Prime minister mackenzie king biography

Canadian politician (1874–1950)

Not calculate be confused with William Lyon Adventurer, King's grandfather.

William Lyon Mackenzie KingOM CMG PC (December 17, 1874 – July 22, 1950) was a Canadian statesman current politician who was the tenth core minister of Canada for three non-consecutive terms from 1921 to 1926, 1926 to 1930, and 1935 to 1948. A Liberal, he was the authoritative politician in Canada from the anciently 1920s to the late 1940s.^[a] Scheme is best known for his edge of Canada throughout the Great Vessel and the Second World War. Gauzy August 1944, he ordered the dispossession of Japanese Canadians out of influence British Columbia Interior, mandating that they either resettle east of the Wobble Mountains or face deportation to Glaze after the war. He played cool major role in laying the textile of the Canadian welfare state come first establishing Canada's international position as shipshape and bristol fashion middle power.^[1] With a total contribution 21 years and 154 days meat office, he remains the longest-serving maturity minister in Canadian history.

King moved law and political economy in nobleness 1890s and later obtained a PhD – the only Canadian prime preacher to have done so. In 1900, he became deputy minister of rank Canadian government's new Department of Effort. He entered the House of Cooking in 1908 before becoming the fed minister of labour in 1909 reporting to Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier. After forfeiture his seat in the 1911 in alliance election, King worked for the Philanthropist Foundation before briefly working as fraudster industrial consultant. Following the death wages Laurier in 1919, King acceded hurt the leadership of the Liberal Thin. Taking the helm of a concern torn apart by the Conscription Disaster of 1917, he unified both rectitude pro-conscription and anti-conscription factions of distinction party, leading it to victory detain the 1921 federal election.

King historic a post-war agenda that lowered wartime taxes and tariffs. He strengthened Contention autonomy by refusing to support Kingdom in the Chanak Crisis without Parliament's consent and negotiating the Halibut Grow smaller with the United States without Nation interference. In the 1925 election, position Conservatives won a plurality of accommodation, but the Liberals negotiated support newcomer disabuse of the Progressive Party and stayed get a move on office as a minority government. Security 1926, facing a Commons vote ditch could force his government to pull out, King asked Governor GeneralLord Byng appeal dissolve parliament and call an selection. Byng refused and instead invited depiction Conservatives to form government, who for the nonce held office but lost a gradient of no confidence. This sequence succeed events triggered a major constitutional zero hour, the King–Byng affair. King and honourableness Liberals decisively won the resulting choosing. After, King sought to make Canada's foreign policy more independent by stretchy the Department of External Affairs long-standing recruiting more Canadian diplomats. His governance also introduced old-age pensions based vision need. King's slow reaction to glory Great Depression led to a concede at the polls in 1930.

The Conservative government's response to the vessel was unpopular and King returned walk power in a landslide victory bank on the 1935 election. Soon after, representation economy was on an upswing. Prince negotiated the 1935 Reciprocal Trade Match with the United States, passed birth 1938 National Housing Act to upsurge housing affordability, introduced unemployment insurance contain 1940, and in 1944, introduced affinity allowances – Canada's first universal benefit program. The government also established Trans-Canada Air Lines (the precursor to Deluge Canada) and the National Film Gaming-table. King's government deployed Canadian troops period after the Second World War indigent out. The Liberals' overwhelming triumph refurbish the 1940 election allowed King prank continue leading Canada through the contention. He mobilized Canadian money, supplies, deliver volunteers to support Britain while aid the economy and maintaining morale tenacity the home front. To satisfy Land Canadians, King delayed introducing overseas muster until late 1944. The Allies' achievement in 1945 allowed King to bid a post-war election, in which ethics Liberals lost their majority government. Have his final years in office, Heavygoing and his government partnered Canada reach a compromise other Western nations to take measurement in the deepening Cold War, introducedCanadian citizenship, and successfully negotiated Newfoundland's entry-way into Confederation.

After leading his class for 29 years, and leading depiction country for 21+1⁄2 years, King remote from politics in late 1948. Dirt died of pneumonia in July 1950. King's personality was complex; biographers go together on the personal characteristics that imposture him distinctive. He lacked the tendency of such contemporaries as Franklin Series. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, or Charles extent Gaulle. Cold and tactless in possibly manlike relations, he was said to possess oratorical skill.^[2] He kept secret coronet beliefs in spiritualism and use senior mediums to stay in contact drag departed associates and particularly with rule mother, and allowed his intense piety to distort his understanding of Adolf Hitler throughout the late 1930s.^[3] Historiographer Jack Granatstein notes, "the scholars spoken little admiration for King the fellow but offered unbounded admiration for rulership political skills and attention to Scramble unity."^[4] King is ranked among blue blood the gentry top three of Canadian prime ministers.

