William lyon mackenzie king biography summary template

Canadian politician (–)

Not to be woollen blurred with William Lyon Mackenzie, King's grandfather.

William Lyon River KingOM CMG PC (December 17, – July 22, ) was a Canadian statesman and politician who was significance tenth prime minister of Canada for three non-consecutive terms from to , to , and censure A Liberal, he was the dominant politician lay hands on Canada from the early s to the delayed s.^[a] King is best known for his greater number of Canada throughout the Great Depression and justness Second World War. In August , he unspoiled the displacement of Japanese Canadians out of integrity British Columbia Interior, mandating that they either relocate east of the Rocky Mountains or face separation deportee to Japan after the war. He played swell major role in laying the foundations of illustriousness Canadian welfare state and establishing Canada's international relocate as a middle power.^[1] With a total discern 21 years and days in office, he relic the longest-serving prime minister in Canadian history.

King studied law and political economy in the harsh and later obtained a PhD – the sui generis incomparabl Canadian prime minister to have done so. Burst , he became deputy minister of the Contest government's new Department of Labour. He entered authority House of Commons in before becoming the northerner minister of labour in under Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier. After losing his seat in the accessory election, King worked for the Rockefeller Foundation at one time briefly working as an industrial consultant. Following probity death of Laurier in , King acceded ruse the leadership of the Liberal Party. Taking rank helm of a party torn apart by ethics Conscription Crisis of , he unified both goodness pro-conscription and anti-conscription factions of the party, foremost it to victory in the federal election.

King established a post-war agenda that lowered wartime duty and tariffs. He strengthened Canadian autonomy by resisting annulling to support Britain in the Chanak Crisis left out Parliament's consent and negotiating the Halibut Treaty involve the United States without British interference. In glory election, the Conservatives won a plurality of places, but the Liberals negotiated support from the Developing Party and stayed in office as a boyhood government. In , facing a Commons vote prowl could force his government to resign, King willingly Governor GeneralLord Byng to dissolve parliament and call together an election. Byng refused and instead invited description Conservatives to form government, who briefly held occupation but lost a motion of no confidence. That sequence of events triggered a major constitutional moment of decision, the King–Byng affair. King and the Liberals roundly won the resulting election. After, King sought equal make Canada's foreign policy more independent by dilating the Department of External Affairs while recruiting advanced Canadian diplomats. His government also introduced old-age pensions based on need. King's slow reaction to loftiness Great Depression led to a defeat at blue blood the gentry polls in

The Conservative government's response to glory depression was unpopular and King returned to influence in a landslide victory in the election. In good time after, the economy was on an upswing. Laborious negotiated the Reciprocal Trade Agreement with the Concerted States, passed the National Housing Act to loudening housing affordability, introduced unemployment insurance in , become more intense in , introduced family allowances – Canada's be foremost universal welfare program. The government also established Trans-Canada Air Lines (the precursor to Air Canada) extra the National Film Board. King's government deployed Jumble troops days after the Second World War impoverished out. The Liberals' overwhelming triumph in the referendum allowed King to continue leading Canada through decency war. He mobilized Canadian money, supplies, and volunteers to support Britain while boosting the economy at an earlier time maintaining morale on the home front. To content French Canadians, King delayed introducing overseas conscription while late The Allies' victory in allowed King lay aside call a post-war election, in which the Liberals lost their majority government. In his final age in office, King and his government partnered Canada with other Western nations to take part restrict the deepening Cold War, introducedCanadian citizenship, and in triumph negotiated Newfoundland's entry into Confederation.

After leading empress party for 29 years, and leading the nation for 21+1&#;2 years, King retired from politics suspend late He died of pneumonia in July King's personality was complex; biographers agree on the unofficial characteristics that made him distinctive. He lacked rectitude charisma of such contemporaries as Franklin D. Author, Winston Churchill, or Charles de Gaulle. Cold courier tactless in human relations, he was said abide by have oratorical skill.^[2] He kept secret his classes in spiritualism and use of mediums to look after in contact with departed associates and particularly discover his mother, and allowed his intense spirituality cheer distort his understanding of Adolf Hitler throughout nobleness late s.^[3] Historian Jack Granatstein notes, "the scholars expressed little admiration for King the man nevertheless offered unbounded admiration for his political skills increase in intensity attention to Canadian unity."^[4] King is ranked centre of the top three of Canadian prime ministers.

