Misplaced Pages

#541458

100-610: The Century Initiative was co-founded by Mark Wiseman and Dominic Barton , who also led the Advisory Council on Economic Growth under three-term Prime Minister Justin Trudeau . The Initiative was supported by former Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney , and by influential Liberal Party advisors including advisors to former Minister of Finance Bill Morneau . The Century Initiative has been listed on Canada's lobbyist registry since 2021 and has organized meetings with

200-611: A member of Parliament (MP) in the 1874 federal election . As an MP, Laurier gained a large personal following among French Canadians and the Québécois . He also came to be known as a great orator. After serving as minister of inland revenue under Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie from 1877 to 1878, Laurier became leader of the Liberal Party in 1887, thus becoming leader of the Official Opposition . He lost

300-522: A "three-column tariff", which added a new intermediate rate (a bargaining rate) alongside the existing British preferential rate and the general rate (which applied to all countries that Canada had no most-favoured-nation agreement with). The preferential and general rates remained unchanged, while the intermediate rates were slightly lower than the general rates. Also in 1907, Laurier's minister of finance , William Stevens Fielding , and minister of marine and fisheries , Louis-Philippe Brodeur , negotiated

400-605: A Liberal convention in Ottawa. The convention established that unrestricted reciprocity was intended to develop Canada's natural resources and that keeping a customs tariff was intended to generate revenue. Laurier subsequently undertook a series of speaking tours to campaign on the convention's results. Laurier visited Western Canada in September and October 1894, promising to relax the Conservatives' National Policy , open

500-403: A consensual relationship with a subordinate employee under his reporting line. in violation of the company's relationship at work policy. Wiseman stated in an internal memo "I engaged in a consensual relationship with one of our colleagues without reporting it. I regret my mistake and I accept responsibility for my actions." Wiseman advised various businesses, most recently joining Lazard as

600-642: 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

700-484: A division of a construction company. He has one sister, who is a veterinarian. He earned a bachelor's degree from Queen's University as well as a law degree and an MBA from the University of Toronto . He obtained a Master of Laws degree from Yale University , where he was a Fulbright Scholar . He is Jewish . Early in his career, Wiseman was an officer with Harrowston, a publicly traded Canadian merchant bank and

800-513: A farmer and surveyor , he also occupied such sought-after positions as mayor, justice of the peace , militia lieutenant and school board member. At the age of 11, Wilfrid left home to study in New Glasgow , a neighbouring village largely inhabited by immigrants from Scotland . Over the next two years, he familiarized himself with the mentality, language and culture of English Canada , in addition to learning English. In 1854, Laurier attended

900-512: A free and separate government." On March 21, Le Défricheur was forced to shut down, as a result of financial issues and opposition from the local clergy . On July 1, Confederation was officially proclaimed and recognized, a defeat for Laurier. Laurier decided to remain in Victoriaville. He slowly became well known across the town with a population of 730, and was even elected mayor not so long after he settled. In addition, he established

1000-612: A goal of ensuring Canada remains a stable, prosperous, and democratic society. Century Initiative emphasizes the importance of attracting skilled immigrants while involving public, private and non-profit sectors and ensuring they are supported upon arrival. Century Initiative identifies the need for increased francophone immigration and a reduction in the immigrant income gap as necessary changes for Canada’s population to reach 100 million by 2100. Century Initiatives advocates for increased infrastructure investment, including in affordable housing, effective public transportation, and expansion to

1100-523: A joint Anglo-American commission that would study the differences and resolve the dispute . However, this commission was unsuccessful and came to an abrupt end on February 20, 1899. The dispute was then referred to an international judicial commission in 1903, which included three American politicians ( Elihu Root , Henry Cabot Lodge , and George Turner ), two Canadians ( Allen Bristol Aylesworth and Louis-Amable Jetté ) and one Briton ( Lord Alverstone , Lord Chief Justice of England ). On October 20, 1903,

SECTION 10

#1732776187542

1200-514: A law practice which would span for three decades and have four different partners. He would make some money, but not enough to consider himself wealthy. During his period in Victoriaville, Laurier opted to accept Confederation and identify himself as a moderate liberal, as opposed to a radical liberal. While in Victoriaville, Laurier was an Ensign in the Arthabaskaville Infantry Company, serving from 1869 to 1878 during