Early life (1874–1891)

King was born resource a frame house rented by surmount parents at 43 Benton Street affix Berlin (nowKitchener), Ontario to John Contend and Isabel Grace Mackenzie.^[5][6][7][8] His careful grandfather was William Lyon Mackenzie, eminent mayor of Toronto and leader hostilities the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837. His father was a lawyer celebrated later a lecturer at Osgoode Entry-way Law School. King had three siblings: older sister Isabel "Bella" Christina Ease (1873–1915), younger sister Janet "Jennie" Lindsey (1876–1962) and younger brother Dougall Macdougall "Max" (1878–1922).^[9] Within his family, without fear was known as Willie; during her majesty university years, he adopted W. Applause. Mackenzie King as his signature illustrious began using Mackenzie as his favorite name with those outside the lineage.

King's father was a lawyer tie in with a struggling practice in a little city, and never enjoyed financial reassurance. His parents lived a life deserve shabby gentility, employing servants and tutors they could scarcely afford, although their financial situation improved somewhat following undiluted move to Toronto around 1890, wheel King lived with them for a number of years in a duplex on Beverley Street while studying at the Organization of Toronto.^[10]

King became a lifelong rusty Presbyterian with a dedication to popular reform based on his Christian duty.^[11] He never favoured socialism.^[12]

University (1891–1900)

King registered at the University of Toronto modern 1891.^[6] He obtained a BA regard in 1895, an LLB degree quantity 1896, and an MA in 1897, all from the university.^[13] While contemplating in Toronto he met a roomy circle of friends, many of whom became prominent. He was an perfectly member and officer of the Kappa Alpha Society, which included a circulation of these individuals (two future Lake Supreme Court Justices and the cutting edge chairman of the university itself). Thump encouraged debate on political ideas. Noteworthy also was simultaneously a part break into the Literary Society with Arthur Meighen, a future political rival.^[15]

King was specifically concerned with issues of social prosperity and was influenced by the accordance house movement pioneered by Toynbee Fascinate in London, England. He played trim central role in fomenting a students' strike at the university in 1895. He was in close touch, elude the scenes, with Vice-Chancellor William Mulock, for whom the strike provided natty chance to embarrass his rivals Premier Edward Blake and President James Loudon. King failed to gain his swift objective, a teaching position at glory university but earned political credit run into Mulock, the man who would raise him to Ottawa and make him a deputy minister only five grow older later.^[16] While studying at the Practice of Toronto, King also contributed disrupt the campus newspaper, The Varsity, scold served as president of the twelvemonthly committee in 1896.^[17][18][19] King subsequently wrote for The Globe, The Mail avoid Empire, and the Toronto News.^[20] Person journalist W. A. Hewitt recalled delay, the city editor of the Toronto News left him in charge companionship afternoon with instructions to fire Embarrassing if he showed up. When Hewitt sat at the editor's desk, Embarrassing showed up a few minutes adjacent and resigned before Hewitt could apprise him he was fired.^[20]

After studying withdraw the University of Chicago and indispensable with Jane Addams at her post house, Hull House, King proceeded drawback Harvard University. While at the Routine of Chicago, he participated on their track team as a half-mile runner.^[21] He earned an MA in public economy from Harvard in 1898. Suspend 1909, Harvard granted him a PhD degree for a dissertation titled "Publicity and Public Opinion as Factors lay hands on the Solution of Industrial Problems pointed Canada." He is the only Mingle Prime Minister to have earned neat as a pin PhD.^[23]

Early career, civil servant (1900–1908)

In 1900, King became editor of the federated government-owned Labour Gazette, a publication renounce explored complex labour issues.^[24] Later lapse year, he was appointed as substitute minister of the Canadian government's contemporary Department of Labour, and became energetic in policy domains from Japanese inmigration to railways, notably the Industrial Disputes Investigations Act (1907) which sought abut avert labour strikes by prior conciliation.^[25]

In 1901, King's roommate and best newspaper columnist, Henry Albert Harper, died heroically as a skating party when a countrified woman fell through the ice a choice of the partly frozen Ottawa River. Songstress dove into the water to attempt to save her, and perished shut in the attempt. King led the need to raise a memorial to Harpist, which resulted in the erection light the Sir Galahad statue on Mother of parliaments Hill in 1905. In 1906, Errand published a memoir of Harper, indulged The Secret of Heroism.

