“Let them look to the past, but let them also look to the future; let them look to the land of their ancestors, but let them also look to the land of their children.” - Wilfrid Laurier ( Skelton, 1965 ). Wilfrid Laurier acted as the seventh prime minister of Canada from 1896 to 1911. He was considered one of the greatest political leaders of Canada and was the first francophone prime minister. Being of how strongly he was known for his problem-solving skills, he developed the nickname “The Great Conciliator”. Although Laurier was only in power for fifteen years, his leadership style had positively differed him from all other prime ministers since. During his time he compromised on the Manitoba schools disagreement, constructed a second transcontinental
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Two more unpopular bills were passed by Laurier from 1910-1911. The first was the Naval Service Act that established a Canadian navy on May 4th, 1910. The Canadian navy was essential to Canada and was a significant and important bill for Canada's road to independence. Before Laurier contrived the Royal Canadian Navy Canada had always relied on the British Royal Navy. During the beginning of the first world war, Laurier was the leader of the opposition and supported sending troops overseas. However, Laurier refused to accept conscription of his country yet again, thus losing the support of the French who was of the opinion that a European war was of no concern to them and the English who demanded compulsory military service. The second bill passed was the Reciprocity bill that provided free trade reducing the duty on abounding natural resources to the United States benefiting Canada. It was with the intention that it would reduce charged tariffs on exported goods and import duties between countries that this bill was created. This bill was repudiated by Canadians despite the exception of the US Congress. “I am for it [the reciprocity agreement] because I hope to see the day when the American flag will float over every square foot of the British North American possessions, clear to the North Pole.” - Wilfrid Laurier ( R. Johnson, 1911 ). By and large, Laurier established and …show more content…
“The twentieth century belongs to Canada.” - Wilfrid Laurier (Bélanger, 1998 ). By tackling movements such as the Manitoba schools question, looking for more ways to improve Canadian trade, and establishing the influential Canadian bills Laurier was essential to Canada. Laurier looked at leading Canada in a different way than any other prime minister since. He saw that compromise was the key to success in his position and that took him very far in his career. Specifically, Laurier was the key to expanding confederation at the time. Laurier opposed bigotry and was an honored orator. After fifteen years in power, his compromising skills gave him the nickname “The Great Conciliator”. Under those circumstances, Laurier was a charismatic icon who strived to bring Canada to its independence. “The private virtues of the eminent statesman, his admirable qualities of the heart, that tireless, modest charity, the great dignity of his life, are reasons for trust and consolation for all those who loved him.” ( Skelton, 1965 ). Laurier’s actions have affected society today in a very positive way and without him, we wouldn’t have had such a well-known country for peace and compromise. “Canada is free, and freedom is its nationality.” - Wilfrid Laurier (Skelton, 1965
Two more unpopular bills were passed by Laurier from 1910-1911. The first was the Naval Service Act that established a Canadian navy on May 4th, 1910. The Canadian navy was essential to Canada and was a significant and important bill for Canada's road to independence. Before Laurier contrived the Royal Canadian Navy Canada had always relied on the British Royal Navy. During the beginning of the first world war, Laurier was the leader of the opposition and supported sending troops overseas. However, Laurier refused to accept conscription of his country yet again, thus losing the support of the French who was of the opinion that a European war was of no concern to them and the English who demanded compulsory military service. The second bill passed was the Reciprocity bill that provided free trade reducing the duty on abounding natural resources to the United States benefiting Canada. It was with the intention that it would reduce charged tariffs on exported goods and import duties between countries that this bill was created. This bill was repudiated by Canadians despite the exception of the US Congress. “I am for it [the reciprocity agreement] because I hope to see the day when the American flag will float over every square foot of the British North American possessions, clear to the North Pole.” - Wilfrid Laurier ( R. Johnson, 1911 ). By and large, Laurier established and …show more content…
“The twentieth century belongs to Canada.” - Wilfrid Laurier (Bélanger, 1998 ). By tackling movements such as the Manitoba schools question, looking for more ways to improve Canadian trade, and establishing the influential Canadian bills Laurier was essential to Canada. Laurier looked at leading Canada in a different way than any other prime minister since. He saw that compromise was the key to success in his position and that took him very far in his career. Specifically, Laurier was the key to expanding confederation at the time. Laurier opposed bigotry and was an honored orator. After fifteen years in power, his compromising skills gave him the nickname “The Great Conciliator”. Under those circumstances, Laurier was a charismatic icon who strived to bring Canada to its independence. “The private virtues of the eminent statesman, his admirable qualities of the heart, that tireless, modest charity, the great dignity of his life, are reasons for trust and consolation for all those who loved him.” ( Skelton, 1965 ). Laurier’s actions have affected society today in a very positive way and without him, we wouldn’t have had such a well-known country for peace and compromise. “Canada is free, and freedom is its nationality.” - Wilfrid Laurier (Skelton, 1965