Canadahistory.com

Canadahistory.com

Born at Hopewell Hill New Brunswick on July 3rd, 1870. He became a successful corporation lawyer in Calgary, Conservative prime minister during the Depression, he proposed legislation of unemployment insurance, minimum wage and maximum hours. Wealthy and domineering, he went from landside victory in 1930 to disastrous defeat in 1935. He steadfastly refused to pump money into the economy and provide relief during the great depression until the final few months of his term when desperate to be re-elected he did a complete about face and promised relief, federal government spending and support for the unemployed and action to help the homeless. His appeal went unheeded and Mackenzie King was elected Prime Minister. Bennett left Canada a broken and bitter man to live out his remaining years in England where he died at Juniper Hill on June 26th, 1947.