Why did Manitoba’s economy suffer during the Great Depression?

Manitoba’s economy suffered significantly during the Great Depression of the 1930s due to a combination of falling commodity prices and severe environmental challenges.12

While the province maintained its production levels, the agricultural sector was crippled by a collapse in prices for farm commodities. This economic downturn was exacerbated by a prolonged drought that devastated vast areas of farmland, particularly in the southwestern part of the province. These conditions were worsened by years of poor soil conservation techniques, which left the land vulnerable to erosion and contributed to widespread agricultural failure.12

The resulting financial disaster forced many farmers to abandon their land, leading to significant out-migration as people moved to cities or other provinces in search of work. By the mid-1930s, the Prairie Provinces were near bankruptcy, as municipalities and provincial governments struggled to provide necessary welfare and relief to the growing number of unemployed citizens.2