Wilfrid Laurier


The Right Honourable Sir Wilfrid
Laurier (November 20, 1841 -
February 17, 1919) was the seventh
Prime Minister of Canada from July  Rank:            7th (1896-1911)
11, 1896 to October 7, 1911.        Date of Birth:   November 20, 1841
He was born in St-Lin, Canada East  Place of Birth:  St-Lin, Quebec
(what would later become Quebec),   Spouse:          Zoe Lafontaine
and graduated with a B.C.L. from    Profession:      lawyer
McGill University in 1864. In 1868
he wed Zoe Lafontaine (1841-1921).  Political Party: Liberal Party of Canada

Often considered one of Canada's great statesmen and the first Francophone
Prime Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier is well known for his policies of
conciliation and nation building. He argued for an English-French
partnership in Canada. "I have had before me as a pillar of fire," he said,
"a policy of true Canadianism, of moderation, of reconciliation."

Before joining the Liberals Laurier was a member of the radical rouge wing
of Quebec politics. He became disenchanted with extremism and ideology,
however, and later embraced a far more conciliatory approach. Distinguished
by his debonair charm and intellect, Laurier was first elected to the
Canadian House of Commons in 1874 and gradually built up his party's
strength and his personal following in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. He
led the Liberal Party to victory in 1896 and remained prime minister until 1911.

Laurier led Canada during a period of rapid growth, industrialization, and
immigration. His long career straddles a period of major political and
economic changes. As Prime Minister of Canada he was instrumental in
ushering Canada into the 20th century and in gaining greater autonomy for
his country vis-ˆ-vis its international partners. His most famous quote
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.Ó

One of Laurier's first acts as Prime Minister was a solution to the Manitoba
Schools Question, which had brought down the government of Mackenzie Bowell
earlier in 1896. His compromise stated that French 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 as the best possible solution
under the circumstances.

In 1899, Great Britain expected military support from Canada in the Boer
War. Laurier, who wanted Canada to move towards stronger ties with the
United States (a policy of "continentalism"), was caught between support for
military action from English Canada, and a strong opposition from French
Canada which saw the Boer War as a reminder of their own defeat in the Seven
Years' War. Henri Bourassa was an especially vocal opponent. Laurier
eventually decided to send a volunteer force, rather then 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 they felt necessary.
Imperialists in English Canada were also opposed to attempts to remove
Canada from Britain's influence.

Another controversy arose regarding Laurier's support of trade reciprocity
with the United States, which 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.

Laurier led the opposition throughout Borden's tenure as Prime Minister.
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,
although Laurier refused to join the coalition.

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
located in Ville de Saint-Lin-Laurentides, a town 60 km north of Montreal.
Another site is Laurier House his official residence in Ottawa at the
corner's of Somerset and what is now Laurier St.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier is depicted on the Canadian five-dollar bill. On
November 1, 1973, Waterloo Lutheran University was renamed and became
Wilfrid Laurier University, one of Ontario's publically funded Universities.
There is also a high school in Toronto named after him.

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