he labour movement tried many new, often radical, ways to promote its interests in the early twentieth century. Political parties were created, revolutionary unions organized and general strikes initiated.

Unfortunately, while these new strategies helped the labour movement make some initial gains, its radical nature provided employers and governments with an excuse to vigorously fight back. Claiming the need to defend Canada against the spread of Bolshevism and the threat of "enemy aliens," these forces dealt the most serious blow to the Canadian labour movement in Winnipeg in 1919. It would be many years before the movement recovered.