1. Laurier Era: Immigration

2. Brief Re-cap
Laurier is Canada’s new PM (elected in 1896 – Liberal Party)
Known for his compromises; trying to unite Canada
Wanted to increase immigration to the West through the use of posters, newspapers, word-of-mouth, and other propaganda
Hired Clifford Sifton as the Minister of the Interior to take care of immigration
Had an open-door policy
Population thus boomed!

3. How the Railway Fits into the Picture
With more population, faster and convenient travel was necessary for both people and goods
Farmers complained that the CPR’s rates were too high, and wanted other rail lines built
Laurier agreed
The CNR (Canadian Northern Railway) was built using govt subsidies; it extended east of the prairies to Quebec, and west to the Pacific
The Grand Trunk Railway went coast to coast, like the CPR, and Laurier wanted it to cover areas on the east coast that the CPR didn’t service
The Grand Trunk’s Pacific end of line was Prince Rupert, in northern BC
The First World War halted everything (immigration and profit). Eventually, all non-CPR lines were connected to form Canadian National Railways, and is owned by the people of Canada

4. Answer the following questions from Horizons:
As a conclusion…
A lot of the major cities in the west exist because of the rail lines
If you look on old maps, many of these cities were forts back during the fur trade, and are now well-known city centres
In a few years from this point, the car became the next best mode of transportation and the rail system fell by the wayside
Answer the following questions from Horizons:
Page 257 # 2, 3, 5
This quote from Sir Wilfrid Laurier: “Two races share today the soil of Canada … These people had not always been friends. But I hasten to say it … There is no longer any family here but the human family. It matters not the language people speak, or the altars at which they kneel.” How is this quote indicative of the change in attitude of Canadian government from our previous studies? Cite examples and situations that prove your point.
This is a PARAGRAPH response. It is worth 10 marks.