Wilfrid Laurier

:Laurier re-directs here. For the Canadian federal electoral district see Laurier (electoral district). For the university in Waterloo, Ontario, see Wilfrid Laurier University.

Prime Minister

Laurier led Canada during a period of rapid growth, industrialization, and immigration. His long career straddles a period of major political and economic change. As Prime Minister he was instrumental in ushering Canada into the 20th century and in gaining greater autonomy from Britain for his country. His most famous quotation comes from a speech given to the Canadian Club of Ottawa, 18 January 1904:

Related Topics:
Industrialization - Immigration - 20th century - Canadian Club - 1904

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:"The 19th century was the century of the United States. I think we can claim that it is Canada that shall fill the 20th century."

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On October 15, 1904, a tall man stood up to the podium on that cool October evening and began his speech of a new vision of the new century for Canada. He was Wilfrid Laurier.

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:"Let me tell you, my fellow country men, that the twentieth century shall be the century of Canada and of the Canadian development. For the next seventy-five years, nay for the next 100 years, Canada shall be the star towards which all men who love progress and freedom shall come."

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One of Laurier's first acts as Prime Minister was to implement a solution to the Manitoba Schools Question, which had brought down the Conservative government of Mackenzie Bowell earlier in 1896. His compromise stated that French-speaking Catholics in Manitoba could have a Catholic education if there were enough students to warrant it, on a school-by-school basis. This was seen by many as the best possible solution under the circumstances, making both the French and English equally satisfied.

Related Topics:
Manitoba Schools Question - Mackenzie Bowell - Manitoba

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In 1899, the United Kingdom 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. Henri Bourassa was an especially vocal opponent. Laurier eventually decided to send a volunteer force, rather than the militia expected by Britain, but Bourassa denounced him anyway.

Related Topics:
1899 - United Kingdom - British Empire - Boer War - Seven Years' War - Henri Bourassa

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The naval competition between the United Kingdom and the German Empire escalated in the early years of the 20th Century. The British asked Canada for more money and resources for ship construction, precipitating a heated political division in Canada. The imperialists wished to send as much as possible, whereas the Canadian nationalists wished to send nothing.

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Aiming for compromise, Laurier advanced the Naval Service Bill of 1910 which created the Royal Canadian Navy. The navy would initially consist of five cruisers and six destroyers; in times of crisis, it could be made subordinate the Royal Navy proper. The idea was lauded at the Imperial Conference on Defence in London, but it proved unpopular in Canada and contributed to Laurier's losing the election of 1911 to Robert Laird Borden.

Related Topics:
Naval Service Bill - Royal Canadian Navy - Cruiser - Destroyer - Royal Navy - Imperial Conference on Defence - London - 1911 - Robert Laird Borden

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