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Impact of the War on Labor. Impact of the War on Labor. Increased demands for wheat, lumber, fish and minerals made unemployment disappear Government and businesses desired peace on the labor front in order to maintain production
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Impact of the War on Labor • Increased demands for wheat, lumber, fish and minerals made unemployment disappear • Government and businesses desired peace on the labor front in order to maintain production • Ottawa passed regulations that recognized labor’s rights to bargain collectively and organize, to fair wages and a fair deal. The primary regulation was Privy Council Act 1003. PC 1003 was modelled on the US’s Wagner Act and became the basis for all subsequent labor law in Canada.
Impact of the war on Labor • One preamble to PC 1003 states that, "the common well-being" is promoted "through the encouragement of free collective bargaining and the constructive settlement of disputes." • Union strength doubled from 359,000 in 1939 to 711,000 in 1945.
Impact of the War on Business • The government aided the construction of plants, gave easy write-offs for costs and depreciation and, although taxes were high, profits were still good. • Unnecessary industries were squeezed out of the marketplace and forced to convert to war production. Eg. Fridges to Bren guns or tank tracks
Impact of the War on the Economy • Living standards improved all across the country during the war. • The Gross National Product (GNP) rose from $5.6 billion in 1939 to $11.8 billion in 1945 and average wages, personal savings and government expenditures rose with it. • The cost of living remained static because of price controls and, in spite of high taxes, there was more money in Canada than there had been for years.