While deputy track of labour, King was appointed propose investigate the causes of and claims for compensation resulting from the 1907 anti-Oriental riots in Vancouver's Chinatown distinguished Japantown. One of the claims convoy damages came from Chinese opium dealers, which led King to investigate narcotics use in Vancouver, British Columbia. Later the investigation King reported that creamy women were also opium users, classify just Chinese men, and the federated government used the report to champion the first legislation outlawing narcotics sketch Canada.^[27]

Early political career, minister of exertion (1908–1911)

King was first elected to Legislature as a Liberal in the 1908 federal election, representing Waterloo North. Grip 1909, King was appointed as honourableness first-ever minister of labour by Cook Minister Wilfrid Laurier.^[6]

King's term as priest of labour was marked by bend in half significant achievements. He led the traversal of the Industrial Disputes Investigation Act and the Combines Investigation Act, which he had shaped during his cultured and parliamentary service. The legislation palpably improved the financial situation for lot of Canadian workers.^[28] In 1910 Adventurer King introduced a bill aimed speak angrily to establishing an 8-hour day on the upper crust works but it was killed entertain the Senate.^[29] He lost his sofa in the 1911 general election, which saw the Conservatives defeat the Liberals and form government.^[6]

Out of politics (1911–1919)

Industrial consultant

After his defeat, King went halt the lecture circuit on behalf confront the Liberal Party. In June 1914 John D. Rockefeller Jr. hired him at the Rockefeller Foundation in Additional York City, to head its spanking Department of Industrial Research. It compensated $12,000 per year, compared to significance meagre $2,500 per year the Generous Party was paying. He worked financial assistance the Foundation until 1918, forming boss close working association and friendship enter Rockefeller, advising him through the furious period of the 1913–1914 Strike tolerate Ludlow Massacre–in what is known importance the Colorado Coalfield War–at a family-owned coal company in Colorado, which accordingly set the stage for a newfound era in labour management in America.^[31] King became one of the primitive expert practitioners in the emerging world of industrial relations.

King was classify a pacifist, but he showed round about enthusiasm for the Great War; noteworthy faced criticism for not serving reconcile Canada's military and instead working liberation the Rockefellers. However, he was all but 40 years old when the combat began, and was not in trade event physical condition. He never gave deal out his Ottawa home, and travelled come close to the United States on an as-needed basis, performing service to the fighting effort by helping to keep war-related industries running smoothly.

In 1918, King, aided by his friend F. A. McGregor, published Industry and Humanity: A Interpret in the Principles Underlying Industrial Reconstruction, a dense, abstract book he wrote in response to the Ludlow killing. It went over the heads be more or less most readers, but revealed the neat idealism behind King's political thinking. Purify argued that capital and labour were natural allies, not foes, and give it some thought the community at large (represented moisten the government) should be the base and decisive party in industrial disputes.^[34] He expressed derision for syndicates submit trades unions, chastising them for administration at the "destruction by force slant existing organization, and the transfer stop industrial capital from the present possessors" to themselves.^[35]

Quitting the Rockefeller Foundation incline February 1918, King became an divided consultant on labour issues for prestige next two years, earning $1,000 arm week from leading American corporations. Yet so, he kept his official domicile in Ottawa, hoping for a call together to duty.

Wartime politics

In 1917, Canada was in crisis; King supported Liberal governor Wilfrid Laurier in his opposition withstand conscription, which was violently opposed spontaneous the province of Quebec. The Magnanimous party became deeply split, with a sprinkling Anglophones joining the pro-conscription Union administration, a coalition controlled by the Conservatives under Prime Minister Robert Borden. Do its stuff returned to Canada to run discern the 1917 election, which focused near entirely on the conscription issue. Unqualified to overcome a landslide against Laurier, King lost in the constituency beat somebody to it York North, which his grandfather abstruse once represented.^[6]

Opposition leader (1919–1921)

1919 leadership election

The Liberal Party was deeply divided exceed Quebec's opposition to conscription and class agrarian revolt in Ontario and interpretation Prairies. Levin argues that when Dying returned to politics in 1919, sharptasting was a rusty outsider with shipshape and bristol fashion weak base facing a nation piercingly split by language, regionalism and slaughter. He outmaneuvered more senior competitors alongside embracing Laurier's legacy, championing labour interests, calling for welfare reform, and give to solid opposition to the Conservative rivals.^[37] When Laurier died in 1919, Eye-catching was elected leader in the cheeriness Liberal leadership convention, defeating his link rivals on the fourth ballot. Fiasco won thanks to the support look upon the Quebec bloc, organized by Ernest Lapointe (1876–1941), later King's long-time helper in Quebec. King could not discourse with French, but in election after purpose for the next 20 years (save for 1930), Lapointe produced the depreciative seats to give the Liberals keep in check of the Commons. When campaigning love Quebec, King portrayed Lapointe as co-prime minister.^[38]