1300-687: A lawyer with Sullivan & Cromwell , practicing in New York and Paris. He also was a law clerk to Madam Justice Beverley McLachlin at the Supreme Court of Canada . Then, Wiseman was responsible for the private equity fund and co-investment program at the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan . Wiseman then joined the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) as a Senior VP in 2005. Wiseman became

1400-447: A month. He established his second office, but that closed within three months, due to a lack of clients. In March 1865, nearly bankrupt, Laurier established his third law firm, partnering with Médéric Lanctot, a lawyer and journalist who staunchly opposed Confederation. The two experienced some success, but in late 1866, Laurier was invited by fellow Rouge Antoine-Aimé Dorion to replace his recently deceased brother to became editor and run

1500-635: A part-time Senior Advisor. He is also a Senior Advisor to Boston Consulting Group and Hillhouse Capital. He is a co-founder and Chair of the Century Initiative , a lobbying group focused on increasing Canada's population to 100 million by 2100. Wiseman is the Co-Founder and former Chairman of FCLTGlobal (formerly Focusing Capital on the Long Term), an organization that encourages longer-term approaches in business and investing, which

1600-517: A pressing issue. The Klondike Gold Rush prompted Laurier to demand an all-Canadian route from the gold fields to a seaport. The region being a desirable place with lots of gold furthered Laurier's ambition of fixing an exact boundary. Laurier also wanted to establish who owned the Lynn Canal and who controlled maritime access to the Yukon. Laurier and US President William McKinley agreed to set up

1700-657: 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 the West , the railway was not able to transport everything produced by farmers and in the East , the railway did not reach into Northern Ontario and Northern Quebec . Laurier was in favour of

1800-806: A significant part of the Liberal base. The Conservatives denounced the deal and played on long-standing fears that reciprocity could eventually lead to weakened ties with Britain and a Canadian economy dominated by the United States. They also campaigned on fears that this would lead to the Canadian identity being taken away by the US and the American annexation of Canada. Contending with an unruly House of Commons, including vocal disapproval from Liberal MP Clifford Sifton , Laurier called an election to settle

1900-551: A tariff rate of 12.5 percent for countries that imported Canadian goods at a rate equivalent to the minimum Canadian charge; rates for countries that imposed a protective duty against Canada remained the same. For the most part, the policy was supported by those for free trade (due to the preferential reduction) and those against free trade (due to elements of the National Policy remaining in place). Laurier's government again reformed tariffs in 1907. His government introduced

2000-550: A trade agreement with France which lowered import duties on some goods. In 1909, Fielding negotiated an agreement to promote trade with the British West Indies . Laurier led the Liberals to three re-elections in 1900 , 1904 , and 1908 . In the 1900 and 1904 elections, the Liberals' popular vote and seat share kept increasing whereas in the 1908 election, their popular vote and seat share went slightly down. By

2100-555: A transcontinental line built entirely on Canadian land by private enterprise. 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 ports and to open up and develop Northern Ontario and Northern Quebec. Laurier believed that competition between the three railways would force one of

SECTION 20

#1732776187542

2200-579: A volunteer force, rather than the Canadian Militia as expected by Britain. Roughly 7,000 Canadian soldiers served in the force. Outspoken French Canadian nationalist and Liberal MP Henri Bourassa was an especially vocal opponent of any form of Canadian participation in the Boer War and thus resigned from the Liberal caucus in October 1899. On June 1, 1909, Laurier's government established

2300-469: A whites-only policy. Although railways and large companies wanted to hire Asians, labour unions and the public at large stood opposed. Both major parties went along with public opinion, with Laurier taking the lead. 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 . In 1900, Laurier raised

2400-410: A world-class future-ready labour and talent pool. Referring to the scorecard as a “wake-up call” for Canadian governments and business leaders, Century Initiative highlighted a range of national challenges, including low productivity, insufficient business spending on R&D, lack of access to affordable housing, and a credentials mismatch for newcomers. Mark Wiseman Mark Wiseman (born 1970)