Early life (–)

King was born in a frame igloo rented by his parents at 43 Benton Path in Berlin (nowKitchener), Ontario to John King survive Isabel Grace Mackenzie.^[5][6][7][8] His maternal grandfather was William Lyon Mackenzie, first mayor of Toronto and king of the Upper Canada Rebellion in His holy man was a lawyer and later a lecturer take into account Osgoode Hall Law School. King had three siblings: older sister Isabel "Bella" Christina Grace (–), erior sister Janet "Jennie" Lindsey (–) and younger relative Dougall Macdougall "Max" (–).^[9] Within his family, oversight was known as Willie; during his university epoch, he adopted W. L. Mackenzie King as potentate signature and began using Mackenzie as his pet name with those outside the family.

King's paterfamilias was a lawyer with a struggling practice put it to somebody a small city, and never enjoyed financial cover. His parents lived a life of shabby elegance, employing servants and tutors they could scarcely have the means, although their financial situation improved somewhat following clean move to Toronto around , where King fleeting with them for several years in a supine on Beverley Street while studying at the School of Toronto.^[10]

King became a lifelong practising Presbyterian sound out a dedication to social reform based on sovereign Christian duty.^[11] He never favoured socialism.^[12]

University (–)

King registered at the University of Toronto in ^[6] Explicit obtained a BA degree in , an LLB degree in , and an MA in , all from the university.^[13] While studying in Toronto he met a wide circle of friends, patronize of whom became prominent. He was an entirely member and officer of the Kappa Alpha Kinship, which included a number of these individuals (two future Ontario Supreme Court Justices and the forward-thinking chairman of the university itself). It encouraged discussion on political ideas. He also was simultaneously skilful part of the Literary Society with Arthur Meighen, a future political rival.^[15]

King was especially concerned fitting issues of social welfare and was influenced spawn the settlement house movement pioneered by Toynbee Entry in London, England. He played a central r“le in fomenting a students' strike at the academia in He was in close touch, behind prestige scenes, with Vice-Chancellor William Mulock, for whom high-mindedness strike provided a chance to embarrass his rivals Chancellor Edward Blake and President James Loudon. Embarrassing failed to gain his immediate objective, a instruction position at the university but earned political soil with Mulock, the man who would invite him to Ottawa and make him a deputy clergyman only five years later.^[16] While studying at picture University of Toronto, King also contributed to glory campus newspaper, The Varsity, and served as commandant of the yearbook committee in ^[17][18][19] King afterwards wrote for The Globe, The Mail and Empire, and the Toronto News.^[20] Fellow journalist W. Neat as a pin. Hewitt recalled that, the city editor of loftiness Toronto News left him in charge one siesta with instructions to fire King if he showed up. When Hewitt sat at the editor's torpid, King showed up a few minutes later meticulous resigned before Hewitt could tell him he was fired.^[20]

After studying at the University of Chicago turf working with Jane Addams at her settlement handle, Hull House, King proceeded to Harvard University. Exhaustively at the University of Chicago, he participated rumination their track team as a half-mile runner.^[21] Unquestionable earned an MA in political economy from University in In , Harvard granted him a PhD degree for a dissertation titled "Publicity and Commence Opinion as Factors in the Solution of Profit-making Problems in Canada." He is the only Commingle Prime Minister to have earned a PhD.^[23]

Early life's work, civil servant (–)

In , King became editor strain the federal government-owned Labour Gazette, a publication divagate explored complex labour issues.^[24] Later that year, be active was appointed as deputy minister of the Jumble government's new Department of Labour, and became vigorous in policy domains from Japanese immigration to railways, notably the Industrial Disputes Investigations Act () which sought to avert labour strikes by prior conciliation.^[25]

In , King's roommate and best friend, Henry Albert Harper, died heroically during a skating party just as a young woman fell through the ice female the partly frozen Ottawa River. Harper dove hurt the water to try to save her, paramount perished in the attempt. King led the instinct to raise a memorial to Harper, which resulted in the erection of the Sir Galahad assume on Parliament Hill in In , King publicised a memoir of Harper, entitled The Secret be more or less Heroism.

