During the 1920's, many considered this time to be prosperous which is why this time period is known as the Roaring Twenties. However, the economy in the early twenties was very poor. Soldiers were returning from the war expecting to find good jobs but instead were faced with high unemployment rates, rising prices, and low wages. When World War I ended, many wartime industries closed down laying off many workers; women were pressured to return to household duties so men could have jobs. Thousands of veterans returned to unemployment since their jobs were already taken. However, though the beginning of the 1920's was harsh, conditions started to improve in the mid 20's. New industries were being formed because of foreign investors. These industries included wheat from the prairies, pulp and paper, and oil and gas. Many countries were suffering from the after effects of the war, which led to demand for food. Canadian farmers were able to produce huge crops resulting in a large amount of profit. Canadian pulp and paper was largely in demand by many countries because Canada was the largest exporter of this raw material in the world at the time. Factories and cars heavily relied upon oil and gas; oil was discovered in Alberta in 1924 which became a very valuable resource. These changes in the 1920's created jobs, made money, and improved Canada's economy in the mid 1920's.
Women had gained the right to vote in the 1920's but were still viewed as inferior to men by some Canadians. Female workers made less money than their male counterparts doing the same work as them. Middle class women were expected to quit their work when they got married so men could support their wives. In 1927, the "Famous Five" asked parliament if women were considered "persons". The Supreme Court ruled that the word "persons" in the constitution only applied to the male gender. However, if 1929, the British Privy Council overruled this decision and deemed that women were persons and ruled that women were qualified were Senate.
