We have talked about the long history of poor relief and the colonial inheritance of British and European thinking on poor relief. What was the situation in regard to poor relief in this early period?

British poor law style relief was implemented in Nova Scotia, 1758, in New Brunswick, 1783, and in Ontario, 1791. A mixture of out-of-door and in-door relief was provided.

No caption, National Archives Neg. no. PA136195.