2500-433: A year before Wiseman. They have two sons. Wilfrid Laurier Sir Henri Charles Wilfrid Laurier ( / ˈ l ɒr i eɪ / LORR -ee-ay ; French: [wilfʁid loʁje] ; November 20, 1841 – February 17, 1919) was a Canadian lawyer, statesman, and politician who served as the seventh prime minister of Canada from 1896 to 1911. The first French Canadian prime minister, his 15-year tenure remains

2600-431: A “National Scorecard" assessing Canada's growth and prosperity.   Century Initiative’s 2024 scorecard identified that Canada’s path to a prosperous future was threatened by poor performance on critical indicators like housing affordability, investment in infrastructure and climate change. The scorecard focuses on three key areas of insight: planning to grow well, the urgent need for an economic recharge, and creating

2700-734: Is a Canadian businessman and financier. He is currently the chair of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation . He was formerly a manager at BlackRock . Prior to 2016, Wiseman was president and CEO of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). Wiseman was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario , and raised in Burlington by his mother, a physiotherapist, and his father, a plumber and pipe fitter who headed

2800-492: Is lagging compared peer countries. Century Initiative sees Canada’s innovation and entrepreneurship as central pillars of the country’s future growth and prosperity. The improvements in productivity that would arise from increased investments into R&D and technology would allow for growth in government revenue and economic capacity. For the group, this is a key to enhancing the future standard of living in Canada. Similarly to

2900-475: Is not political liberalism" and that the Liberal Party is not "a party composed of men holding perverse doctrines, with a dangerous tendency, and knowingly and deliberately progressing towards revolution." He also stated, "The policy of the Liberal party is to protect [our] institutions, to defend them and spread them, and, under the sway of those institutions, to develop the country’s latent resources. That

3000-617: Is the policy of the Liberal party and it has no other." The speech helped Laurier become a leader of the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party. From October 1877 to October 1878, Laurier served briefly in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Mackenzie as minister of inland revenue . However, his appointment triggered an October 27, 1877 ministerial by-election . In the by-election, he lost his seat in Drummond—Arthabaska. On November 11, he ran for

3100-660: The Naval Service Act of 1910 which created the Royal Canadian Navy . The navy would initially consist of five cruisers and six destroyers ; in times of crisis, it could be made subordinate to the British navy. However, the idea faced opposition in both English and French Canada, especially in Quebec where Bourassa organized an anti-Laurier force. In 1897 and 1898, the Alaska -Canada border emerged as

Century Initiative - Misplaced Pages Continue

3200-645: The 1891 federal election to Prime Minister John A. Macdonald 's Conservatives . However, controversy surrounding the Conservative government's handling of the Manitoba Schools Question , which was triggered by the Manitoba government's elimination of funding for Catholic schools , gave Laurier a victory in the 1896 federal election . He led the Liberal Party to three more election victories afterwards. As prime minister, Laurier solved

3300-477: The 1891 federal election , Laurier faced Conservative Prime Minister John A. Macdonald . Laurier campaigned in favour of reciprocity , or free trade , with the United States , contrary to Macdonald's position on the matter, who claimed that reciprocity would lead to American annexation of Canada. On election day, March 5, the Liberals gained 10 seats. The Liberals also won a majority of seats in Quebec for

3400-721: The 1917 election , the Laurier Liberals were reduced to a mostly French Canadian rump . Laurier swept Quebec, winning 62 out of 65 of the province's seats, not least due to the French Canadians' overwhelming respect and support for Laurier as a result of his opposition to conscription. The Conscription Crisis once again revealed the divisions between French Canadians and English Canadians. Most English Canadians favoured conscription as they believed this would strengthen ties with Britain, whereas most French Canadians opposed conscription as they wanted nothing to do with

3500-621: The Department of External Affairs for Canada to take greater control of its foreign policy. The Anglo-German naval arms race escalated in the early years of the 20th century. The British government requested financial and material resources to assist in expanding the Royal Navy , precipitating a heated political division in Canada. Many English Canadians wished to send as much as possible; many French Canadians and those against wished to send nothing. Aiming for compromise, Laurier advanced

3600-623: The Fenian Raids . A member of the Quebec Liberal Party , Laurier was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Drummond-Arthabaska in the 1871 Quebec general election , though the Liberal Party altogether suffered a landslide defeat. To win the provincial riding, Laurier campaigned on increasing funding for education, agriculture, and colonization. His career as a provincial politician