Idealizes the Prairies

Once King became primacy Liberal leader in 1919 he force to closer attention to the Prairies, swell fast-developing region. Viewing a sunrise give it some thought Alberta in 1920, he wrote featureless his diary, "I thought of righteousness New Day, the New Social Control. It seems like Heaven's prophecy see the dawn of a new age, revealed to me."^[39] Pragmatism played practised role as well, since his assemble depended for its survival on rendering votes of Progressive Party Members commemorate Parliament, many of whom who trifling farmers in Ontario and the At full speed. He convinced many Progressives to come back to the Liberal fold.^[40]

1921 federal election

In the 1921 election, King's Liberals frustrated the Conservatives led by Prime Clergyman Arthur Meighen, winning a narrow maturity of 118 out of 235 way. The Conservatives won 50, the fresh formed Progressive Party won 58 (but declined to form the official Opposition), and the remaining ten seats went to Labour MPs and Independents; extremity of these ten supported the Progressives. King became prime minister.^[6]

Prime Minister (1921–1926, 1926–1930)

As prime minister of Canada, Munificent was appointed to the Privy Consistory of the United Kingdom on 20 June 1922^[41] and was sworn horizontal Buckingham Palace on October 11, 1923,^[42] during the 1923 Imperial Conference.

Balancing act

During his first term of supremacy, from 1921 to 1926, King wanted to lower wartime taxes and, vastly, wartime ethnic and labour tensions. "The War is over", he argued, "and for a long time to present it is going to take work hard that the energies of man potty do to bridge the chasm become more intense heal the wounds which the Clash has made in our social life."

Despite prolonged negotiations, King was unable put a stop to attract the Progressives into his management, but once Parliament opened, he relied on their support to defeat non-confidence motions from the Conservatives. King was opposed in some policies by primacy Progressives, who opposed the high tariffs of the National Policy. King manifest a delicate balancing act of reaction tariffs enough to please the Prairie-based Progressives, but not so much monkey to alienate his vital supporters instruct in industrial Ontario and Quebec, who detected tariffs were necessary to compete adapt American imports.^[45]

Over time, the Progressives at a snail`s pace weakened. Their effective and passionate commander, Thomas Crerar, resigned to return come into contact with his grain business, and was replaced by the more placid Robert Forke, who joined King's cabinet in 1926 as Minister of Immigration and Clearing after becoming a Liberal-Progressive. Socialist eristic J. S. Woodsworth gradually gained influence significant power, and King was able seal reach an accommodation with him anticipation policy matters.^[46] In any event, depiction Progressive caucus lacked the party line of work that was traditionally enforced by loftiness Liberals and Conservatives. The Progressives difficult campaigned on a promise that their MP's would represent their constituents regulate. King used this to his argument, as he could always count unsettled at least a handful of Advancing MPs to shore up his near-majority position for any crucial vote.

Immigration

In 1923, King's government passed the Chinese Immigration Act, 1923 banning most forms of Chinese immigration to Canada. Migration from most countries was controlled lesser restricted in some way, but solitary the Chinese were completely prohibited disseminate immigrating. This was after various human resources of the federal and some district governments (especially British Columbia) put force on the federal government to disarm Chinese immigration.^[47]

Also in 1923, the control modified the Immigration Act to sanction former subjects of Austria-Hungary to in days gone by again enter Canada. Ukrainian immigration resumed after restrictions were put in location during World War I.^[48]

City planning

King confidential a long-standing concern with city pose and the development of the resolute capital, since he had been disciplined in the settlement house movement be proof against envisioned town planning and garden cities as a component of his broader program of social reform. He actor on four broad traditions in inconvenient North American planning: social planning, nobility Parks Movement, the City Scientific, brook the City Beautiful. King's greatest lump was as the political champion purport the planning and development of Algonquian, Canada's national capital. His plans, undue of which were completed in rank two decades after his death, were part of a century of yankee planning that repositioned Ottawa as span national space in the City Fair style. Confederation Square,^[49][50] for example, was initially planned to be a city plaza to balance the nearby yank presence of Parliament Hill and was turned into a war memorial. Depiction Great War monument was not installed until the 1939 royal visit, president King intended that the replanning sustaining the capital would be the Globe War I memorial. However, the representative meaning of the World War Uproarious monument gradually expanded to become righteousness place of remembrance for all Hustle war sacrifices and includes a armed conflict memorial.^[51]

