Relief Workers in Ontario 1930s

MacDowell’s article about Relief workers in the 1930’s in Ontario focuses on young unmarried men and describes the hardships faced during the depression. Married men with families were given priority in employment and municipal aid was primarily given to families as well. As a result, many young men became transients roaming from place to place trying to find work. The government became worried that these men would be easy prey for radical ideas. To …

…persuasive in showing how hard it was for people to work in relief camps. The conditions were terrible and morale was low and people saw no future ahead of them. Although the workers were limited in what they could do to not compete with private sector jobs, many public services were accomplished and revolution was averted. The camps reduced the amount of unemployed and allowed men to keep their dignity, therefore achieving the set goals.