Editing Liberal Party of Canada (section)

====Wilfrid Laurier====
[[File:The Honourable Sir Wilfrid Laurier Photo C (HS85-10-16873) - medium crop.jpg|right|165px|thumb|Sir [[Wilfrid Laurier]], the 7th prime minister of Canada (1896–1911)]]
In their early history, the Liberals were the party of [[continentalism]] and opposition to [[imperialism]]. The Liberals also became identified with the aspirations of Quebecers as a result of the growing hostility of French Canadians to the Conservatives. The Conservatives lost the support of French Canadians because of the role of Conservative governments in the execution of [[Louis Riel]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Duffy |first1=John |title=Fights of our Lives Elections, Leadership, and the Making of Canada |date=2002 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |isbn=9780002000895 |page=41}}</ref> and their role in the [[Conscription Crisis of 1917]], and especially their [[Manitoba Schools Question|opposition to French schools]] in provinces besides Quebec.

It was not until [[Wilfrid Laurier]] became leader that the Liberal Party emerged as a modern party. Laurier was able to capitalize on the [[Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942)|Conservatives]]' alienation of French Canada by offering the Liberals as a credible alternative. Laurier was able to overcome the party's reputation for [[anti-clericalism]] that offended the still-powerful [[Catholicism in Canada|Quebec Roman Catholic Church]]. In English-speaking Canada, the Liberal Party's support for [[Reciprocity (Canadian politics)|reciprocity]] made it popular among farmers, and helped cement the party's hold in the growing [[prairie provinces]].<ref name="Laurier">{{cite web |title = Sir Wilfrid Laurier Biography |url = http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/2/4/h4-3181-e.html |publisher = Library and Archives Canada |access-date = November 24, 2011 |archive-date = December 26, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111226010623/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/2/4/h4-3181-e.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

Laurier led the Liberals to power in the [[1896 Canadian federal election|1896 election]] (in which he became the first Francophone Prime Minister) and oversaw a government that increased [[immigration]] to settle [[Western Canada]]. Laurier's government created the provinces of [[Saskatchewan]] and [[Alberta]] out of the [[North-West Territories]] and promoted the development of Canadian industry.<ref name="Laurier"/>