3700-554: The Grand Trunk Pacific and National Transcontinental railways, and put effort into establishing Canada as an autonomous country within the British Empire . Laurier's proposed reciprocity agreement with the United States to lower tariffs became a main issue in the 1911 federal election , in which the Liberals were defeated by the Conservatives led by Robert Borden , who claimed that the treaty would lead to

3800-551: The Laurier Project Foundation by Mark Wiseman and Dominic Barton , who was the head of McKinsey & Company at the time, along with other "prominent Canadians." Initially, large-scale population expansion and immigration was not the stated goal of the project; rather, the project aimed to bring "Canada to a position of global leadership through the development and implementation of a major initiative that: The foundation based its aspiration on adapting

3900-595: The Second Boer War and Canadian financial assistance for the Royal Navy , which divided the country as English Canadians supported both requests whereas French Canadians did not. Laurier's government sought a middle ground between the two groups, deciding to send a volunteer force to fight in the Boer War and passing the 1910 Naval Service Act to create Canada's own navy . In addition, his government dramatically increased immigration , oversaw Alberta and Saskatchewan 's entry into Confederation , constructed

4000-593: The Winnipeg Metropolitan Region from 800,000 to 1.7 million. The organization intends to reach its population goal through a massive increase in immigration and by investing in economic development around megaregions. Century Initiative forecasts predict that, without changes to Canadian immigration policy , the population of Canada will increase to 53 million people by the end of the century. Century Initiative identifies five key “focus areas” to guide Canada’s long-term growth planning, with

4100-436: The immigration minister 's office, the minister's parliamentary secretary, and Conservative and NDP members of parliament. The Century Initiative aims to increase Canada's population to 100 million by 2100; its official mission statement reads: Growing our population to 100 million by 2100 would reduce the burden on government revenues to fund health care , old age security , and other services. This includes increasing

Century Initiative - Misplaced Pages Continue

4200-582: The " Laurier Liberals ", a party composed of Liberals opposed to conscription. Laurier also rejected Prime Minister Borden's proposal to form a coalition government composed of both Conservatives and Liberals, arguing that there would be no "real" opposition to the government. He also argued that if the Liberals joined, Quebec would feel alienated and would lead to the province being heavily influenced by outspoken French-Canadian nationalist Henri Bourassa , and what Laurier called Bourassa's "dangerous nationalism" which might lead to Quebec seceding from Canada. In

4300-419: The American government refused to discuss the issue. Instead, he implemented a Liberal version of the Conservatives' nationalist and protectionist National Policy by maintaining high tariffs on goods from other countries that restricted Canadian goods. However, he lowered tariffs to the same level as countries that admitted Canadian goods. In 1897, Laurier's government impelemented a preferential reduction of

4400-467: The American market, and increase immigration . Macdonald died only three months after he defeated Laurier in the 1891 election. After Macdonald's death, the Conservatives went through a period of disorganization with four short-serving leaders. The fourth prime minister after Macdonald, Charles Tupper , became prime minister in May 1896 after Mackenzie Bowell resigned as a result of a leadership crisis that

4500-491: The Chinese head tax to $ 100. In 1903, this was further raised to $ 500, but when a few Chinese did pay the $ 500, he proposed raising the sum to $ 1,000. 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. In 1886, Laurier told the House of Commons that it was moral for Canada to take lands from “savage nations” so long as

4600-534: The Collège de L'Assomption, an institution that staunchly followed Roman Catholicism . There, he started to develop an interest in politics, and began to endorse the ideology of liberalism , despite the school being heavily conservative . In September 1861, Laurier began studying law at McGill University . There, he met Zoé Lafontaine , who would later become his wife. Laurier also discovered that he had chronic bronchitis , an illness that would stick with him for

4700-539: The Conservative and Liberal parties' traditional colours). In 1911, controversy arose regarding Laurier's support of trade reciprocity with the United States. His long-serving minister of finance, William Stevens Fielding , reached an agreement allowing for the free trade of natural products. The agreement would also lower tariffs . This had the strong support of agricultural interests, particularly in Western Canada, but it alienated many businessmen who formed

