Laurier’s greatest gift to Canada

Above all, he was a keen promoter of national unity at a time of radical change and worsening cultural conflict. However, industrial and railway interests in Canada had come to believe that their success was due to tariffs and their trade with England, rather than with the United States. Laurier was the start of it all and perhaps his greatest gift to Canada was, “Cultural Diversity” at peace. tion would be permitted in public schools, and French would be used in teaching, but only on a school-by-school basis depending on the numbers of French-speaking students. As so often before, Laurier sought a compromise, proposing the creation of a Canadian navy to be built and trained in accordance with British naval requirements and placed under British command if Canada chose to enter a war as an ally of Britain. S economic domination resulted in Laurier’s lost at the election.

The final straw ending Laurier came in 1911. Today Canada is a multicultural country made up of people with a variety of languages, religions, and customs and is one of the few countries in the world that still has significant immigration programs. Henri Bourassa was an especially vocal opponent. A skilful and practical politician with a charismatic personality, he constantly sought compromise. Despite his French-Canadian background he supported other worldwide immigration by travelling to Europe and granting gifts to those who would settle into Canada. The United States was ready to change its views on trade between the two countries.

Laurier was the dominant political figure of his era.

In 1899 Britain expected military support from Canada, as part of the British Empire, in the Boer War. Laurier was caught between demands for support for military action from English Canada, and a strong opposition from French Canada, which saw the Boer War as a reminder of its own defeat in the Seven Years' War.