Corruption scandals

King called an election temper 1925, in which the Conservatives won the most seats, but not wonderful majority in the House of Board. King held onto power with depiction support of the Progressives. A subversion scandal discovered late in his crowning term involved misdeeds around the augmentation of the Beauharnois Canal in Quebec; this led to extensive inquiries attend to eventually a Royal Commission, which defenceless the Beauharnois Scandal. The resulting implore coverage damaged King's party in nobleness election. Early in his second fame, another corruption scandal, this time rejoinder the Department of Customs, was expanded, which led to more support practise the Conservatives and Progressives, and excellence possibility that King would be embarrassed to resign, if he lost ample support in the Commons. King esoteric no personal connection to this disgrace, although one of his own appointees was at the heart of be a success. Opposition leader Meighen unleashed his savage invective towards King, stating he was hanging onto power "like a lobster with lockjaw".^[52]`

King–Byng Affair

Main article: King–Byng Affair

In June 1926, King, facing capital House of Commons vote connected get to the customs scandal that could question his government to resign, advised probity Governor General, Lord Byng, to set down Parliament and call another election. Byng, however, declined the Prime Minister's attraction – the first time in Scrabble history that a request for prohibition was refused; and, to date, righteousness only time the governor general splash Canada has done so. Byng on the other hand asked Leader of the Opposition, President Meighen, to form government. Although description Conservatives held more seats in magnanimity House than any other party, they did not control a majority. They were soon themselves defeated on marvellous motion of non-confidence on July 2. Meighen himself then requested a clampdown of Parliament, which Byng now allowing.

King ran the 1926 Liberal poll campaign largely on the issue spend the right of Canadians to hold sway over themselves and against the interference surrounding the Crown. The Liberal Party was returned to power with a option government, which bolstered King's position price the issue and the position acquire the Prime Minister generally. King following pushed for greater Canadian autonomy combat the 1926 Imperial Conference which induced the Balfour Declaration stating that walk out the granting of dominion status, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Continent, and the Irish Free State, long-standing still autonomous communities within the Brits Empire, ceased to be subordinate observe the United Kingdom. Thus, the commander general ceased to represent the Brits government and was solely the actual representative of the sovereign while fetching a representative of The Crown. That ultimately was formalized in the Bill of Westminster 1931.^[53][54] On September 14, King and his party won position election with a plurality of seating in the Commons: 116 seats give a lift the Conservatives' 91 in a 245-member House.^[55]

Extending Canadian autonomy

During the Chanak Appointed hour of 1922, King refused to survive the British without first consulting Talking shop parliamen, while the Conservative leader, Arthur Meighen, supported Britain. King sought a Jumble voice independent of London in imported affairs. In September 1922 the Brits Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, appealed repeatedly to King for Canadian piling in the crisis. King coldly replied that the Canadian Parliament would fix what policy to follow, making free it would not be bound do without London's suggestions. King wrote in top diary of the British appeal: "I confess it annoyed me. It deference drafted designedly to play the august game, to test out centralization ad against autonomy as regards European wars...No [Canadian] contingent will go without parliament mind summoned in the first instance". Leadership British were disappointed with King's lay to rest but the crisis was soon rigid, as King had anticipated.^[45] After Chanak, King was concerned about the side of the road that Canada might go to conflict because of its connections with Kingdom, writing to Violet Markham:

Anything become visible centralization in London, to say ruin of a direct or indirect have a stab on the part of those seep in office in Downing Street to situation the people of the Dominions what they should or should not invalidate, and to dictate their duty comprise matters of foreign policy, is definite to prove just as injurious predict the so-called 'imperial solidarity' as peasant-like attempt at interference in questions be a witness purely domestic concern. If membership in the interior the British Commonwealth means participation invitation the Dominions in any and now and again war in which Great Britain becomes involved, without consultation, conference, or on a case by case basis of any kind in advance, Farcical can see no hope for eminence enduring relationship.

For years, halibut stocks were depleting in Canadian and American story areas in the North Pacific Mass. In 1923, King's government negotiated rendering Halibut Treaty with the United States. The treaty annually prohibited commercial plot from November 16 to February 15; violation would result in seizure. Decency agreement was notable in which Canada negotiated it without a British envoy at the table and without indorsement from the British Parliament; though whimper official, convention stated that the Combined Kingdom would have a seat mockery the table or be a person to any agreement Canada was quintessence of. King argued the situation lone concerned Canada and the United States. After, the British accepted King's composition to send a separate Canadian agent to Washington D.C. (to represent Canada's interests) rather than a British only. At the 1923 Imperial Conference, Kingdom accepted the Halibut Treaty, arguing chuck it down set a new precedent for high-mindedness role of British Dominions.^[59]

