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Salaberry-de-Valleyfield - At the Heart of Industrial History in Canada

Salaberry-de-Valleyfield - At the Heart of Industrial History in Canada

Salaberry-de-Valleyfield - At the Heart of Industrial History in Canada
Coupon in Dutch offering free land suitable for agricultural to each settler who comes to western Canada.

From One Continent to Another

Poster in German promoting land in Canada for Europeans, c. 1900-1905. Library and Archives Canada, MIKAN 2945665.

From One Continent to Another

Laws and Benefits

In 1867, the Confederation established an economic and political structure for large-scale projects. In 1870, one of the first moves made by John A. MacDonald’s government was to table a National Policy in favour of trade and market growth within Canada. The policy revolved around three main actions: higher customs tariffs to help finance the railroads; further railroad development for access to new lands and to attract immigrants and industries; and a push for immigration to create new markets, which in turn helped to finance the railroad system.

Top portion, a prosperous family in a dining room; below, a poor family in a kitchen.

Publication featuring the National Policy of the MacDonald government, Toronto, 1891. [A Mechanic's Home Under the National Policy - No Work, No Money Under a Free Trade or Revenue Tariff.]
Library and Archives Canada, MIKAN 2834394

Tariff protection made it possible for the Canadian market to surmount some of its weaknesses. Notably, the textile industry benefited from these measures: between 1870 and 1910, production increased by a whopping 1261%. The new tariffs opened the doors to large textile companies, two thirds of which set up shop in Quebec.

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