Maritime Rights Movement
Encyclopedia
The Maritime Rights Movement arose in the 1920s in response to perceived unfair economic policies in Canada
that were affecting the economies of the provinces of New Brunswick
, Nova Scotia
and Prince Edward Island
. At a time of rural protest in Canada from Ontario to the Prairies, the Movement was a broad-based protest demanding better treatment from Ottawa. It was centered in Saint John, New Brunswick, where the city's business leaders politicized the economic crisis and solidified their economic and political leadership.
The "movement" attempted to address issues relating to interprovincial trade barriers, freight rates on railways, and various other indicators that were believed to be behind an economic decline since the early 20th century and aggravated by World War I
.
The "Duncan Commission" of enquiry was established in 1926 by Prime Minister
MacKenzie King
to address the issues raised by the Maritime Rights Movement. It made recommendations to lower tariffs, decrease freight rates, and change other federal policies to help the regional economy, however few of these recommendations were ever implemented as King largely ignored the commission
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
that were affecting the economies of the provinces of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
. At a time of rural protest in Canada from Ontario to the Prairies, the Movement was a broad-based protest demanding better treatment from Ottawa. It was centered in Saint John, New Brunswick, where the city's business leaders politicized the economic crisis and solidified their economic and political leadership.
The "movement" attempted to address issues relating to interprovincial trade barriers, freight rates on railways, and various other indicators that were believed to be behind an economic decline since the early 20th century and aggravated by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
The "Duncan Commission" of enquiry was established in 1926 by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
MacKenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
to address the issues raised by the Maritime Rights Movement. It made recommendations to lower tariffs, decrease freight rates, and change other federal policies to help the regional economy, however few of these recommendations were ever implemented as King largely ignored the commission