Editing Wilfrid Laurier (section)

===Domestic policy===

====Manitoba Schools Question====

One of Laurier's first acts as prime minister was to implement a solution to the Manitoba Schools Question, which had helped to bring down the Conservative government of Charles Tupper earlier in 1896. The Manitoba legislature had passed a law eliminating public funding for Catholic schooling. Supporters of Catholic schools argued that the new statute was contrary to the provisions of the [[Manitoba Act, 1870]], which had a provision relating to school funding, but the courts rejected that argument and held that the new statute was constitutional.<ref>''City of Winnipeg v Barrett'', [1892] AC 445 (PC).</ref> The Catholic minority in Manitoba then asked the federal government for support, and eventually, the Conservatives proposed remedial legislation to override Manitoba's legislation. Laurier opposed the remedial legislation on the basis of provincial rights and succeeded in blocking its passage by Parliament. Once elected, Laurier reached a compromise with the provincial premier, [[Thomas Greenway]]. Known as the Laurier-Greenway Compromise, the agreement did not allow separate Catholic schools to be re-established. However, religious instruction (Catholic education) would take place for 30 minutes at the end of each day, if requested by the parents of 10 children in rural areas or 25 in urban areas. Catholic teachers were allowed to be hired in the schools as long as there were at least 40 Catholic students in urban areas or 25 Catholic students in rural areas, and teachers could speak in French (or any other minority language) as long as there were enough Francophone students. This was seen by many as the best possible solution in the circumstances, however, some French Canadians criticized this move as it was done on an individual basis, and did not protect Catholic or French rights in all schools. Laurier called his effort to lessen the tinder in this issue "sunny ways" ({{langx|fr|link=no|voies ensoleillées}}).<ref name="WLbio" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ns-prof-trudeau-sunny-ways-1.3280693|title=Justin Trudeau's 'sunny ways' a nod to Sir Wilfrid Laurier|publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=October 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dawson |first1=Joanna |title=Controversy and Compromise over the Manitoba Schools Question |url=https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/politics-law/controversy-and-compromise-over-the-manitoba-schools-question |website=Canada's History |access-date=January 3, 2022 |date=October 3, 2011}}</ref>

====Railway construction====

Laurier's government introduced and initiated the idea of constructing a second [[transcontinental railway]], the [[Grand Trunk Pacific Railway]]. The first transcontinental railway, the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]], had limitations and was not able to meet everyone's needs. In [[Western Canada|the West]], the railway was not able to transport everything produced by farmers and in [[Eastern Canada|the East]], the railway did not reach into [[Northern Ontario]] and [[Northern Quebec]]. Laurier was in favour of a transcontinental line built entirely on Canadian land by private enterprise.<ref name="WLbio" />
[[File:Laurier automobile2.png|right|thumb|Laurier (middle) on a chauffeur-driven automobile]]

Laurier's government also constructed a third railway: the [[National Transcontinental Railway]]. It was made to provide Western Canada with direct rail connection to the [[Atlantic Canada|Atlantic]] ports and to open up and develop Northern Ontario and Northern Quebec. Laurier believed that competition between the three railways would force one of the three, the Canadian Pacific Railway, to lower [[freight rate]]s and thus please Western shippers who would contribute to the competition between the railways. Laurier initially reached out to [[Grand Trunk Railway]] and [[Canadian Northern Railway]] to build the National Transcontinental railway, but after disagreements emerged between the two companies, Laurier's government opted to build part of the railway itself. However, Laurier's government soon struck a deal with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Company (subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway Company) to build the western section (from [[Winnipeg]] to the Pacific Ocean) while the government would build the eastern section (from Winnipeg to [[Moncton]]). Once completed, Laurier's government would hand over the railway to the company for operation. Laurier's government gained criticism from the public due to the heavy cost to construct the railway.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Regehr |first1=T.D. |title=National Transcontinental Railway |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/national-transcontinental-railway |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=February 22, 2022 |date=February 7, 2006}}</ref>

