The 1930 federal election in Canada was a pivotal moment in the nation's political history, set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and changing political dynamics. This election saw the Conservative Party, under the leadership of R.B. Bennett, defeat the Liberal Party led by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. It marked a significant shift in Canadian politics and government, driven by economic hardship and the public’s demand for strong leadership in a time of crisis.
Political Situation Before the Election
In 1930, Canada was in the throes of the Great Depression, a global economic downturn that began in 1929 and resulted in widespread unemployment, business failures, and poverty. Although the Depression hit the country hard in 1930, economic difficulties were already prevalent in the latter part of the 1920s. The incumbent Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, had been in power since 1921, with a brief interruption in 1925-1926. King's government had overseen a relatively prosperous post-war period, but by the end of the 1920s, the economy had begun to falter.
Mackenzie King was known for his cautious and moderate style of governance. He was reluctant to intervene directly in the economy, believing that the Depression was a temporary issue that would resolve itself without excessive government interference. This approach, however, was increasingly unpopular as the economic crisis worsened, and it appeared that King’s laissez-faire attitude toward economic management was insufficient to deal with the unprecedented challenges of the Depression.
R.B. Bennett, the leader of the Conservative Party, offered a stark contrast to King. Bennett was an assertive and wealthy businessman who had a much more interventionist view of government’s role in handling the economic crisis. He promised decisive action and a more hands-on approach to addressing the nation’s economic woes. Bennett criticized King for being out of touch with the suffering of ordinary Canadians and failing to provide adequate leadership during a time of crisis.
Leaders of the Contending Parties
The two main parties contesting the 1930 election were the Liberal Party, led by William Lyon Mackenzie King, and the Conservative Party, led by R.B. Bennett.
William Lyon Mackenzie King: King was an experienced politician who had led Canada through most of the 1920s. He had a reputation for being cautious and pragmatic, and although he was skilled in managing internal party politics and the relationships between Canada and the British Empire, his leadership style seemed inadequate in the face of the Depression. King’s reluctance to engage in large-scale government spending or implement sweeping economic reforms made him appear disconnected from the growing hardships faced by many Canadians.
R.B. Bennett: Bennett was a lawyer and businessman from Calgary who represented the Conservative Party. Unlike King, Bennett advocated for a more aggressive government response to the Depression, promising protective tariffs, increased government spending, and direct relief for the unemployed. His leadership style was forceful and energetic, appealing to Canadians who felt the government needed to take immediate action to address the economic crisis. Bennett was an excellent speaker and was able to project confidence, which helped bolster his image as a man of action.
Issues of the Election
The main issue in the 1930 election was how to deal with the Great Depression. Unemployment was rampant, businesses were failing, and entire communities were struggling to survive. The election revolved around the role of government in alleviating the suffering caused by the economic downturn.
Economic Relief and Employment: The most pressing issue was how to create jobs and provide relief to those suffering from unemployment. Bennett’s Conservatives promised that they would take decisive action by increasing tariffs to protect Canadian industry from foreign competition, which they argued would create more jobs. Bennett also promised direct relief for the unemployed, something King had been reluctant to endorse.
Trade and Tariffs: Another key issue was trade. Bennett believed that tariffs would protect Canadian businesses from foreign competition, especially from the United States, which had recently enacted its own protectionist measures through the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. King, on the other hand, believed that free trade and open markets would ultimately benefit Canada. However, in a climate of increasing protectionism globally, Bennett’s promises of higher tariffs resonated more with the public.
Federal Government’s Role: Mackenzie King’s approach to the economic crisis was characterized by a belief that provincial governments should take the lead in providing relief to the unemployed, while the federal government should focus on stabilizing finances and maintaining balanced budgets. King famously refused to offer federal relief payments to provinces led by Conservative premiers, which earned him the moniker of being unwilling to help the suffering across party lines. Bennett, by contrast, proposed that the federal government take a more direct role in providing relief, pledging significant federal investment in public works and job creation programs.
Campaign Strategy and Effectiveness
Both Mackenzie King and R.B. Bennett pursued different strategies during the campaign. King’s Liberals emphasized stability, moderate reform, and the importance of avoiding a deficit. However, King’s message did not connect with the widespread anger and frustration of the electorate, who were suffering from the Depression’s harsh effects.