While deputy minister of labour, King was fit to investigate the causes of and claims preventable compensation resulting from the anti-Oriental riots in Vancouver's Chinatown and Japantown. One of the claims contemplate damages came from Chinese opium dealers, which thrill King to investigate narcotics use in Vancouver, Country Columbia. Following the investigation King reported that chalky women were also opium users, not just Asian men, and the federal government used the article to justify the first legislation outlawing narcotics deliver Canada.^[27]

Early political career, minister of labour (–)

King was first elected to Parliament as a Liberal beginning the federal election, representing Waterloo North. In , King was appointed as the first-ever minister corporeal labour by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier.^[6]

King's term bring in minister of labour was marked by two register achievements. He led the passage of the Industrial Disputes Investigation Act and the Combines Investigation Act, which he had shaped during his civil humbling parliamentary service. The legislation significantly improved the cash situation for millions of Canadian workers.^[28] In Explorer King introduced a bill aimed at establishing stupendous 8-hour day on public works but it was killed in the Senate.^[29] He lost his place in the general election, which saw the Conservatives defeat the Liberals and form government.^[6]

Out of government (–)

Industrial consultant

After his defeat, King went on excellence lecture circuit on behalf of the Liberal Fete. In June John D. Rockefeller Jr. hired him at the Rockefeller Foundation in New York Nous, to head its new Department of Industrial Investigation. It paid $12, per year, compared to depiction meagre $2, per year the Liberal Party was paying. He worked for the Foundation until , forming a close working association and friendship truthful Rockefeller, advising him through the turbulent period describe the – Strike and Ludlow Massacre–in what commission known as the Colorado Coalfield War–at a family-owned coal company in Colorado, which subsequently set excellence stage for a new era in labour control in America.^[31] King became one of the first expert practitioners in the emerging field of progressive relations.

King was not a pacifist, but inaccuracy showed little enthusiasm for the Great War; proscribed faced criticism for not serving in Canada's martial and instead working for the Rockefellers. However, significant was nearly 40 years old when the enmity began, and was not in good physical circumstances. He never gave up his Ottawa home, extremity travelled to the United States on an as-needed basis, performing service to the war effort uninviting helping to keep war-related industries running smoothly.

In , King, assisted by his friend F. A. McGregor, published Industry and Humanity: A Study in justness Principles Underlying Industrial Reconstruction, a dense, abstract hardcover he wrote in response to the Ludlow slaughtering. It went over the heads of most readers, but revealed the practical idealism behind King's public thinking. He argued that capital and labour were natural allies, not foes, and that the humans at large (represented by the government) should write down the third and decisive party in industrial disputes.^[34] He expressed derision for syndicates and trades unions, chastising them for aiming at the "destruction make wet force of existing organization, and the transfer spick and span industrial capital from the present possessors" to themselves.^[35]

Quitting the Rockefeller Foundation in February , King became an independent consultant on labour issues for significance next two years, earning $1, per week evacuate leading American corporations. Even so, he kept circlet official residence in Ottawa, hoping for a shout to duty.

Wartime politics

In , Canada was in crisis; King supported Liberal leader Wilfrid Laurier in king opposition to conscription, which was violently opposed dwell in the province of Quebec. The Liberal party became deeply split, with several Anglophones joining the pro-conscription Union government, a coalition controlled by the Conservatives under Prime Minister Robert Borden. King returned motivate Canada to run in the election, which convergent almost entirely on the conscription issue. Unable get paid overcome a landslide against Laurier, King lost overfull the constituency of York North, which his elder had once represented.^[6]

Opposition leader (–)

leadership election

The Magnanimous Party was deeply divided by Quebec's opposition lay aside conscription and the agrarian revolt in Ontario unacceptable the Prairies. Levin argues that when King requited to politics in , he was a rusted chestnut outsider with a weak base facing a country bitterly split by language, regionalism and class. Take action outmaneuvered more senior competitors by embracing Laurier's birthright, championing labour interests, calling for welfare reform, keep from offering solid opposition to the Conservative rivals.^[37] What because Laurier died in , King was elected commander in the first Liberal leadership convention, defeating potentate three rivals on the fourth ballot. He won thanks to the support of the Quebec cabal, organized by Ernest Lapointe (–), later King's long-time lieutenant in Quebec. King could not speak Nation, but in election after election for the abide by 20 years (save for ), Lapointe produced primacy critical seats to give the Liberals control acquisition the Commons. When campaigning in Quebec, King describe Lapointe as co-prime minister.^[38]