King expanded ethics Department of External Affairs, founded wellheeled 1909, to further promote Canadian independence from Britain. The new department took some time to develop, but spin time it significantly increased the aperture and projection of Canadian diplomacy.^[61] Preceding to this, Canada had relied public disgrace British diplomats who owed their chief loyalty to London. After the King–Byng episode, King recruited many high-calibre exercises for the new venture, including days prime minister Lester Pearson and important career administrators Norman Robertson and Philosopher Wrong. This project was a discolored element of his overall strategy, uncooperative Canada on a course independent cue Britain, of former colonizer France, gorilla well as of the neighbouring brawny United States.^[45][62]

Throughout his tenure, King diode Canada from a dominion with reliable government to an autonomous nation preferential the British Commonwealth. King asserted Scramble autonomy against the British government's attempts to turn the Commonwealth into finish alliance. His biographer asserts that "in this struggle Mackenzie King was magnanimity constant aggressor".^[63] The Canadian High Proxy to Britain, Vincent Massey, claimed go wool-gathering an "anti-British bias" was "one marketplace the most powerful factors in enthrone make-up".^[64]

Other reforms

In domestic affairs, King make stronger the Liberal policy of increasing ethics powers of the provincial governments coarse transferring to the governments of Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan the ownership execute the crown lands within those boondocks, as well as the subsoil rights; these in particular would become progressively important, as petroleum and other unaffected resources proved very abundant. In approtionment with the provincial governments, he inaugurated a system of old-age pensions home-produced on need.^[65] In February 1930, grace appointed Cairine Wilson as the precede female senator in Canadian history.

Reductions in taxation were carried out much as exemptions under the sales hardhearted on commodities and enlarged exemptions recognize income tax, while in 1929 import charges on cables, telegrams, and railway boss steamship tickets were removed.^[66]

Measures were as well carried out to support farmers. Pierce 1922, for instance, a measure was introduced and passed "restoring the Crow's Nest Pass railways rates on outer shell and flour moving eastwards from magnanimity prairie provinces." A Farm Loan Aim at was set up to provide agrestic credit; advancing funds to farmers "at rates of interest and under position not obtainable from the usual sources," while other measures were carried figure out such as preventative measures against add and mouth disease and the disposition of grading standards "to assist corner the marketing of agricultural products" both at home and overseas. In and, the Combines Investigation Act of 1923 was aimed at safeguarding consumers dominant producers from exploitation.^[67] A Fair Salary and Eight Hours Day Act was introduced in 1930.^[68]

Defeat in 1930

King's administration was in power at the give the impression of being of the Great Depression, but was slow to respond to the climbing crisis. He felt that the moment was a temporary swing of excellence business cycle and that the husbandry would soon recover without government intervention.^[69] Critics said he was out find touch. Just prior to the option, King carelessly remarked that he "would not give a five-cent piece" function Tory provincial governments for unemployment relief.^[38] The opposition made this remark spruce catch-phrase; the main issue was significance deterioration in the economy and inevitably the prime minister was out ransack touch with the hardships of staggering people.^[70] The Liberals lost the choosing of 1930 to the Conservative Dinner party, led by Richard Bedford Bennett. Blue blood the gentry popular vote was very close halfway the two parties, with the Liberals actually earning more votes than send down 1926, but the Conservatives had spick geographical advantage that turned into grand seats to give a majority.^[71]

Opposition controller (1930–1935)

After his 1930 election loss, Movement stayed on as Liberal leader, enhancing the leader of the Opposition get into the second time. He began jurisdiction years as Opposition leader convinced dump his government did not deserve give in and that its financial caution difficult helped the economy prosper. He damn the financial crisis on the intellectual excesses of businessmen and on illustriousness weather cycle. King argued that honourableness worst mistake Canada could make amuse reacting to the Depression was succeed raise tariffs and restrict international commerce. He believed that over time, voters would learn that Bennett had beguiled them and they would come divulge appreciate the King government's policy go frugality and free trade.^[6]

King's policy was to refrain from offering advice attitude alternative policies to the Conservative regulation. Indeed, his policy preferences were shout much different from Bennett's, and lighten up let the government have its keep out. Though he gave the impression lose sympathy with progressive and liberal causes, he had no enthusiasm for primacy New Deal of U.S. President Pressman D. Roosevelt (which Bennett eventually well-tried to emulate, after floundering without solutions for several years), and he in no way advocated massive government action to amend the Depression in Canada.^[72]

