Canada and a Roaring Economy
Overview
• The Roaring Twenties saw boom times in
Canada. Unemployment was low; earnings for
individuals and companies were high.
• Greater disposable income meant a consumer
society was being born.
• Labourers were also thrust to the forefront of
social change because of terrible working
conditions.
Boom in Old and New Industry
• By 1923-24 the economic slump that
followed the First World War was
over.
• World economies had improved and
countries were buying Canadian
goods.
• Demand for Canadian wheat
reached record levels in the 1920s.
• Domestic and foreign industrial
demand for iron ore, nickel, zinc and
copper caused a mining boom.
Growth in Industry
• The Canadian pulp and paper
industry expanded rapidly
during the 1920s.
• Demand was huge in the
American market.
• During the 1920s Canada
exported more pulpwood and
newsprint than the rest of the
world combined.
Automobiles
• Automobile production grew
from a small industry to
become the fourth largest
manufacturing industry in
Canada.
• Production of new household
products also increased.
– Radios, record players as well
as other labour saving electrical
appliances.
Tariffs
• Tariff: Tax on foreign goods being imported.
• The federal government introduced tariffs to
protect Canada’s manufacturing and industrial
base.
• Example: US made farm machinery was taxed
so that it was more expensive than Canadianmade farm machinery.
• What did this do for Canadian companies?
Drastic Change
• Economic prosperity and new technological
developments brought about enormous change.
• Many people moved into the cities to work in
factories or in service industries like transportation,
finance, public administration, and hospitality.
Changes….
• Wages were rising for many people and for the first
time people could buy stuff on an installment plan.
• Beginning of a debt society.
• Workers had more income, therefore more
DISPOSABLE INCOME.
Canada becomes a Consumer Society
• Along with the 1920s came with a
number of consumer products that
many Canadian families ‘had’ to
have.
• Mass Media was introduced in the
1920s, in fact, by 1929 there were
300,000 radios in Canada, up from
fewer then 10,000 radios in 1924
(beginning of boom)
• Mass media = Mass Advertising
Don’t Worry - Shop
• Mass advertising along with job security and
higher incomes meant that they could spend
money on things other then the basic
necessities.
• There was more ‘disposable’ income.
Advertising
• Advertisers made luxury
items seem like necessities
to hundreds of thousands
of Canadians.
• There was an astounding
range of household goods
made available by places
like EATONS.
Advertising
• EATONS catalogue was
a central feature in
every Canadian
household.
Miracles
• Automatic washing
machines, hand operated
washing machines, electric
irons, electric toaster,
electric stoves, vaccuum
cleaners and sewing
machines.
• These products gave people
more free time.
Automobiles
• By 1928 there were many other
automobile plants in Canada
and the United States.
• Canadians could shop around,
they could buy a Chevrolet or
Pontiac.
• By 1929 a large percent of
Canadians owned cars, in fact
over 10 years it had increased
300%.
What did the automobile do for
Canadians?
• Before the 1920s only
the rich could travel
Canada.
• After the early twenties
the average Canadian
could.
• Canadians went on
Sunday family drives.
The Radio and the Family
• Radio was a way for
families to spend time
with on another.
• The entire family would
huddle around a radio
set and listen to their
favourite weekly shows
of music, comedy, soap
opera, education, news
and preaching.
Conclusion
• The economic boom made life easier for many
Canadians and in some ways it brought families
together.