Idealizes the Prairies

Once King became the Liberal leader in he paid closer regard to the Prairies, a fast-developing region. Viewing a-one sunrise in Alberta in , he wrote constant worry his diary, "I thought of the New Broad daylight, the New Social Order. It seems like Heaven's prophecy of the dawn of a new stage, revealed to me."^[39] Pragmatism played a role renovation well, since his party depended for its life on the votes of Progressive Party Members time off Parliament, many of whom who represented farmers discern Ontario and the Prairies. He convinced many Progressives to return to the Liberal fold.^[40]

federal election

In the election, King's Liberals defeated the Conservatives moneyed by Prime Minister Arthur Meighen, winning a rigidify majority of out of seats. The Conservatives won 50, the newly formed Progressive Party won 58 (but declined to form the official Opposition), deed the remaining ten seats went to Labour Slump and Independents; most of these ten supported goodness Progressives. King became prime minister.^[6]

Prime Minister (–, –)

As prime minister of Canada, King was appointed secure the Privy Council of the United Kingdom temperament 20 June ^[41] and was sworn at Buckingham Palace on October 11, ,^[42] during the Impressive Conference.

Balancing act

During his first term of nerve centre, from to , King sought to lower wartime taxes and, especially, wartime ethnic and labour tensions. "The War is over", he argued, "and care for a long time to come it is dodge to take all that the energies of human race can do to bridge the chasm and fix the wounds which the War has made donation our social life."

Despite prolonged negotiations, King was powerless to attract the Progressives into his government, nevertheless once Parliament opened, he relied on their charm to defeat non-confidence motions from the Conservatives. Scarce was opposed in some policies by the Progressives, who opposed the high tariffs of the Official Policy. King faced a delicate balancing act execute reducing tariffs enough to please the Prairie-based Progressives, but not so much as to alienate realm vital supporters in industrial Ontario and Quebec, who perceived tariffs were necessary to compete with Earth imports.^[45]

Over time, the Progressives gradually weakened. Their brisk and passionate leader, Thomas Crerar, resigned to repay to his grain business, and was replaced gross the more placid Robert Forke, who joined King's cabinet in as Minister of Immigration and Colony after becoming a Liberal-Progressive. Socialist reformer J.&#;S. Woodsworth gradually gained influence and power, and King was able to reach an accommodation with him sunshade policy matters.^[46] In any event, the Progressive camp lacked the party discipline that was traditionally necessary by the Liberals and Conservatives. The Progressives locked away campaigned on a promise that their MP's would represent their constituents first. King used this get to the bottom of his advantage, as he could always count launch an attack at least a handful of Progressive MPs hyperbole shore up his near-majority position for any major vote.

Immigration

In , King's government passed the Chinese Immigration Act, banning most forms of Asian immigration to Canada. Immigration from most countries was controlled or restricted in some way, but lone the Chinese were completely prohibited from immigrating. That was after various members of the federal squeeze some provincial governments (especially British Columbia) put wrench on the federal government to discourage Chinese immigration.^[47]

Also in , the government modified the Immigration Act to allow former subjects of Austria-Hungary to speedily again enter Canada. Ukrainian immigration resumed after snags were put in place during World War I.^[48]

City planning

King had a long-standing concern with city cerebration and the development of the national capital, because he had been trained in the settlement platform movement and envisioned town planning and garden cities as a component of his broader program flawless social reform. He drew on four broad conventions in early North American planning: social planning, interpretation Parks Movement, the City Scientific, and the Power Beautiful. King's greatest impact was as the governmental champion for the planning and development of Algonquin, Canada's national capital. His plans, much of which were completed in the two decades after her highness death, were part of a century of abettor planning that repositioned Ottawa as a national radical in the City Beautiful style. Confederation Square,^[49][50] undertake example, was initially planned to be a communal plaza to balance the nearby federal presence treat Parliament Hill and was turned into a warfare memorial. The Great War monument was not installed until the royal visit, and King intended wind the replanning of the capital would be distinction World War I memorial. However, the symbolic utility of the World War I monument gradually broad to become the place of remembrance for drain Canadian war sacrifices and includes a war memorial.^[51]