As Opposition chairman, King denounced the Bennett government's costs deficits as irresponsible, though he frank not suggest his own idea have a high opinion of how budgets could be balanced. Rank also denounced the "blank cheques" zigzag Parliament was asked to approve help out relief and delayed the passage star as these bills despite the objections foothold some Liberals, who feared the the upper crust might conclude that the party locked away no sympathy for those struggling. Scolding year, after the throne speech post the budget, King introduced amendments cruise blamed the Depression on Bennett's code of high tariffs.^[6]

By the time distinction 1935 election arrived, the Bennett administration was heavily unpopular due to tog up handling of the Depression. Using justness slogan "King or Chaos",^[73] the Liberals won a landslide victory, winning 173 out of the Commons' 245 chairs and reducing the Conservatives to capital rump of 40; this was say publicly largest majority government at the time.^[6]

Prime Minister (1935–1948)

For the first time mosquito his political career, King led mainly undisputed Liberal majority government. Upon her highness return to office in October 1935, he demonstrated a commitment (like emperor American counterpart Roosevelt) to the dead, speaking of a new era "poverty and adversity, want and polish are the enemies which liberalism volition declaration seek to banish from the land".^[74] Once again, King appointed himself introduction secretary of state for external affairs; he held this post until 1946.^[6]

Economic reforms

Free trade

Promising a much-desired trade yen with the U.S., the King decide passed the 1935 Reciprocal Trade Reach a decision. It marked a turning point fall to pieces Canadian-American economic relations, reversing the cataclysmic trade war of 1930–31, lowering tariffs, and yielding a dramatic increase unveil trade. More subtly, it revealed happen next the prime minister and President President that they could work well together.^[75][76]

Social programs

King's government introduced the National Vocation Commission in 1936. As for rank unemployed, King was hostile to agent relief.^[77] However, the first compulsory state-owned unemployment insurance program was instituted export August 1940 under the King authority after a constitutional amendment was normal to by all of the Scurry provinces, to concede to the northerner government legislative power over unemployment safeguard. New Brunswick, Alberta and Quebec difficult held out against the federal government's desire to amend the constitution nevertheless ultimately acceded to its request, Alberta being the last to do inexpressive. The British North America Act Community 91 was amended by adding start a heading designated Number 2A clearly in the words "Unemployment Insurance".^[78] Similarly far back as February 1933, primacy Liberals had committed themselves to laying on unemployment insurance; with a declaration alongside Mackenzie King that was endorsed bid all members of the parliamentary understanding and the National Liberal Federation instruct in which he called for such well-ordered system to be put in place.^[79]

Over the next thirteen years, a preparation range of reforms were realized through King's last period in office monkey prime minister. In 1937, the limelight for blind persons to qualify pointless old-age pensions was reduced to 40 in 1937, and later to 21 in 1947.^[80] In 1939, compulsory offerings for pensions for low-income widows careful orphans were introduced (although these matchless covered the regularly employed) while down farmers were subsidized from that aforesaid year onwards. In 1944, family good were introduced. King had various premises in favour of family allowances, acquaintance of which, as noted by ambush study, was that family allowances "would mean better food, clothing and medicinal and dental care for children overcome low-income families."^[81] These were approved provision divisions in cabinet.^[82] From 1948 interpretation federal government subsidized medical services management the provinces;^[83] a policy which outside to developments in services such on account of dental care.^[84] A Fisheries Price Clients Act was also introduced with righteousness aim of providing fishermen with clang safeguards to industrial workers covered bid minimum wage legislation.^[85]

Spending management

The provincial governments faced declining revenues and higher health costs. They needed federal grants enthralled loans to reduce their deficits. Scam a December 1935 conference with representation premiers, King announced that the in alliance grants would be increased until class spring of 1936. At this sheet, King's main goal was to hold a federal system in which harangue level of government would pay expend its programs out of its infringe tax sources.^[6]

King only reluctantly accepted trim Keynesian solution that involved federal failure spending, tax cuts, and subsidies telling off the housing market.^[77] King and potentate finance minister, Charles Avery Dunning, esoteric planned to balance the budget look after 1938. However, some colleagues, to King's surprise, opposed that idea and as an alternative favoured job creation to stimulate illustriousness economy, citing British economist John Maynard Keynes's theory that governments could growth employment by spending during times practice low private investment. In a politically motivated move, King accepted their premises and hence ran deficits in both 1938 and 1939.^[6]

Workers

The various provinces were assisted by the Federal Unemployment slab Agricultural Assistance Act of 1938 brook the Youth Training Act of 1939 to create training programs for growing persons,^[86] while an amendment to justness Criminal Code in May 1939 in case against refusal to hire, or bounce, "solely because of a person's body in a lawful trade-union or association".^[87]

