(short answer #4)The Great Depression was a time of tremendous unemployment, economic hardship, and social dislocation. It was also a catalyst for more party system re-structuring in western Canada. By far the most momentous developments were the creation of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in 1932, and the founding of the Social Credit League in 1935. Both of these occurred in Calgary.

The CCF's origins are best found in farmer-labour alliances that had developed slowly through the 1920s. By 1932, the United Farmers of Alberta annual convention had passed a resolution in favour of a "co-operative commonwealth," and called for political co-operation with representatives of organized labour. Shortly thereafter, these representatives assembled in Calgary with labour party associates, and agreed on a platform of moderate socialist demands. They chose the name "Co-operative Commonwealth Federation: Farmer, Labour, Socialist" for their new party.

(short answer #5)The CCF's first full convention was held in Regina in July 1933. The "Regina Manifesto" condemned capitalism for creating unacceptable inequality and hardship. It advocated widespread public ownership, a "planned economy," nationalization of financial institutions, promotion of co-operative enterprises, increased corporate taxes, industrial democracy, and placing human needs, not capitalist profit, at the centre of economic activity. Similar proposals had been circulating within labour parties and some farmer organizations in Canada for twenty years.

Despite electoral setbacks in the 30s, by 1940 the CCF had done much to change the balance of party competition in western Canada and even Ontario. With the exception of Alberta, the CCF had become a serious contender for provincial power in western politics. In both Saskatchewan and British Columbia, the two old parties essentially joined forces to keep the socialist party from the gates of power.

CCF electoral strength in British Columbia was based on trade union support, while in Saskatchewan the CCF's major support came from farmers. (True/False #2)In 1944,led by Tommy Douglas, the CCF in Saskatchewan became the first North American jurisdiction to elect a socialist government. Douglas was premier of Saskatchewan from 1944-1960, and went on to be leader of the national New Democratic Party (NDP) from 1961-1970.

After 1933, in both British Columbia and Manitoba, the bedrock of CCF support was organized labour, in both cities and "company towns." The Manitoba CCF also gained strong support among less prosperous farmers in areas north of Winnipeg. But the CCF did not break through to be a consistent contender for office in other provinces.