1. Over-Production and Over-Expansion

Main Things:Agriculture and Industry reached high levels of

production.Profits were spent on building new factories or

expanding existing ones.Supplies of food, newsprint, minerals and

manufactured goods were stockpiled.○ Oshawa and Windsor built 400,000 cars in 1930 and in the

best year only 260,000 were bought.

Problem this Caused:Eventually owners began to panic and

slowed production.Laid off workers. No job, not money to buy.Wages were not high enough for people

to buy all the products being created by factories

Impact of CanadaBought too many things Couldn’t buy any moreLost jobsSpent less

Impact on Canadian Business:Production slowedSales slowedProduced things that cost too much

2. Canada’s Dependence on a Few Primary Products

Main Things:The Canadian economy depended heavily on a few

primary (basic) products known as staples.Staples included: wheat, fish, minerals and pulp &

paper.Demand= strong prosperous Canada. No Demand=Surplus and a weak suffering CanadaWest faced drought

Problem this Caused:Canada had to compete with other

countries and the prices began to fall.No rain=No crops=No money to buy

machinery, goods, or pay for the farm/house.

Secondary industries which process the primary goods also suffered (i.e. flour mills) and so a chain reaction begins.

Impact on CanadaCheap pricesNo money to buy surplus products

Impact on Canadian Business:Farms closedBusiness lay offsProfits downSurpluses

3. Canada’s Dependence on the U.S.

Main Things:Canada’s economy was linked to the U.S. We bought 65% of our imports from them and sent 40%

of our exports their way.The U.S. replaced Britain as the largest buyer of

Canadian products When the depression hit the U.S. it was inevitable that it

would hit Canada

Problems this Caused:US did not buy our products

Impact on CanadaCouldn’t buy any more Lost jobsSpent less

Impact on Canadian business:US won’t buySurplusSlow economy

4. High Tariffs Hurt International Trade

Main Things:Many countries began applying Protective Tariffs to

protect their industries from foreign competition. For example Canada may find that its goods were

being kept out of France. So Canada would place tariffs on products from France. [tax]

Problem this Caused:Trade between nations began to slow

down. It did protect home industries but it

choked off and limited international trade.

Impact on Canada:Couldn’t buy any moreLost jobsSpent less

Impact on Canadian Business:Couldn’t sell to worldSlowed production

5. Too Much Credit Buying

Main Things:“Buy now, pay later”.People were hopping on to the custom/idea of

buying on credit.Many families got themselves into severe debt

○ For example a $445 piano could be purchased with $15 down and $12 a month for the next 4-5 years. With interest it ended up costing a lot more than it was worth.

Problem this Caused:No job = no way to keep up payments. If you fell behind the person who made the sale

could repossess it.As the depression worsened many people lost

everything because they were purchased on credit and repossessed.

Impact on Canada:Lost everything they bought on credit, i.e.,

homes, cars, etc..

Impact on Canadian Business:Lost money when people couldn’t afford to

pay back loansBanks closed

6. Too Much Credit Buying of Stocks

Main Things:You could buy stocks on credit just like

home appliances and furnishings. All that was required was a small down payment usually around 10%. The broker loaned the rest to you at a high interest rate!

Many people were ‘buying on margin’ which was when you bought a stock with a small down payment and sell it when the stock went up. You would pay off the broker who loaned you the money and keep the profits for yourself.

Problem this Caused:Black Tuesday-October 29, 1929 many

people buying on margin panicked. Stocks went down and people began to

sell their stocks at a small loss rather than risk losing more.

In a few hours many people lost millions or everything they had.

Impact on Canada:Lost everything to debt collectors who took

homes, cars, etc..

Impact on Canadian Business:Brokers lost money when people couldn’t

afford to pay back loans