United Farmers of Canada
Encyclopedia
The United Farmers of Canada was a radical farmers organization. It was established in 1926 as the United Farmers of Canada (Saskatchewan Section) as a merger of the Farmers' Union of Canada and the Saskatchewan Grain Growers Association. The name United Farmers
came from the movements that had been established and run for election, in some cases taking power, in several provinces such as the United Farmers of Ontario
, the United Farmers of Alberta
and federally as the Progressive Party of Canada
.
The UFC campaigned in the late 1920s for a "100% pool system" in which the government would market all grain - an idea that was ultimately adopted in part in 1935 with the creation of the Canadian Wheat Board
and also operated educational programs for farmers and called for reforms in the health care system and education.
With the Great Depression
and the Dust Bowl
the Saskatchewan Section became more militant under the leadership of George Hara Williams
and decided to enter electoral politics on a socialist platform. In 1932, the UFC(SS) joined with the Independent Labour Party in Saskatchewan to form the Farmer-Labour Group which contested the 1934 Saskatchewan election
winning five seats. The FLP affiliated with the new Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
and became the Saskatchewan CCF which went on to take power in 1944
.
The United Farmers of Canada (Alberta Section) was formed in 1938 by radical members of the declining United Farmers of Alberta
and was reorganized in 1943 as the Alberta Farmers' Union. In 1949 the UFC(SS) became the Saskatchewan Farmers' Union.
The Interprovincial Farm Union Council was formed in 1945 by these and other provincial organizations which, in 1960, became the In 1960 the National Farmers Union
.
United Farmers of Canada
The United Farmers of Canada was a radical farmers organization. It was established in 1926 as the United Farmers of Canada as a merger of the Farmers' Union of Canada and the Saskatchewan Grain Growers Association...
came from the movements that had been established and run for election, in some cases taking power, in several provinces such as the United Farmers of Ontario
United Farmers of Ontario
The United Farmers of Ontario was a political party in Ontario, Canada. It was the Ontario provincial branch of the United Farmers movement of the early part of the 20th century.- Foundation and rise :...
, the United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
and federally as the Progressive Party of Canada
Progressive Party of Canada
The Progressive Party of Canada was a political party in Canada in the 1920s and 1930s. It was linked with the provincial United Farmers parties in several provinces and, in Manitoba, ran candidates and formed governments as the Progressive Party of Manitoba...
.
The UFC campaigned in the late 1920s for a "100% pool system" in which the government would market all grain - an idea that was ultimately adopted in part in 1935 with the creation of the Canadian Wheat Board
Canadian Wheat Board
The Canadian Wheat Board was established by the Parliament of Canada on 5 July 1935 as a mandatory producer marketing system for wheat and barley in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and a small part of British Columbia...
and also operated educational programs for farmers and called for reforms in the health care system and education.
With the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and the Dust Bowl
Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl, or the Dirty Thirties, was a period of severe dust storms causing major ecological and agricultural damage to American and Canadian prairie lands from 1930 to 1936...
the Saskatchewan Section became more militant under the leadership of George Hara Williams
George Hara Williams
George Hara Williams was a farmer activist and politician. Born in Binscarth, Manitoba, Williams attended Manitoba Agricultural College after serving in World War I...
and decided to enter electoral politics on a socialist platform. In 1932, the UFC(SS) joined with the Independent Labour Party in Saskatchewan to form the Farmer-Labour Group which contested the 1934 Saskatchewan election
Saskatchewan general election, 1934
The Saskatchewan general election of 1934 was the eighth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 19, 1934, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
winning five seats. The FLP affiliated with the new Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
and became the Saskatchewan CCF which went on to take power in 1944
Saskatchewan general election, 1944
The Saskatchewan general election of 1944 was the tenth provincial election in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 15, 1944 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
.
The United Farmers of Canada (Alberta Section) was formed in 1938 by radical members of the declining United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
and was reorganized in 1943 as the Alberta Farmers' Union. In 1949 the UFC(SS) became the Saskatchewan Farmers' Union.
The Interprovincial Farm Union Council was formed in 1945 by these and other provincial organizations which, in 1960, became the In 1960 the National Farmers Union
National Farmers Union (Canada)
The National Farmers Union of Canada is an organization set up by Canadian farmers. It is headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is descended from the United Farmers of Canada which was a loose federation of militant farmers' organizations...
.