Corruption scandals

King called an election in , in which the Conservatives won the most seats, but gather together a majority in the House of Commons. Design held onto power with the support of say publicly Progressives. A corruption scandal discovered late in diadem first term involved misdeeds around the expansion assess the Beauharnois Canal in Quebec; this led hitch extensive inquiries and eventually a Royal Commission, which exposed the Beauharnois Scandal. The resulting press cover damaged King's party in the election. Early mission his second term, another corruption scandal, this about in the Department of Customs, was revealed, which led to more support for the Conservatives favour Progressives, and the possibility that King would pull up forced to resign, if he lost sufficient investment in the Commons. King had no personal end to this scandal, although one of his brighten up appointees was at the heart of it. Candidate leader Meighen unleashed his fierce invective towards Laborious, stating he was hanging onto power "like on the rocks lobster with lockjaw".^[52]`

King–Byng Affair

Main article: King–Byng Affair

In June , King, facing a House of Cuisine vote connected to the customs scandal that could force his government to resign, advised the Boss General, Lord Byng, to dissolve Parliament and assemble another election. Byng, however, declined the Prime Minister's request – the first time in Canadian record that a request for dissolution was refused; have a word with, to date, the only time the governor common of Canada has done so. Byng instead voluntarily Leader of the Opposition, Arthur Meighen, to create government. Although the Conservatives held more seats terminate the House than any other party, they plainspoken not control a majority. They were soon living soul defeated on a motion of non-confidence on July 2. Meighen himself then requested a dissolution faultless Parliament, which Byng now granted.

King ran decency Liberal election campaign largely on the issue admire the right of Canadians to govern themselves dispatch against the interference of the Crown. The Bountiful Party was returned to power with a childhood government, which bolstered King's position on the sprint and the position of the Prime Minister commonly. King later pushed for greater Canadian autonomy dig the Imperial Conference which elicited the Balfour Asseveration stating that upon the granting of dominion distinction, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, additional the Irish Free State, while still autonomous communities within the British Empire, ceased to be buck to the United Kingdom. Thus, the governor habitual ceased to represent the British government and was solely the personal representative of the sovereign as becoming a representative of The Crown. This keeping pace was formalized in the Statute of Westminster ^[53][54] On September 14, King and his party won the election with a plurality of seats hut the Commons: seats to the Conservatives' 91 perceive a member House.^[55]

Extending Canadian autonomy

During the Chanak Turningpoint of , King refused to support the Nation without first consulting Parliament, while the Conservative head of state, Arthur Meighen, supported Britain. King sought a Climb voice independent of London in foreign affairs. Worry September the British Prime Minister, David Lloyd Martyr, appealed repeatedly to King for Canadian support atmosphere the crisis. King coldly replied that the Climb Parliament would decide what policy to follow, creation clear it would not be bound by London's suggestions. King wrote in his diary of honesty British appeal: "I confess it annoyed me. Practise is drafted designedly to play the imperial amusement, to test out centralization versus autonomy as compliments European warsNo [Canadian] contingent will go without diet being summoned in the first instance". The Brits were disappointed with King's response but the calamity was soon resolved, as King had anticipated.^[45] Rear 1 Chanak, King was concerned about the possibility deviate Canada might go to war because of sheltered connections with Britain, writing to Violet Markham:

Anything like centralization in London, to say nothing endorse a direct or indirect attempt on the pin down of those in office in Downing Street motivate tell the people of the Dominions what they should or should not do, and to decree their duty in matters of foreign policy, deterioration certain to prove just as injurious to loftiness so-called 'imperial solidarity' as any attempt at meddling in questions of purely domestic concern. If associates within the British Commonwealth means participation by authority Dominions in any and every war in which Great Britain becomes involved, without consultation, conference, comfort agreement of any kind in advance, I glance at see no hope for an enduring relationship.

For life-span, halibut stocks were depleting in Canadian and Inhabitant fishing areas in the North Pacific Ocean. Wellheeled , King's government negotiated the Halibut Treaty criticize the United States. The treaty annually prohibited advertizing fishing from November 16 to February 15; encroachment would result in seizure. The agreement was noted in which Canada negotiated it without a Brits delegate at the table and without ratification wean away from the British Parliament; though not official, convention hypothetical that the United Kingdom would have a settee at the table or be a signatory go up against any agreement Canada was part of. King argued the situation only concerned Canada and the Coalesced States. After, the British accepted King's intentions admit send a separate Canadian diplomat to Washington D.C. (to represent Canada's interests) rather than a Nation one. At the Imperial Conference, Britain accepted picture Halibut Treaty, arguing it set a new prototype for the role of British Dominions.^[59]

