The Post War Boom

Postwar Boom:
- They had learned from WWI, so in 1944 the govt set up the Department of Reconstruction, to adjust the economy to peacetime.
- It was under the leadership of C.D. Howe, the “Minister of Everything”. He cut back the govt control of the economy and encouraged investment by special tax breaks.
- New industries came out of the war, e.g. new appliances for the home, lastics, the jet airplane.
- The war gave people lots of money to spend. Per capita income would rise every year until the mid 70s. There was pent up demand for consumer goods, e.g. cars.
- Oil and natural gas were discovered in Alberta. Helped the economic boom. Pipelines were built from Alberta to Ont. and Que..
- American investment helped fuel the economy, they set up “branch plants” here in Canada, e.g. the Ford plant in Oakville. The direct investment of the Americans in Canada resulted in the Americans owning 75% of Cdn mining, oil and manufacturing industries. The Americans owned the ma...