How Did The Great Depression Affect Canadian Identity

Canadian identity, when defined by its economy during the 1930’s was affected negatively due to the Great Depression. The Great Depression affected Canada negatively because it meant that Canadians were suffering and that citizens were angry at the government for their lack of effort in helping the citizens. When the Great Depression first hit, many people were left unemployed and without any money or a home due to the loans people got during the prosperous years of the 20’s. During these bad times, the Federal Department of Labour said that a family needed between 1200 and 1500 dollars a year to maintain the "minimum standard of decency". Shockingly; 60 percent of households were making less than 1000 dollars a year. This meant that 60 percent of Canada’s population was living beneath what the government said was the minimum amount of money needed to sustain a decent life which at the time wasn’t very good to begin with.
30 percent of Canadians were struggling to find work, and by 1933, one in five Canadians were relying on government relief for survival.
These relief programs gave out very little money from 16 dollars a month in Nova Scotia to 60 dollars in Alberta. If one had to survive on even 60 dollars a month, which still only totals 720 dollars a year would not even be close to the minimum amount the Department of Labour says one needs to survive. With so many people struggling to survive, it is really obvious that the Great Depression affected Canadian identity negatively in the eyes of its own people. Another reason that the Great Depression negatively affected Canada was because the government did not try hard enough to help its citizens and this really angered them. The lack of action by Mr. Bennett and Mr. Mackenzie King persuaded many to write letters to the PMs regarding their lack of action. For example, an anonymous Canadian wrote to Bennett in desperation
stating:
Dear Mr. Bennett: I suppose I am silly to write this letter but I haven't anyone else to write to...we are just one of many on relief and trying to keep our place without being starved out...trying to get a start without and money and 5 children, all small... I am sure we can make a go of this place...if we could just manage until next fall. Just had 70 Acres in last year and the dry spell just caught it right along with the grasshoppers. Please help me by standing me some money and will send you my engagement ring and wedding ring as security...My two rings cost over $100 over 15 years ago but what good are they when the flour is nearly all done and there isn't much to eat in the house (Morton).
People who were sending Mr. Bennett letters, were so desperate for money that it was no longer anger, just a sincere plea for help. In the letter, the guilt factor is used on the Prime Minister in an attempt to get the government to do something as well as really demonstrate the people’s desperation as well as anger due to the lack of action. Many people of that time were angry at the government simply because of helplessness as well as empty promises made by the government such as the promise to unemployment insurance and health insurance. The only reason Bennett proposed all of this was because it was time for elections and wanted to say in power. By now, Bennett’s time had run out and the people were dissatisfied with Bennett and instead, chose King to help stop the suffering. Political battles played a key role in the lack of action by the government at the time and meant that Canada as a whole could not get past the recession ultimately harming Canada’s identity. All in all, Canadian identity was affected for the worse because of the great depression due to the suffering of the people and the lack of action by the government to try and stop the suffering and bring Canada back into a prosperous state.