I hate Mrs. Slize

What was the On-to-Ottawa Trek of 1935?

The On-to-Ottawa Trek was a protest movement by unemployed men from relief camps in Canada, seeking to confront Prime Minister Bennett directly in Ottawa about their dire working and living conditions during the Great Depression.

What were the conditions in the relief camps during PM Bennett's tenure?

The relief camps housed 170,248 men who performed hard labor for twenty cents a day under deplorable conditions, with no prospects for future employment.

What types of actions did men in the relief camps take to express their frustration?

The frustration led to 359 strikes, demonstrations, and disturbances within the relief camps.

What did the trekkers achieve in terms of public support?

The trekkers raised $5,500 in public donations and held large rallies, showing that many ordinary Canadians sympathized with their demands for better wages, conditions, and meaningful employment.

What was the government's response to the On-to-Ottawa Trek?

Rather than engaging with the trekkers, PM Bennett ordered the RCMP and city police to stop the Trek in Regina, leading to the Regina Riot where two people died and many were injured.

What were the main demands of the trekkers?

The trekkers sought unemployment insurance, minimum wage, and the right to be treated as citizens rather than transients, which were reforms Bennett had dismissed.

What was the political outcome following the On-to-Ottawa Trek?

Prime Minister Bennett was defeated in the October 1935 federal election by William Lyon Mackenzie King, leading to the closure of relief camps and the implementation of a social safety net in Canada.