On-To-Ottawa Trek, 1935

(Part 2 )

In trying to compare the ‘On-To-Ottawa Trek’ by thousands of unemployed men in 1935 to the continuing occupation of Ottawa and the blockading of crucial border crossings by anti-vaxxing truckers and their supporters, this week’s Chronicle is based upon the “recollections” of onetime Lake Cowichan resident and Spanish Civil War veteran Ronald Liversedge.

As we saw last week, in 1934, preparations were underway in Vancouver for a general strike across B.C. Thousands of single men had rebelled against government-run relief work camps where they’d laboured for their board and 25 cents a day.

What they wanted was real work—real jobs with pay cheques that enabled them to live their lives as productive and contented citizens, to look to the future with hope and optimism.
But this was the Great Depression, the Dirty ‘30s.

The capital systems of the entire western world had foundered after the stock market crash of 1929. Canada was no exception. As noted last week, 30 per cent of the Canadian labour force was out of work, one in five Canadians were dependent upon government relief for survival, and the unemployment rate remained above 12 per cent until Canada began to prepare for another world war—and workers were again wanted.

For most of 10 years, federal and provincial governments met the challenges hesitantly, uncertainly, even reluctantly, often with downright cavalier and niggardly responses. The result was social unrest such as Canada had never seen before.

Until now if one wishes to equate what’s happening in Ottawa and at border crossings to the events of 1934-35.

Please note: In recounting these historic events, l would make known that, although I’m generally empathetic, my own beliefs don’t totally agree with those of Mr. Liversedge and company of 87 years ago. I’d also point out that the participation of acknowledged Communists in the Trek to Ottawa didn’t corrupt the protest.

It was a march to demand that the federal government do more to meet the suffering of millions of Canadians—including, as we’ll see, many of those who were employed.

I also remind readers that Liversedge’s account of the Trek-To-Ottawa is accepted as being, overall, historically accurate.

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