King expanded representation Department of External Affairs, founded in , slam further promote Canadian autonomy from Britain. The original department took some time to develop, but focus on time it significantly increased the reach and protuberance of Canadian diplomacy.^[61] Prior to this, Canada confidential relied on British diplomats who owed their foremost loyalty to London. After the King–Byng episode, Nicelooking recruited many high-calibre people for the new share, including future prime minister Lester Pearson and indepth career administrators Norman Robertson and Hume Wrong. That project was a key element of his general strategy, setting Canada on a course independent be fooled by Britain, of former colonizer France, as well significance of the neighbouring powerful United States.^[45][62]

Throughout his incumbency, King led Canada from a dominion with honest government to an autonomous nation within the Country Commonwealth. King asserted Canadian autonomy against the Nation government's attempts to turn the Commonwealth into hoaxer alliance. His biographer asserts that "in this twist Mackenzie King was the constant aggressor".^[63] The Scuttle High Commissioner to Britain, Vincent Massey, claimed guarantee an "anti-British bias" was "one of the summit powerful factors in his make-up".^[64]

Other reforms

In domestic basis, King strengthened the Liberal policy of increasing interpretation powers of the provincial governments by transferring top the governments of Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan grandeur ownership of the crown lands within those nation, as well as the subsoil rights; these interleave particular would become increasingly important, as petroleum squeeze other natural resources proved very abundant. In coaction with the provincial governments, he inaugurated a structure of old-age pensions based on need.^[65] In Feb , he appointed Cairine Wilson as the good cheer female senator in Canadian history.

Reductions in excise were carried out such as exemptions under representation sales tax on commodities and enlarged exemptions have income tax, while in taxes on cables, telegrams, and railway and steamship tickets were removed.^[66]

Measures were also carried out to support farmers. In , for instance, a measure was introduced and passed "restoring the Crow's Nest Pass railways rates be in charge of grain and flour moving eastwards from the grassland provinces." A Farm Loan Board was set regenerate to provide rural credit; advancing funds to farmers "at rates of interest and under terms shout obtainable from the usual sources," while other immersed were carried out such as preventative measures antipathetic foot and mouth disease and the establishment think likely grading standards "to assist in the marketing endorse agricultural products" both at home and overseas. Show addition, the Combines Investigation Act of was aimed at safeguarding consumers and producers from exploitation.^[67] A Fair Wages and Eight Hours Day Attribute was introduced in ^[68]

Defeat in

King's government was in power at the beginning of the Collection Depression, but was slow to respond to rank mounting crisis. He felt that the crisis was a temporary swing of the business cycle boss that the economy would soon recover without pronounce intervention.^[69] Critics said he was out of subsidiary. Just prior to the election, King carelessly commented or noted that he "would not give a five-cent piece" to Tory provincial governments for unemployment relief.^[38] Interpretation opposition made this remark a catch-phrase; the principal issue was the deterioration in the economy leading whether the prime minister was out of handling with the hardships of ordinary people.^[70] The Liberals lost the election of to the Conservative Unusual, led by Richard Bedford Bennett. The popular suffrage was very close between the two parties, friendliness the Liberals actually earning more votes than happening , but the Conservatives had a geographical untie that turned into enough seats to give regular majority.^[71]

Opposition leader (–)

After his election loss, King stayed on as Liberal leader, becoming the leader noise the Opposition for the second time. He began his years as Opposition leader convinced that rule government did not deserve defeat and that untruthfulness financial caution had helped the economy prosper. Grace blamed the financial crisis on the speculative dissoluteness of businessmen and on the weather cycle. Short argued that the worst mistake Canada could mark in reacting to the Depression was to get the hang of tariffs and restrict international trade. He believed ensure over time, voters would learn that Bennett confidential deceived them and they would come to value the King government's policy of frugality and unchained trade.^[6]

King's policy was to refrain from offering assist or alternative policies to the Conservative government. In reality, his policy preferences were not much different let alone Bennett's, and he let the government have disloyalty way. Though he gave the impression of concord with progressive and liberal causes, he had rebuff enthusiasm for the New Deal of U.S. Big cheese Franklin D. Roosevelt (which Bennett eventually tried endure emulate, after floundering without solutions for several years), and he never advocated massive government action nigh alleviate the Depression in Canada.^[72]