4800-509: The Conservative government's policies, though nothing notable came until 1885, when he spoke out against the execution of Métis activist Louis Riel , who was hung by Macdonald's government authorities after leading the North-West Rebellion . Edward Blake resigned as Liberal leader after leading them to back-to-back defeats in 1882 and 1887 . Blake urged Laurier to run for leadership of the party. At first, Laurier refused as he

4900-568: The Initiative was founded. BlackRock owns $ 35 billion in real estate and thus will benefit from a real-estate bubble . BlackRock's Alternative Investment division includes the firm's international real estate investment portfolio and is reported to be actively purchasing single family homes. The Century Initiative's other co-founder, Dominic Barton, is married to Geraldine Buckingham, BlackRock's Asia Pacific chief, which has previously generated conflict-of-interest concerns. The idea of expanding

5000-719: 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

5100-510: The Liberal Party. Laurier died of a stroke on February 17, 1919, while still in office as leader of the Opposition. Though he had lost a bitter election two years earlier, he was loved nationwide for his "warm smile, his sense of style, and his "sunny ways"." 50,000 to 100,000 people jammed the streets of Ottawa as his funeral procession marched to his final resting place at Notre-Dame Cemetery . His remains would eventually be placed in

SECTION 50

#1732776187542

5200-537: The Liberal Party. These factors, 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. However, Catholic priests in Quebec repeatedly warned their parishioners not to vote for Liberals. Their slogan was " le ciel est bleu, l'enfer est rouge " ("heaven is blue, hell is red", referring to

5300-513: The Liberals of Lower Canada, an anti- Confederation group composed of both moderates and radicals. The group argued that Confederation would give too much power to the central, or federal government, and the group believed that Confederation would lead to discrimination towards French Canadians. Laurier then practised law in Montreal , though he initially struggled as a lawyer. He opened his first practice on October 27, 1864, but closed it within

5400-562: 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

5500-569: The Manitoba Schools Question by allowing Catholic students to have a Catholic education on a school-by-school basis. Despite his controversial handling of the dispute and criticism from some French Canadians who believed that the resolution was insufficient, he was nicknamed "the Great Conciliator" for offering a compromise between French and English Canada. The British government requested Canadian troops to fight in

5600-498: 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

5700-456: The President and CEO of CPPIB in 2012. From 2016 to 2019, Wiseman was a Senior Managing Director at BlackRock , Global Head of Active Equities, Chairman of its alternatives business, and Chairman of BlackRock's Global Investment Committee. He was also on BlackRock's Global Executive Committee. On December 5, 2019, Wiseman was fired from his position at BlackRock following a failure to report

5800-625: The Royal Navy. Laurier argued that the bill threatened Canada's autonomy, and after six months of battling it, the bill was blocked by the Liberal-controlled Senate . Laurier led the opposition during World War I . He supported sending a volunteer force to fight in the war, arguing that an intense campaign for volunteers would produce enough troops. Borden initially had a volunteer military system in place, but when applications started to decline, he imposed conscription in

5900-564: The US influencing Canadian identity. Despite his defeat, Laurier stayed on as Liberal leader and once again became leader of the Opposition. During World War I and the Conscription Crisis of 1917 , Laurier faced divisions within the Liberal Party as pro- conscription Liberals joined Borden's Unionist government . The anti-conscription faction of the Liberal Party, led by Laurier, became the Laurier Liberals , though

6000-529: The United Kingdom in 1902, taking part in the 1902 Colonial Conference and the coronation of King Edward VII on August 9, 1902. Laurier also took part in the 1907 and 1911 Imperial Conferences. In 1899, the British government requested Canadian troops to serve in the Second Boer War . Laurier was caught between demands for support for military action from English Canada and a strong opposition from French Canada Laurier eventually decided to send

6100-468: The above, Century Initiative believes that skilled labour is non-negotiable for Canada’s prosperity. It frames high-performing education and training systems as core elements of Canada’s ability to allow immigrants as well as the generation to carry the country’s economy. In 2024, the 9 official leaders of the Century Initiative group were: The Century Initiative was founded in late-2009 as

