SOCIAL STUDIES 11

Post War Prosperity

Canada in the Post War World

• The transition into post-war Canada was smoother after WW II than the transition from WW I.

• Past experience had alerted the government to the needs of returning soldiers and the changes required for a successful transition to a peace-time economy.

Returning soldiers

• Jobs were returned to soldiers

• University and college tuition was free

• Vets and war widows given preference for government jobs

• Veteran Land Act – Veterans given cheap mortgages to buy land

Economic prosperity

• During war, Federal government was given economic power; they wanted to keep this

• Taxation transferred to feds, feds transfer $$ to provinces for social programs, education and health care

• Tax breaks given to industries

• Resource industries begin to boom (mining, forestry, agriculture, fisheries– Oil fields of Alberta– Forestry in BC– Factories in southern Ontario

Mega projects for a mega land

• Growing population needs growing infrastructure

• Trans Canada highway – 7800 kms

• Trans-Canada pipeline – natural gas from Alberta to Quebec

• St. Lawrence Seaway – ships could travel from Atlantic to Lake Superior

• Kemano/Kenney Dam – hydro electric dam for Aluminum smelter in Kitimat