====Provincial and territorial boundaries====

On September 1, 1905, through the ''[[Alberta Act]]'' and the ''[[Saskatchewan Act]]'', Laurier oversaw [[Alberta]] and [[Saskatchewan]]'s entry into [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]], the last two provinces to be created out of the [[Northwest Territories]]. Laurier decided to create two provinces, arguing that one large province would be too difficult to govern.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tattrie |first1=Jon |title=Alberta and Confederation |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta-and-confederation |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=December 30, 2021 |date=November 18, 2014}}</ref><ref>Library and Archives Canada. [http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-3020-e.html Canadian Confederation: Alberta and Saskatchewan Entered Confederation: 1905]. Retrieved December 14, 2011.</ref> This followed the enactment of the ''Yukon Territory Act'' by the Laurier Government in 1898, separating the [[Yukon]] from the Northwest Territories.<ref>Government of Yukon. [http://www.gov.yk.ca/aboutyukon/history.html Yukon Historical Timeline (1886–1906)]. Retrieved December 14, 2011.</ref> Also in 1898, Quebec was enlarged through the [[Quebec Boundary Extension Act, 1898|''Quebec Boundary Extension Act'']].<ref>{{cite web|first=Jill|last=Wherrett|date=February 1996|title=ABORIGINAL PEOPLES AND THE 1995 QUEBEC REFERENDUM: A SURVEY OF THE ISSUES|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/bp412-e.htm#B|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613195221/http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/bp412-e.htm#B|archivedate=June 13, 2006}}</ref>

====Immigration====

Laurier's government dramatically increased immigration to grow the economy. Between 1897 and 1914, at least a million immigrants arrived in Canada, and Canada's population increased by 40 percent. Laurier's immigration policy targeted the [[Prairies]] as he argued that it would increase farming production and benefit the [[Agriculture in Canada|agriculture industry]].<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Great Period of Immigration in Canada |url=https://wilfridlaurier175.ca/grande_periode_d_immigration_au_canada-great_period_of_immigration_in_canada-eng |website=Wilfrid Laurier 175 |date= October 2016|access-date=December 30, 2021}}</ref>

The British Columbia electorate was alarmed at the arrival of people they considered "uncivilized" by Canadian standards, and adopted a whites-only policy. Although railways and large companies wanted to hire Asians, labour unions and the public at large stood opposed.<ref>Vic Satzewich, "Racisms: The reactions to Chinese migrants in Canada at the turn of the century." ''International Sociology'' 4.3 (1989): 311-327.</ref>  Both major parties went along with public opinion, with Laurier taking the lead.<ref>Donald Avery, and Peter Neary, "Laurier, Borden and a White British Columbia." ''Journal of Canadian Studies'' 12.4 (1977): 24-34.</ref> Scholars have argued that Laurier acted in terms of his racist views in restricting immigration from China and India, as shown by his support for the Chinese [[Head tax (Canada)|head tax]].<ref name=":0">{{cite book|author=Christopher G. Anderson|title=Canadian Liberalism and the Politics of Border Control, 1867-1967|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0JvcC2gPVioC&pg=PA79|year=2012|publisher=UBC Press|page=79|isbn=9780774823944}}</ref> In 1900, Laurier raised the Chinese head tax to $100.  In 1903, this was further raised to $500,<ref>{{cite web |title = The Chinese Immigration Act, 1885 |url = http://www.pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/the-chinese-immigration-act-1885|website = Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21|access-date = October 14, 2015}}</ref><ref>Lily Cho, "Rereading Chinese head tax racism: redress, stereotype, and antiracist critical practice" ''Essays on Canadian Writing'' (Issue #75. Winter 2002) pp: 62-84.</ref> but when a few Chinese did pay the $500, he proposed raising the sum to $1,000.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Sam P. S. Ho|author2=Ralph William Huenemann|title=China's Open Door Policy: The Quest for Foreign Technology and Capital : a Study of China's Special Trade|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=46MBkFDCC_0C&pg=PA54|year=1984|publisher=UBC Press|page=54|isbn=9780774801973}}</ref> This was not the first time Laurier showed racially charged action, and over the course of his time as a politician, he had a history of racist views and actions.<ref>{{cite web |first=Andray |last=Domise |url=https://www.macleans.ca/politics/is-racism-a-canadian-value/|title=Is racism a Canadian value? |website=- Macleans |date=5 October 2016 |access-date=July 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Freeman |date=August 28, 2017 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/08/28/as-america-debates-confederate-monuments-canada-faces-its-own-historical-controversy/|title=As America debates Confederate monuments, Canada faces its own historical controversy|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=July 31, 2019}}</ref> In 1886, Laurier told the House of Commons that it was moral for Canada to take lands from “savage nations” so long as the government paid adequate compensation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/sure-john-a-macdonald-was-was-a-racist-colonizer-and-misogynist-but-so-were-most-canadians-back-then|title=Sure, John A. Macdonald was a racist, colonizer and misogynist — but so were most Canadians back then |last1=Hopper |first1=Tristin |newspaper=National Post |date=January 10, 2015|language=en-CA|access-date=July 31, 2019}}</ref> Laurier also negotiated a limit to Japanese emigration to Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who was Sir Wilfrid Laurier?  |url=https://www.wlu.ca/about/assets/resources/sir-wilfrid-laurier.html |access-date=December 6, 2022 |website=Wilfrid Laurier University}}</ref>