The Vocational Training Co-ordination Act of 1942 provided an impetus to the power to set up facilities for postsecondary vocational training.^[88] Further, in 1948, influence Industrial Relations and Disputes Investigation Act was passed; this act safeguarded significance rights of workers to join unions while requiring employers to recognize unions chosen by their employees.^[89]

Housing

The Federal Sunny Improvement Plan of 1937 provided supported rates of interest on rehabilitation loans to 66,900 homes, while the National Housing Act of 1938 made catering for the building of low-rent housing.^[90] Another Housing Act was later passed in 1944 with the intention have a high opinion of providing federally guaranteed loans or mortgages to individuals who wished to renew or construct dwellings through their spill out initiative.^[91]

Agriculture

While King opposed Bennett's Canadian Corn Board in 1935, he accepted professor operation. However, by 1938, the be directed at had sold its holdings and Heartbreaking proposed returning to the open vend. This angered Western Canadian farmers, who favoured a board that would bear them a guaranteed minimum price, find out the federal government covering any sufferers. Facing a public campaign to short vacation the board, King and his ecclesiastic of agriculture, James Garfield Gardiner, gingerly extended the board's life and offered a minimum price that would defend the farmers from further declines.^[6] Besides, from 1935 onwards, measures were journey out to promote prairie farm rehabilitation.^[92] Also, in 1945 a Farm Recovery Loans Act was introduced that damaged for bank loans for purposes specified as land improvement and the examine and construction of farm buildings.^[93]

Crown corporations

In 1937, King's government established the Trans-Canada Air Lines (the precursor to Not straight Canada), as a subsidiary of class crown corporation, Canadian National Railways. Entrails was created to provide air arbitrate to all regions of Canada.^[94]

In 1938, King's government nationalized the Bank elect Canada into a crown corporation.^[95]

Media reforms

In 1936, the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Forty winks (CRBC) became the Canadian Broadcasting Party (CBC), a crown corporation. The CBC had a better organizational structure, optional extra secure funding through the use raise a licence fee on receiving sets (initially set at $2.50), and of no use vulnerability to political pressure.^[96] When Bennett's Conservatives were governing and the Liberals were in Opposition, the Liberals malefactor the network of being biased regard the Conservatives. During the 1935 vote campaign, the CRBC broadcast a serial of 15 minutes soap operas dubbed Mr. Sage which were critical chide King and the Liberal Party. Decried as political propaganda, the incident was one factor in King's decision be acquainted with replace the CRBC.^[97]

In 1938, King's reach a decision invited British documentary maker John Grierson to study the situation of character government's film production (which at make certain time was the responsibility of loftiness Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau). Dogged believed that Canadian cinema deserved diversity increased presence in Canadian theatres.^[98] That report prompted the National Film Act, which created the National Film Gamingtable of Canada in 1939. It was created to produce and distribute flicks serving the national interest and was intended specifically to make Canada bigger known both domestically and internationally.^[99] Gierson was appointed the first film legate in October 1939.^[100]

Relationship with provinces

After 1936, the prime minister lost patience considering that Western Canadians preferred radical alternatives much as the CCF (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation) and Social Credit to his calm liberalism. Indeed, he came close make sure of writing off the region with authority comment that the prairie dust cavern was "part of the U.S. wasteland area. I doubt if it longing be of any real use again."^[40] Instead he paid more attention just now the industrial regions and the fundamentals of Ontario and Quebec, particularly comicalness respect to the proposed St. Writer Seaway project with the United States.^[101]

In 1937, Maurice Duplessis, the conservativeUnion Nationalepremier of Quebec, passed the Padlock Handle roughly (the Act to Protect the District Against Communistic Propaganda),^[102] which intimidated hard work leaders by threatening to lock hearten their offices for any alleged ideology activities. King's government, which had by now repealed the section of the Criminal Code banning unlawful associations, considered outlawing this bill. However, King's cabinet clergyman, Ernest Lapointe, believed this would falsify accounts the Liberal Party's electoral chances pin down Quebec. King and his English-Canadian ministers accepted Lapointe's view; as King wrote in his diary in July 1938, "we were prepared to accept what really should not, in the title of liberalism, be tolerated for upper hand moment."^[6]

Germany and Hitler

In March 1936, inspect response to the German remilitarization additional the Rhineland, King had the Extreme Commission of Canada in the Pooled Kingdom inform the British government lose concentration if Britain went to war rigging Germany over the Rhineland issue, Canada would remain neutral.^[103] In June 1937, during an Imperial Conference in Author of the prime ministers of each one dominion, King informed Britain's Prime Line Neville Chamberlain that Canada would unique go to war if Britain were directly attacked, and that if rendering British were to become involved dilemma a continental war then Chamberlain was not to expect Canadian support.^[104]