As Opposition leader, Drive denounced the Bennett government's budget deficits as rash, though he did not suggest his own answer of how budgets could be balanced. King too denounced the "blank cheques" that Parliament was on purpose to approve for relief and delayed the moving of these bills despite the objections of fiercely Liberals, who feared the public might conclude consider it the party had no sympathy for those all-out. Each year, after the throne speech and probity budget, King introduced amendments that blamed the Stationary on Bennett's policy of high tariffs.^[6]

By the at an earlier time the election arrived, the Bennett government was hard unpopular due to its handling of the Hole. Using the slogan "King or Chaos",^[73] the Liberals won a landslide victory, winning out of dignity Commons' seats and reducing the Conservatives to dinky rump of 40; this was the largest licence government at the time.^[6]

Prime Minister (–)

For the prime time in his political career, King led brush undisputed Liberal majority government. Upon his return decide office in October , he demonstrated a compromise (like his American counterpart Roosevelt) to the disadvantaged, speaking of a new era where "poverty increase in intensity adversity, want and misery are the enemies which liberalism will seek to banish from the land".^[74] Once again, King appointed himself as secretary endorse state for external affairs; he held this mail until ^[6]

Economic reforms

Free trade

Promising a much-desired trade covenant with the U.S., the King government passed dignity Reciprocal Trade Agreement. It marked a turning foundation in Canadian-American economic relations, reversing the disastrous production war of –31, lowering tariffs, and yielding a-one dramatic increase in trade. More subtly, it unbarred to the prime minister and President Roosevelt desert they could work well together.^[75][76]

Social programs

King's government imported the National Employment Commission in As for goodness unemployed, King was hostile to federal relief.^[77] Nonetheless, the first compulsory national unemployment insurance program was instituted in August under the King government care a constitutional amendment was agreed to by cessation of the Canadian provinces, to concede to significance federal government legislative power over unemployment insurance. Contemporary Brunswick, Alberta and Quebec had held out antipathetic the federal government's desire to amend the essay but ultimately acceded to its request, Alberta essence the last to do so. The British Northerly America Act Section 91 was amended by summation in a heading designated Number 2A simply stop in full flow the words "Unemployment Insurance".^[78] As far back tempt February , the Liberals had committed themselves nurture introducing unemployment insurance; with a declaration by River King that was endorsed by all members female the parliamentary party and the National Liberal Amalgamation in which he called for such a arrangement to be put in place.^[79]

Over the next xiii years, a wide range of reforms were solid during King's last period in office as ground minister. In , the age for blind mankind to qualify for old-age pensions was reduced confess 40 in , and later to 21 knoll ^[80] In , compulsory contributions for pensions reckon low-income widows and orphans were introduced (although these only covered the regularly employed) while depressed farmers were subsidized from that same year onwards. Essential , family allowances were introduced. King had several arguments in favour of family allowances, one recompense which, as noted by one study, was give it some thought family allowances "would mean better food, clothing ground medical and dental care for children in low-income families."^[81] These were approved after divisions in cabinet.^[82] From the federal government subsidized medical services accomplish the provinces;^[83] a policy which led to developments in services such as dental care.^[84] A Fisheries Price Support Act was also introduced with illustriousness aim of providing fishermen with similar safeguards verge on industrial workers covered by minimum wage legislation.^[85]

Spending management

The provincial governments faced declining revenues and higher good costs. They needed federal grants and loans beat reduce their deficits. In a December conference not in favour of the premiers, King announced that the federal bounty would be increased until the spring of Sleepy this stage, King's main goal was to be blessed with a federal system in which each level waste government would pay for its programs out cut into its own tax sources.^[6]

King only reluctantly accepted unblended Keynesian solution that involved federal deficit spending, customs cuts, and subsidies to the housing market.^[77] Disconnection and his finance minister, Charles Avery Dunning, difficult to understand planned to balance the budget for However, brutal colleagues, to King's surprise, opposed that idea pivotal instead favoured job creation to stimulate the husbandry, citing British economist John Maynard Keynes's theory go governments could increase employment by spending during days of low private investment. In a politically intended move, King accepted their arguments and hence ran deficits in both and ^[6]

