2 Leadership

Laurier was able to build the Liberal Party a base in Quebec, which had been a Conservative stronghold for decades due to the province's social conservatism and the influence of the Catholic Church which distrusted the Liberal's anti-clericalism. He was aided by the growing alienation of French-Canadians from the Conservatives due to the national Tory party's links with anti-French, anti-Catholic Orangemen in English Canada, its role in the suppression and execution of Louis Riel as well as the suppression of French language rights as a result of the Manitoba Schools Question, all of which combined with the collapse of the Conservative Party of Quebec gave Laurier an opportunity to build a stronghold in French Canada and among Catholics across Canada.

3 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:

"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.”

One of Laurier's first acts as Prime Minister was to implement a solution to the Manitoba Schools Question, which had brought down the 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.

4 Boer War

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.

Laurier's greatest failing was, perhaps, his ambitious railway schemes. John A. Macdonald had had great success building a national railway and in many ways Laurier wished to match him and began constructing a second national railway. This and other railway schemes were a financial disaster.

In 1905 Laurier oversaw Saskatchewan and Alberta's entry into Confederation, the last two provinces to be created out of the Northwest Territories. In 1910 Laurier introduced the Naval Service Bill to create an independent Canadian navy, but Bourassa attacked him again over this issue, saying Britain would simply call on the Canadian navy whenever it felt necessary. However, imperialists in English Canada were opposed to attempts to remove Canada from Britain's influence.

5 Reciprocity and Defeat

Another controversy arose regarding Laurier's support of trade reciprocity with the United States. This was opposed by Conservatives as well as Liberal businessmen, but had strong support of agricultural interests. These controversies led to the victory of Robert Laird Borden and the Conservatives in the election of 1911, which was mostly fought on the issue of reciprocity.

6 Opposition and War

Laurier led the opposition during World War I. He was an influential opponent of conscription, which led to the Conscription Crisis of 1917 and the formation of a Union government, which Laurier refused to join. However, many Liberals, particularly in English Canada, joined Borden as Liberal-Unionists and the " Laurier Liberals" were reduced to a mostly French-Canadian rump as a result of the 1917 election.

Laurier died on February 17, 1919, and was buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario. The Sir Wilfrid Laurier National Historic Site of Canada is in Saint-Lin-Laurentides, a town 60 km north of Montreal. Another site is Laurier House, his residence in Ottawa at the corner of Somerset and what is now Laurier Street.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier is depicted on the Canadian five- dollar bill. On November 1, 1973, Waterloo Lutheran University was renamed Wilfrid Laurier University, one of Ontario's publicly funded universities. There are also many high schools in Canada named after him.

Laurier is also the personal hero of former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien who saw in Laurier's abilities at conciliation and at winning majority governments an ideal model to follow.

Preceded by: Sir Charles Tupper 1896

Prime Minister of Canada 1896-1911

Followed by: Sir Robert Laird Borden 1911-1917

Preceded by: Edward Blake

Liberal Leaders

Followed by: Daniel Duncan McKenzie

Prime Ministers of Canada
Macdonald | Mackenzie | Abbott | Thompson | Bowell | Tupper | Laurier | Borden | Meighen | King | Bennett | St. Laurent | Diefenbaker | Pearson | Trudeau | Clark | Turner | Mulroney | Campbell | Chrétien | Martin

Laurier, Wilfrid Laurier, Wilfrid Laurier, Wilfrid Laurier 43

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