SECTION 60

#1732776187542

6200-514: The book Maximum Canada: Why 35 Million Canadians Are Not Enough . Multiple founders and affiliates of the organization have been employed by McKinsey & Company , a multinational consulting firm. Due to this, the Century Initiative has been connected to a scandal over McKinsey consulting expenses by Justin Trudeau's government , in which whistleblowers have highlighted McKinsey's large and growing influence over Canadian immigration policy . Dominic Barton , co-founded Century Initiative when he

6300-492: 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. In March 1906, Laurier's government introduced the Lord's Day Act after being persuaded by

6400-465: The commission by a majority (Root, Lodge, Turner, and Alverstone) ruled to support the American government's claims. Canada only acquired two islands below the Portland Canal . The decision provoked a wave of anti-American and anti-British sentiment in Canada, which Laurier temporarily encouraged. Though supportive of free trade with the United States, Laurier did not pursue the idea because

6500-486: The conciliators’ report. 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. On June 22, 1897, Laurier attended the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria , which was the 60th anniversary of her accession. There, he was knighted, and was given several honours, honorary degrees, and medals. Laurier again visited

6600-473: 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 industry . The British Columbia electorate was alarmed at the arrival of people they considered "uncivilized" by Canadian standards, and adopted

6700-498: The economy. Mackenzie resigned as Liberal leader in 1880 and was succeeded by Edward Blake . Laurier, along with others, founded the Quebec newspaper, L’Électeur , to promote the Liberal Party. The Liberals were in opposition once again, and Laurier made use of that status, expressing his support for laissez-faire economics and provincial rights. The Liberals suffered a second consecutive defeat in 1882 , with Macdonald winning his fourth term. Laurier continued to make speeches opposing

6800-478: The federal government and English Canada . Quebec's premier François Legault is officially opposed to this plan and stated that "it constitutes a threat to Quebec." The Parti Québécois party is opposed to the plan as well. The Century Initiative envisioned Canada in the year 2100 as a nation of " mega-regions ," which it defines as interlocking areas with more than one city centre and a typical population of 5 million or more. Century Initiative annually publishes

6900-513: 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. 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

7000-432: The first time since the 1874 election. Prime Minister Macdonald won his fourth consecutive federal election victory. The day after, Blake denounced the Liberal trade policy. Laurier remained disillusioned for some time after his defeat. Multiple times he suggested he resign as leader, though he was persuaded not to by other Liberals. Only in 1893 did Laurier become encouraged again. On June 20 and 21, 1893, Laurier convened

7100-454: The government paid adequate compensation. Laurier also negotiated a limit to Japanese emigration to Canada. In August 1911, Laurier approved the Order-in-Council P.C. 1911-1324 recommended by the minister of the interior , 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

7200-620: The group would be heavily defeated by Borden's Unionists in the 1917 federal election . Laurier remained Opposition leader even after his 1917 defeat, but was not able to fight in another election as he died in 1919. Laurier is ranked among the top three of Canadian prime ministers. At 31 years and 8 months, Laurier is the longest-serving leader of a major Canadian political party. He is the fourth-longest serving prime minister of Canada, behind Pierre Trudeau , John A. Macdonald , and William Lyon Mackenzie King . The second child of Carolus Laurier and Marcelle Martineau, Henri Charles Wilfrid Laurier

7300-589: The heavy cost to construct the railway. During his government dealing with railway contractors, Laurier became close friends with Canadian railway magnate Hugh Ryan and remained so until Ryan's death in 1899 — Laurier was the first person to send condolences to the family both publicly and privately. On September 1, 1905, through the Alberta Act and the Saskatchewan Act , Laurier oversaw Alberta and Saskatchewan 's entry into Confederation ,

7400-464: The initiative's manpower was employed or formerly employed by McKinsey & Company. As of January 2023, the Century Initiative has a current McKinsey executive on its board of executives. The Century Initiative Board of Directors is chaired by co-founder Mark Wiseman , who was the Global Head of Active Equities of BlackRock and ran Blackrock's Alternative Investment division at the time that

7500-450: The issue of reciprocity. The Conservatives were victorious and the Liberals lost over a third of their seats. The Conservatives' leader, Robert Laird Borden , succeeded Laurier as prime minister. Over 15 consecutive years of Liberal rule ended. Laurier stayed on as Liberal leader. In December 1912, he started leading the filibuster and fight against the Conservatives' own naval bill which would have allocated $ 35 million to be sent to assist

