour Unrest there was already discrimination
towards non-British people. The Immigration Act in 1919 was
not a surprise

Socially, the gov't did not develop the quality of life for immigrants

For example, the Immigration Act did not greatly socially impact Immigrants