After the introduction of the National Policy in 1878, many people began moving to the west, while others moved to the United States. Only 2% of the population lived in the west at this time.
When Wilfrid Laurier became the first Canadien prime minister, he wanted a strong and prosperous Canada, and continued to make settling in the west a priority. He understood the importance of settling west and the decrease in people leaving to the U.S.
Believing that "British was best", Sifton and the Canadian government wanted to populate the western part of Canada with English speaking Canadians form Ontario, as well as encouraging farmers from Britain to immigrate to the west. More than half the settlers that arrived from 1891 - 1930 were English, even though many others came from other countries.
Read pages 328 - 329 (red letters)
After concerns were raised about how the Francophone and the Canadien people were beginning to vit in to Sifton's policies, Bishop Vital Grandin wrote to many bishops in Québec asking for them to encourage Canadien and Catholics to settle west. Not wanting to lose their parishioners, the bishops of Québec then approached missionary-colonizers, whole lived in the north-eastern United States, to move west and help establish settlements in Albert and Saskatchewan. Some examples of these communities are Villeneuve, Morinville and Beaumont.
After arriving to Canada, many immigrants contributed to the economy in Canada west, as they formed a new labour forced. This also established a new market for goods from factories from the east. The establishing of farms helped to increase production of grain and agricultural products.
Two farmers from Ukraine arrived in Montréal on September 7, 1891. Wasyl Eleniak and Ivan Pylypiw then returned to their home country and told them about their decision to permanently relocate to Canada. Encouraging more friends and family to immigrate as well, many followed Eleniak and Pylypiw and established farms in Alberta, then Manitoba and eventually Saskatchewan. The Ukrainian population in 1896 was 1,000. By 1900, it had increased to 27,000 and then 200,000 by 1914. Canada has the largest Ukrainian population outside of Ukraine.
Through special arrangements by the Canadian and Russian government, russians immigrated in large groups, settling in Montréal, Windsor, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver.
One unique group, the Doukhobor people, who emigrated to Canada in 1899. Settling in Saskatchewan and eventually British Columbia, they started a brick factory, a flour mill, a cannery, and several bee colonies.
Arriving in Canada 1895 to 1913, 119,600 Polish arrived from Austrian-occupied territories in Eastern Europe. Many became farmers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. A few of these new immigrants worked in the new coal-mining industry. Fighting for better working conditions, many of them joined unions and political groups in hopes of fighting for better wages.
In 1875, the Canadian government established the North-West Territories Act, handing over power to those living in the territories, as the population in this part of the country increased. This act also established an elected assembly for settlements with more than 1,000 people.
With this new assembly, the territory could make decision about schools, roads and other services, but could not raise money through taxes or loans. Only provincial governments had this ability. A motion was soon passed demanding provincial status. Premier Frederick Haultain campaigned Ottawa for provincial status, but Prime Minister Laurier thought the territory was too large for one province. Instead, in 1905, the Canadian government created two separate provinces: Alberta and Saskatchewan.
With a majority of settlements shifting towards an Anglophone population, there was much controversy over the education and language rights. Once Alberta and Saskatchewan became provinces, the Francophones wanted their Catholic schools guaranteed. The Anglophones argued that the new provinces should have complete control over the education system in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
1875 - North-West Territories Act
established funding for Protestant and Catholic Schools
French and English are languages of the territory's assembly
1892 - Haultain Resolution
Frederick Haultain proposes to remove French as a language of the assembly. The resolution passes, but no law is signed.
1892 - Mowat Resolution
David Mowat (Member of assembly from Regina) proposes a bill that requires all schools in the territory be taught in English
Assembly votes in favour of instruction in French only in grades one and two, and all other instruction to be done in English
1905 - Alberta Act, Saskatchewan Act
Publicly funded separate protestant and Catholic Schools
Accept restrictions on French as a language of instruction
Read the red print at the bottom of page 341.