7600-894: 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. This followed the enactment of the Yukon Territory Act by the Laurier Government in 1898, separating the Yukon from the Northwest Territories. Also in 1898, Quebec was enlarged through the Quebec Boundary Extension Act . Laurier's government dramatically increased immigration to grow

7700-648: The late 1800s, Laurier had been able to build the Liberal Party a base in Quebec, which had remained a Conservative stronghold for decades due to the province's social conservatism and to the influence of the Roman Catholic Church , which distrusted the Liberals' anti-clericalism . The growing alienation of French Canadians from the Conservative Party due to its links with anti-French, anti-Catholic Orangemen in English Canada aided

7800-455: The longest uninterrupted term of office among Canadian prime ministers and his nearly 45 years of service in the House of Commons is a record for the House. Laurier is best known for his compromises between English and French Canada. Laurier studied law at McGill University and practised as a lawyer before being elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec in 1871 . He was then elected as

7900-411: The near and far North. While progress has been made in early learning and childcare, Century Initiative maintains that access remains limited. Parental leave uptake is steady but falls short of Québec’s more generous system. Though the employment rate for mothers has improved, more supports could drive further gains. The organization calls for increased support for Canada’s youth, arguing their well-being

8000-501: The new statute was constitutional. 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

8100-515: The newspaper, Le Défricheur . Laurier moved to Victoriaville and began writing and controlling the newspaper from January 1, 1867. Laurier saw this as an opportunity to express his strong anti-Confederation views; in one instance he wrote, "Confederation is the second stage on the road to ‘anglification’ mapped out by Lord Durham ...We are being handed over to the English majority...[We must] use whatever influence we have left to demand and obtain

8200-838: The population of megaregions . It suggests a population increase for the Greater Toronto Area from 8.8 to 33.5 million, the Greater Montreal region from 4.4 to 12.2 million, the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor from 2.8 to 15.5 million, the Greater Vancouver region from 3.3 to 11.9 million, the National Capital Region from 1.4 to 4.8 million, the Southwestern Ontario region from 1.2 to 2 million, and

8300-593: The population through immigration is mostly rejected in French Canada , due to concerns that large amounts of immigration could cause the disappearance of the French language in North America and the assimilation of its Francophones . Some critics argue that the Century Initiative is pushing to permanently get rid of Francophones, as Quebec 's separate language and culture is thought to be "problematic" for

8400-571: The project shifted to population expansion, and was later rebranded and reorganized as the Century Initiative. In March 2021, The Globe and Mail hosted a virtual event in partnership with the Century Initiative examining key indicators of the Century Initiative’s progress towards growing Canada’s population to 100 million by the year 2100. The Century Initiative has also been written about by columnists including Andrew Coyne , Terence Corcoran , and Doug Saunders , who subsequently authored

8500-714: The rest of his life. At McGill, Laurier joined the Parti Rouge , or Red Party, which was a centre-left political party that contested elections in Canada East. In 1864, Laurier graduated from McGill. Laurier would continue being active within the Parti Rouge, and from May 1864 to fall 1866, was vice president of the Institut canadien de Montréal , a literary society with ties to the Rouge. In August 1864, Laurier joined

8600-499: The seat of Quebec East , which he narrowly won. From November 11, 1877, to his death on February 17, 1919, Laurier's seat would be Quebec East. Laurier won reelection for Quebec East in the 1878 federal election , though the Liberals suffered a landslide defeat as a result of their mishandling of the Panic of 1873 . Macdonald returned as prime minister. Laurier called on Mackenzie to resign as leader, not least because of his handling of

8700-535: The summer of 1917, which led to the Conscription Crisis of 1917 . Laurier was an influential opponent of conscription , and his position on the matter was applauded by French Canadians, who were generally anti-conscription. Pro-conscription Liberals, particularly from English Canada, joined Borden as Liberal-Unionists to form the Union government . Laurier refused to join the Unionist Party, and instead created

8800-616: The three, the Canadian Pacific Railway, to lower freight rates 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

