Canada today is most clearly a socialist nation, but without delving back to the earlier part of the 20th Century it is not apparent why. Was the culprit imported egalitarian ideals from Europe? Perhaps the transformation of a lingering admiration of authoritarianism from the rule of the Queen? Or did this force- consisting mostly of force, come from a closer source? Surely the neighbour to the South, with it’s republican and market based institutions had no part in the matter. Surely America is blameless. As we shall see, this simply is not so.
Between 1898 and 1915, over one million farmers came to Canada from America, moving mostly to the western provinces. Many of these farmers were enamored and associated with socialist groups in the United States. They were wheat farmers and felt slighted by the railroads and banks, feeling that the market was working against them. For roughly two decades they organized into a rabble of splintered groups comprised of farmers, socialist intellectuals, labour leaders, and union organizers. As Rahm Emmanuel said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.”, and so when the great depression hit they did just that. Using this crisis as a catalyst, these radicals organized into the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (C.C.F.) which bandied under the following anthem.
A call goes out to Canada
It comes from out the soil—
Come and join the ranks through all the land
To fight for those who toil
Come on farmer, soldier, labourer,
From the mine and factory,
And side by side we’ll swell the tide—
C.C.F. to Victory."
It comes from out the soil—
Come and join the ranks through all the land
To fight for those who toil
Come on farmer, soldier, labourer,
From the mine and factory,
And side by side we’ll swell the tide—
C.C.F. to Victory."
Read the rest of this informative article on Mises Canada.
Eric Sharp,
Regular Columnist, THL
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