Bennett’s campaign was much more energetic and populist. He promised that his government would take strong and decisive action to fight the Depression. He used rhetoric that emphasized his readiness to act, portraying himself as a man who could “fix” Canada’s problems through a combination of protectionist economic policies, federal spending on relief programs, and the creation of jobs through public works projects. Bennett effectively capitalized on the public’s frustration with King’s inaction and reluctance to expand government involvement in economic recovery.
The Conservative campaign was bolstered by Bennett’s personal fortune, which allowed him to travel widely across the country and deliver speeches that captured the public’s imagination. His promises of economic intervention, combined with his reputation as a successful businessman, made him a credible figure in the eyes of many Canadians who were desperate for solutions to the economic crisis.
Conduct of the Election
The election was conducted using the first-past-the-post system in which candidates compete in individual ridings, and the party that wins the most seats forms the government. The 1930 election saw heavy turnout due to the economic crisis, with Canadians recognizing the stakes of the moment.
The campaign was marked by intense rhetoric on both sides, with Bennett attacking King’s record on economic issues and King warning that Bennett’s protectionist policies could exacerbate the crisis. While King continued to rely on his established record as a seasoned politician, Bennett’s message of direct intervention seemed to align more with the public mood.
Results of Election Day
The election took place on July 28, 1930. The Conservatives under Bennett won a decisive victory, securing 137 seats compared to the Liberals’ 91. This gave Bennett a clear majority in the House of Commons and allowed him to form the next government. Mackenzie King’s Liberals were dealt a significant blow, as the electorate overwhelmingly rejected his government’s response to the Depression.
The Conservatives captured much of the support in Ontario, the Maritimes, and parts of the West, where Bennett’s economic message resonated strongly with voters. King’s Liberals maintained a hold in Quebec, where his policies had historically been more popular.
Aftermath of the Election
With his victory, R.B. Bennett became the 11th Prime Minister of Canada. He faced immediate pressure to deliver on his promises to address the Depression. During his tenure, Bennett implemented many of the policies he had campaigned on, including the introduction of high tariffs and attempts to increase government intervention in the economy. However, the economic situation proved to be more intractable than Bennett had anticipated, and while his efforts brought some relief, they were insufficient to fully pull Canada out of the Depression.
Bennett’s government struggled to cope with the severity of the economic downturn, and by 1935, dissatisfaction with his leadership had grown. The economic crisis deepened, and Bennett’s policies, such as his attempt to create a Canadian "New Deal" inspired by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States, were seen as too little, too late. His failure to fully alleviate the suffering of ordinary Canadians eventually led to his defeat in the 1935 federal election, when Mackenzie King returned to power.
The 1930 election remains significant in Canadian history as it marked a shift in public expectations about the role of government during times of economic crisis. Bennett’s promises of direct intervention were a departure from previous Conservative policies, and while he was ultimately unable to fulfill many of his pledges, his election underscored the demand for stronger federal leadership in managing the economy during the Depression.
Election Party |
Elected Members | # of Candidates | % of Popular Vote | % of Seats |
---|---|---|---|---|
1930 (July 28) - Turnout: 73.5 % | ||||
Conservative | 137 | 233 | 49 .0 % | 55.9 % |
Liberal | 91 | 234 | 43.9 % | 37.1 % |
Other | 17 | 79 | 7.1 % | 6.9 % |
Total | 245 | 546 | ||
Government--137, Opposition--108, Majority--29 |
Total - 245 | Conservative | Liberal | Prog | UFA | Other |
Canada | 137 | 88 | 2 | 18 | |
PEI | 3 | 1 | - | - | - |
Nova Scotia | 10 | 4 | - | - | - |
New Brunswick | 10 | 1 | - | - | - |
Quebec | 24 | 40 | - | - | 1 |
Ontario | 59 | 22 | - | - | 1 |
Manitoba | 11 | 1 | - | - | 5 |
Saskatchewan | 8 | 11 | 2 | - | - |
Alberta | 4 | 3 | - | 9 | - |
BC | 7 | 5 | - | 2 | |
Yukon & NWT | 1 | - | - | - |
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