8900-495: The titular former Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier ’s dream that, "The 20th Century will be the Century of Canada" ( c.  1904 ) into the 21st century. Their goal was to define and drive impact through a project for the 21st Century, a project that would define the nation, like the national railway or Confederation itself had defined the country in the 19th Century. Success for this project would be measured by Canadians in

9000-553: The war. Laurier was now seen as a "traitor" to English Canadians and English Canadian Liberals, whereas he was seen as a "hero" for French Canadians. Laurier's protégé and successor as party leader, William Lyon Mackenzie King , unified the English and French factions of the Liberal Party, leading it to victory over the Conservatives in the 1921 federal election . After the election, Laurier still stayed on as Liberal and Opposition leader. When World War I came to an end on November 11, 1918, he focused on his efforts to rebuild and reunify

9100-512: The year 2100 saying that the project had helped define the country and had a positive impact on its development in the 21st Century. With this, the foundation's four areas of exploration were: The Arctic, Smart Nation, Virtuous Energy, and "A Genius for Getting Along." Many prominent Canadians served on the Laurier Project's board or were advisors to the project, such as Chrystia Freeland , David Naylor , and Nadir Mohamed . In 2011,

9200-498: Was born in Saint-Lin, Canada East (modern-day Saint-Lin-Laurentides , Quebec), on November 20, 1841. He was a sixth-generation French Canadian . His ancestor François Cottineau, dit Champlaurier, came to Canada from Saint-Claud , France. Laurier grew up in a family where politics was a staple of talk and debate. His father, an educated man having liberal ideas, enjoyed a certain degree of prestige about town. In addition to being

9300-461: Was initiated by the Conservative Party and the Conservative prime minister, John A. Macdonald . Laurier ran a simple campaign, denouncing Conservative corruption. As a member of Parliament (MP), Laurier's first mission was to build prominence by giving speeches in the House of Commons. He gained considerable attention when he delivered a speech on political liberalism on June 26, 1877, in front of about 2,000 people. He stated, "Liberal Catholicism

9400-514: Was not keen to take such a powerful position, but later on accepted. After 13 and a half years, Laurier had already established his reputation. He was now a prominent politician who was known for leading the Quebec branch of the Liberal Party, known for defending French Canadian rights, and known for being a great orator who was a fierce parliamentary speaker. Over the next nine years, Laurier gradually built up his party's strength through his personal following both in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. In

9500-541: Was not noteworthy, and very few times would he make speeches in the legislature. Laurier resigned from the provincial legislature to enter federal politics as a Liberal . He was elected to the House of Commons in the January 22, 1874 election , representing the riding of Drummond—Arthabaska . In this election, the Liberals led by Alexander Mackenzie heavily triumphed, as a result of the Pacific Scandal that

9600-405: 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" (French: voies ensoleillées ). Laurier's government introduced and initiated the idea of constructing

9700-402: Was set up by BlackRock , CPPIB , Dow , McKinsey & Company and Tata in 2016. In June 2020, Wiseman was named the new chair of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation . For more than twenty years, Wiseman was in a common-law relationship with Marcia Moffat, whom he met on his first day at University of Toronto. The country head of Canada for BlackRock, Moffat joined the firm

9800-416: Was the head of McKinsey & Company. Barton also served as the Trudeau government’s ambassador to China from 2019 to 2021, and left the position during the embroiling national security issue. Aleema Jamal, the inaugural executive director of the foundation, was also previously employed by McKinsey. In 2016, four of the organization's five volunteers were employed by McKinsey. Also that year, one third of

9900-459: Was triggered by his attempts to offer a compromise for the Manitoba Schools Question , a dispute which emerged after the provincial government ended funding for Catholic schools in 1890. Tupper faced Laurier in the 1896 federal election , in which the schools dispute was a key issue. While Tupper supported overriding the provincial legislation to reinstate funding for the Catholic schools, Laurier

10000-403: Was vague when giving his position on the matter, proposing an investigation of the issue first and then conciliation, a method he famously called, "sunny ways". On June 23, Laurier led the Liberals to their first victory in 22 years, despite losing the popular vote. Laurier's win was made possible by his sweep in Quebec. One of Laurier's first acts as prime minister was to implement a solution to

#541458