CANADA HISTORY

Workers and Farmers

The early 20th century in Canada was a time of significant change for both farmers and workers, as they began to organize themselves into political and economic movements to combat the rising power of big business and unfair government practices. These organizations, initially formed to improve agricultural practices or provide relief for workers, gradually evolved into powerful entities that shaped the political and economic landscape of the nation. The rise of farm organizations and the labour movement are essential chapters in the development of modern Canadian democracy and played a pivotal role in the country's social and economic history.

Early Farm Organizations: The Struggle for Fairness

The early farm organizations in Canada emerged out of necessity. Farmers, particularly those in Western Canada, faced immense challenges, ranging from harsh environmental conditions to the monopolistic practices of railways and big business. In the late 19th century, Canada’s agricultural sector was growing, especially in the Prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), which had been instrumental in opening the West to settlement, also created significant economic challenges for farmers. High freight rates, unfair grain pricing from monopolistic grain elevator companies, and tariff structures that favored manufacturers over agricultural producers squeezed farmers from all sides.

The first farm organizations focused on improving crop yields and educating settlers about better farming techniques. These early groups, while non-political in nature, were essential in bringing together the farming community to share knowledge and strategies. Settlers from the United States were drawn to Canada by advertisements placed in equivalent U.S. farming publications, many of which touted the opportunities in the Canadian West. Yet, as farmers faced increased financial pressure, their objectives expanded from education to advocacy.

By the early 20th century, new organizations began to form specifically to protect farmers from the power of big business. In 1902, the Farmers’ Association was formed in Ontario, and by 1907, it had merged with another organization known as the Grange. In Western Canada, where the struggles were most acute, the Territorial Grain Growers’ Association was established and quickly spread across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. This organization fought for fair grain prices, transparency in the grading of grain, and reasonable shipping costs from the railways.

In Alberta, the farmers formed their own group, the United Farmers of Alberta (UFA). The UFA played a particularly important role in Alberta politics, eventually evolving into a political party that would govern the province for several decades.

Perhaps the most significant early organization was the Grain Growers’ Grain Company (GGGC), formed in 1906. The GGGC was a cooperative that allowed farmers to sell their grain directly on the Winnipeg Grain Exchange, bypassing the monopolistic grain companies that had long dictated prices. The cooperative also lobbied for government policies that would benefit farmers, such as the establishment of fairer systems of grain grading. The Grain Growers' movement was an early example of farmers taking matters into their own hands to challenge the economic status quo and protect their livelihoods.

The Fight Against High Tariffs and the "Siege of Ottawa"

High tariffs were another issue that put farmers at odds with the federal government. These tariffs protected Canadian manufacturers but drove up the prices of farming equipment, tools, and other necessities, which were vital to agricultural production. At the same time, the tariffs restricted Canadian farmers from accessing lucrative U.S. markets, forcing them to rely on volatile international grain markets. This created a situation where farmers felt squeezed by both the high costs of goods and the low prices they received for their crops.

In response, in 1909, the Canadian Council of Agriculture was formed to represent farmers' interests. The following year, in 1910, the Council backed what became known as the Siege of Ottawa, during which over 1,000 farmers descended on the capital to present their grievances to the Laurier Government. Their demands focused on fairer trade policies, the reduction of tariffs, and better government support for the agricultural sector. Although Laurier and the Liberal Party made some concessions to the farmers during the 1911 election, the real progress would not come until later decades, particularly in the 1920s and 1930s, when farmers increasingly began to participate directly in politics.

The Labour Movement: The Rise of Worker Organization

While farmers were organizing to protect themselves from the economic forces stacked against them, workers in Canada were facing their own struggles. The rise of industry, particularly in Ontario and Quebec, brought a surge in urbanization and the growth of factories. However, working conditions were often poor, wages were low, and workers had few rights or protections.

The first labour movements in Canada emerged in the 1860s, but like the early farm organizations, they were initially focused on providing relief and support rather than political action. In 1872, during a confrontation between The Globe newspaper and striking typesetters, Sir John A. Macdonald took a significant step by legalizing trade unions with the passage of the Trade Union Act. This legislation laid the groundwork for the growth of organized labour in Canada, but it would take many more years for unions to gain real political power.

Throughout the late 19th century, many of the early unions were influenced by American labor movements, particularly the Knights of Labor and the Workers of the World. These organizations brought a radical edge to the Canadian labor movement, particularly in British Columbia, where the forest industry aligned itself with the Workers of the World. In Quebec, labour unions were often closely associated with the Roman Catholic Church, while in Ontario, they emerged from the more industrialized segments of society.

Between 1900 and 1914, labour unrest in Canada grew steadily, driven by the industrial expansion of cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Strikes and worker protests became more frequent as workers demanded better wages, safer working conditions, and the right to unionize without fear of reprisal. The situation came to a head in 1907, when Mackenzie King made his first major appearance on the political scene by helping to pass the Lemieux Act, which introduced arbitration boards to settle labor disputes.

The Lemieux Act was a landmark piece of legislation, as it created a formal mechanism for resolving disputes between management and labour. The Act required that any labor dispute involving a public utility had to be referred to a three-member board composed of one labour representative, one management representative, and a public official who would mediate and propose solutions. While the Lemieux Act helped reduce the frequency of strikes and promoted negotiation, it did not address the root causes of labour unrest, such as low wages and poor working conditions. Nevertheless, Mackenzie King’s involvement in the passage of the Lemieux Act would shape his future political career, and he became Canada’s first Minister of Labour in 1909.

The Connection Between Farmers and Workers: Shared Struggles, Different Responses

Despite the different industries they represented, farmers and workers shared many common struggles in the early 20th century. Both groups were caught in the grips of powerful economic forces they could not control—farmers faced monopolistic railways and grain companies, while workers contended with exploitative factory owners and unsafe working conditions. Both groups also struggled with political parties that, for the most part, were aligned with big business rather than the interests of ordinary Canadians.

However, the responses of farmers and workers differed in some key ways. Farmers, particularly in Western Canada, were more successful in organizing themselves into cooperatives and political organizations. This was exemplified by the creation of the United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) and other farmer-led political movements that would eventually lead to the election of farmer-dominated governments in the Prairie provinces. By the 1920s and 1930s, farmers had become an organized political force, able to influence provincial and federal policy directly.

The labour movement, by contrast, struggled to gain a foothold in mainstream politics during this period. Although workers succeeded in organizing unions and improving their bargaining power, the movement remained largely fragmented and lacked the political cohesion that farmers were able to achieve. It was not until the end of World War I and the dramatic events of the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919 that the labour movement became fully politicized and started to challenge the dominance of the two major political parties.

Conclusion: The Foundation of Political and Economic Reform The early 20th century was a transformative period for both farmers and workers in Canada. The rise of farm organizations and the labour movement laid the foundation for political and economic reforms that would reshape the country in the decades to come. Farmers and workers were instrumental in pushing for fairer trade policies, labour rights, and government intervention in the economy. Their struggles would eventually lead to the formation of political parties that represented their interests, such as the United Farmers and later the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), which would eventually evolve into today’s New Democratic Party (NDP).

Both movements also played a significant role in shaping Canada’s social safety net, with many of the programs we take for granted today—such as unemployment insurance, old-age pensions, and medicare—tracing their roots back to the demands of early farm and labour organizations. These movements were not just about economic survival—they were about creating a fairer and more just society for all Canadians, a legacy that continues to influence the country to this day.