British Columbia - Periods - Boom & Bust (1919-1937)  

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Social Assistance

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During the Great Depression of the 1930s, social assistance in British Columbia (BC) was provided through a system of poor relief. This system was administered by municipalities and was funded by both the federal and provincial governments. Eligible individuals and families were able to receive financial assistance, as well as access to other forms of support such as food banks and soup kitchens. Additionally, the government of BC also established relief camps, where unemployed men could work on public projects in exchange for room and board. Despite these efforts, poverty and hardship remained widespread during the Depression, and many people struggled to make ends meet.

During the Great Depression, the government of British Columbia provided social assistance to people through a system of poor relief. The system was administered by municipalities and was funded by both the federal and provincial governments. Eligible individuals and families were able to receive financial assistance, as well as access to other forms of support such as food banks and soup kitchens. The financial assistance provided to individuals and families were in the form of cash relief, or "relief cheques" which would cover basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter.

Additionally, the government of BC also established relief camps, where unemployed men could work on public projects in exchange for room and board. The government also established relief work programs to provide employment opportunities for the unemployed.

In addition to these programs, the government also provided assistance to farmers and rural communities through programs such as debt relief, low-interest loans and subsidies for agricultural production.

Overall, the government extended a range of social assistance programs during the Great Depression to help people meet their basic needs and provide employment opportunities. However, despite these efforts, poverty and hardship remained widespread during the Depression, and many people struggled to make ends meet.

Timeline

  • 1930: The Canadian government established the "Department of Relief and Unemployment" which provided financial assistance to unemployed men and families, and set up relief camps across the country.
  • 1931-1932: British Columbia's municipalities began to administer poor relief programs and provide financial assistance to eligible individuals and families. The government also established relief camps where unemployed men could work on public projects in exchange for room and board.
  • 1933-1935: The government increased funding for social assistance programs and expanded the relief camp program to other parts of the province. The government also established relief work programs to provide employment opportunities for the unemployed.
  • 1936-1938: The government began to phase out the relief camp program and started to focus on other forms of social assistance, such as low-interest loans, debt relief, and subsidies for agricultural production.
  • 1939: The relief camp program officially ended, though some forms of social assistance continued to be provided until the end of the Great Depression and the beginning of the Second World War.
  • It's worth noting that the social assistance programs during the Great Depression were not limited to British Columbia, but also provided by the Canadian government across the country. The programs and their implementation varied across provinces.

Culture & Politics

During this period, the government's approach to social assistance was influenced by the idea of "less eligibility," which held that the conditions of poor relief should be less desirable than those of the lowest-paid work, in order to discourage dependency and encourage work. This principle was reflected in the harsh conditions of the relief camps and the limited financial assistance provided to individuals and families.

Additionally, the government's approach to social assistance was also influenced by the political climate of the time. Many politicians and policymakers believed that the economic crisis was caused by the laziness and moral inadequacies of the unemployed, and that poverty was a result of personal failings rather than systemic issues. This led to a tendency to blame and stigmatize those who were in need of assistance.

It's worth noting that during this period, there were also voices calling for a more comprehensive and humane approach to social assistance, and criticizing the government's policies for being inadequate and inhumane. Overall, the politics of social assistance during the Great Depression were shaped by a complex set of factors, including economic considerations, the government's approach to poverty, and the political climate of the time.

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Reference: Article by (Staff Historian), 2023

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