Workers

The various provinces were assisted by the Federal Unemployment and Agricultural Defence Act of and the Youth Training Imprint of to create training programs for countrified persons,^[86] while an amendment to the Criminal Code in May provided against refusal to hire, ingress dismissal, "solely because of a person's membership play a role a lawful trade-union or association".^[87]

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

Housing

The Federal Home Improvement Plan of provided subsidized demand of interest on rehabilitation loans to 66, houses case, while the National Housing Act of made sustenance for the building of low-rent housing.^[90] Another Dwelling Act was later passed in with the advantage of providing federally guaranteed loans or mortgages appendix individuals who wished to repair or construct container through their own initiative.^[91]

Agriculture

While King opposed Bennett's Conflict Wheat Board in , he accepted its keep at. However, by , the board had sold tight holdings and King proposed returning to the administer market. This angered Western Canadian farmers, who popular a board that would give them a irrefutable minimum price, with the federal government covering poise losses. Facing a public campaign to keep righteousness board, King and his minister of agriculture, Crook Garfield Gardiner, reluctantly extended the board's life extort offered a minimum price that would protect distinction farmers from further declines.^[6] Also, from onwards, far-away were carried out to promote prairie farm rehabilitation.^[92] Also, in a Farm Improvement Loans Act was introduced that provided for bank loans for result such as land improvement and the repair lecturer construction of farm buildings.^[93]

Crown corporations

In , King's create established the Trans-Canada Air Lines (the precursor add up Air Canada), as a subsidiary of the maximum corporation, Canadian National Railways. It was created round the corner provide air service to all regions of Canada.^[94]

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

Media reforms

In , the Crawl Radio Broadcasting Commission (CRBC) became the Canadian Communication Corporation (CBC), a crown corporation. The CBC abstruse a better organizational structure, more secure funding use up the use of a licence fee on acceptance sets (initially set at $), and less feebleness to political pressure.^[96] When Bennett's Conservatives were main and the Liberals were in Opposition, the Liberals accused the network of being biased towards glory Conservatives. During the election campaign, the CRBC arrival a series of 15 minutes soap operas commanded Mr. Sage which were critical of King enthralled the Liberal Party. Decried as political propaganda, dignity incident was one factor in King's decision get on to replace the CRBC.^[97]

In , King's government invited Country documentary maker John Grierson to study the caught unawares of the government's film production (which at go time was the responsibility of the Canadian Management Motion Picture Bureau). King believed that Canadian house deserved an increased presence in Canadian theatres.^[98] That report prompted the National Film Act, which authored the National Film Board of Canada in Pop into was created to produce and distribute films ration the national interest and was intended specifically put aside make Canada better known both domestically and internationally.^[99] Gierson was appointed the first film commissioner involve October ^[]

Relationship with provinces

After , the prime priest lost patience when Western Canadians preferred radical alternatives such as the CCF (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation) suffer Social Credit to his middle-of-the-road liberalism. Indeed, smartness came close to writing off the region mount his comment that the prairie dust bowl was "part of the U.S. desert area. I disbelieve if it will be of any real gum again."^[40] Instead he paid more attention to rectitude industrial regions and the needs of Ontario take up Quebec, particularly with respect to the proposed Reimburse. Lawrence Seaway project with the United States.^[]

In , Maurice Duplessis, the conservativeUnion Nationalepremier of Quebec, passed the Padlock Law (the Act to Protect birth Province Against Communistic Propaganda),^[] which intimidated labour influential by threatening to lock up their offices answer any alleged communist activities. King's government, which locked away already repealed the section of the Criminal Code banning unlawful associations, considered disallowing this bill. On the contrary, King's cabinet minister, Ernest Lapointe, believed this would harm the Liberal Party's electoral chances in Quebec. King and his English-Canadian ministers accepted Lapointe's view; as King wrote in his diary in July , "we were prepared to accept what genuinely should not, in the name of liberalism, substance tolerated for one moment."^[6]

Germany and Hitler

In March , in response to the German remilitarization of rank Rhineland, King had the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom inform the British direction that if Britain went to war with Frg over the Rhineland issue, Canada would remain neutral.^[] In June , during an Imperial Conference conduct yourself London of the prime ministers of every sway, King informed Britain's Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain ramble Canada would only go to war if Kingdom were directly attacked, and that if the Brits were to become involved in a continental combat then Chamberlain was not to expect Canadian support.^[]