In August 1911, Laurier approved the [[Order-in-Council P.C. 1911-1324]] recommended by the [[Minister of the Interior (Canada)|minister of the interior]], [[Frank Oliver (politician)|Frank Oliver]]. The order was approved by the cabinet on August 12, 1911. The order was intended to keep out Black Americans escaping segregation in the American south, stating that "the Negro race...is deemed unsuitable to the climate and requirements of Canada." The order was never called upon, as efforts by immigration officials had already reduced the number of Blacks migrating to Canada. The order was cancelled on October 5, 1911, the day before Laurier left office, by cabinet claiming that the minister of the interior was not present at the time of approval.<ref name=ce>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/order-in-council-pc-1911-1324-the-proposed-ban-on-black-immigration-to-canada|title=The proposed ban on black immigration to Canada. Order-in-Council P. C. 1911-1324|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref>
[[File:SirAndLadyLaurier.jpg|right|thumb|Sir Wilfrid Laurier with [[Zoé Laurier|Zoé, Lady Laurier]], in 1907]]

==== Social policy ====

In March 1906, Laurier's government introduced the ''Lord's Day Act'' after being persuaded by the Lord's Day Alliance. The act became effective on March 1, 1907. It prohibited business transactions from taking place on Sundays; it also restricted Sunday trade, labour, recreation, and newspapers. The act was supported by organized labour and the French Canadian Catholic hierarchy but was opposed by those who worked in the manufacturing and transportation sectors. It was also opposed by French Canadians due to them believing the federal government was interfering in a provincial matter; the Quebec government passed its own ''Lord’s Day Act'' that came into effect one day before the federal act did.<ref name="WLbio" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Meen |first1=Sharon |title=Lord's Day Alliance of Canada |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lords-day-alliance-of-canada |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=October 3, 2022 |date=February 7, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wakeling |first1=Thomas |title=Sunday Shopping |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sunday-shopping#:~:text=The%20federal%20Lord%27s%20Day%20Act,the%20reign%20of%20Charles%20I. |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=October 3, 2022 |date=January 25, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=John |title=They're Fighting To Save What's Left of Sunday |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1955/2/15/theyre-fighting-to-save-whats-left-of-sunday |website=Maclean's |access-date=October 3, 2022 |date=February 15, 1955 |archive-date=October 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003045302/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1955/2/15/theyre-fighting-to-save-whats-left-of-sunday |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1907, Laurier's government passed the ''Industrial Disputes Investigation Act'', which mandated conciliation for employers and workers before any strike in public utilities or mines, but did not make it necessary for the groups to accept the conciliators’ report.<ref name="WLbio" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Marks |first1=Marcus |title=The Canadian Industrial Disputes Act |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1012115 |journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science |year=1912 |volume=44 |pages=1–9 |doi=10.1177/000271621204400102 |jstor=1012115 |s2cid=143916430 |access-date=October 3, 2022}}</ref>

In 1908, a system was introduced where by annuities may be purchased from the government, the aim of which was to encourage voluntary provision for old age.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=odhq8dFuWiIC&dq=canadian+government+annuities+act+1908&pg=PA70 Monthly Labor Review Volume 48, Issue 1 1939, P.70]</ref>