Laurier Era - A Different Canada
A Different Canada
Wilfrid Laurier Era Wilfred Laurier becomes Prime Minister in 1896. This ended Conservative control of the House of Commons and marked a major turning point in Canadian history. The Liberals would come to dominate Canadian politics for much of the following century. From 1896 to 1914, Canada went through many changes. Laurier became the first French-Canadian Prime Minister. This time period would be known as the "Laurier Era". Laurier was fluent in both English and French and his belief was that he could appease both the English and French Canadians. The word to best describe Laurier's policies would be "compromise".
Wilfrid Laurier Era Wilfred Laurier becomes Prime Minister in 1896. This ended Conservative control of the House of Commons and marked a major turning point in Canadian history. The Liberals would come to dominate Canadian politics for much of the following century. From 1896 to 1914, Canada went through many changes. Laurier became the first French-Canadian Prime Minister. This time period would be known as the "Laurier Era". Laurier was fluent in both English and French and his belief was that he could appease both the English and French Canadians. The word to best describe Laurier's policies would be "compromise".
Manitoba Schools Question
Many changes occurred during the Laurier Era. One of the first issues to come across Laurier's desk was the Manitoba Schools Question. Under the Manitoba Act of 1870, both French and English were recognized as official languages of Manitoba. Schools were funded equally between the Protestant (English) and Catholic (French) population. By 1890, the population of Manitoba became predominantly English. In 1890, the Thomas Greenway government created a single public school system and eliminated funding to both Protestant and Catholic schools. The language for the new public school system would only be English. The Protestant schools became the new public system, while the Roman Catholic Church continued to operate its own schools but it now had to charge parents school fees. Legislation also replaced the bilingual provisions of the Manitoba Act with a policy of English only in the courts, the legislature and government publications.
The Roman Catholic community challenged the court decision in Manitoba and it was deferred to the Federal Government. The compromise that Laurier worked out in the following year with Greenway allowed for limited religious education in the public schools and provided for education in languages other than English under certain conditions.
Picture: Students of Kaleida School
Source: Archives of Manitoba/Archives du Manitoba, Kaleida - Schools 1, N1377
Year: 1896
Many changes occurred during the Laurier Era. One of the first issues to come across Laurier's desk was the Manitoba Schools Question. Under the Manitoba Act of 1870, both French and English were recognized as official languages of Manitoba. Schools were funded equally between the Protestant (English) and Catholic (French) population. By 1890, the population of Manitoba became predominantly English. In 1890, the Thomas Greenway government created a single public school system and eliminated funding to both Protestant and Catholic schools. The language for the new public school system would only be English. The Protestant schools became the new public system, while the Roman Catholic Church continued to operate its own schools but it now had to charge parents school fees. Legislation also replaced the bilingual provisions of the Manitoba Act with a policy of English only in the courts, the legislature and government publications.
The Roman Catholic community challenged the court decision in Manitoba and it was deferred to the Federal Government. The compromise that Laurier worked out in the following year with Greenway allowed for limited religious education in the public schools and provided for education in languages other than English under certain conditions.
Picture: Students of Kaleida School
Source: Archives of Manitoba/Archives du Manitoba, Kaleida - Schools 1, N1377
Year: 1896
Formation of New Provinces
One of the goals of Laurier after the 1896 election was to populate the West. He appointed Clifford Sifton as the Minister of the Interior. He began a massive campaign to bring new immigrants to help populate the West. His promotion of immigration was an immense success. Taking advantage of a strong economic recovery that made farming in the West more attractive, he established a vigorous organization to seek out settlers in the US, Britain and - most controversially - east-central Europe. Against attacks by nativists, he defended the "stalwart peasants in sheep-skin coats" who were turning some of the most difficult areas of the West into productive farms. As the West began to get populated, there was a push for the creation of new provinces. Laurier made this part of his campaign and as promised in the 1904 elections, Alberta and Saskatchewan were created as new provinces in 1905.
Clifford Sifton - Minister of the Interior
One of the goals of Laurier after the 1896 election was to populate the West. He appointed Clifford Sifton as the Minister of the Interior. He began a massive campaign to bring new immigrants to help populate the West. His promotion of immigration was an immense success. Taking advantage of a strong economic recovery that made farming in the West more attractive, he established a vigorous organization to seek out settlers in the US, Britain and - most controversially - east-central Europe. Against attacks by nativists, he defended the "stalwart peasants in sheep-skin coats" who were turning some of the most difficult areas of the West into productive farms. As the West began to get populated, there was a push for the creation of new provinces. Laurier made this part of his campaign and as promised in the 1904 elections, Alberta and Saskatchewan were created as new provinces in 1905.
Clifford Sifton - Minister of the Interior