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Party Leader Profiles
Wilfrid Laurier - Liberal Party
Wilfrid Laurier was born on November 20, 1841 in St. Lin, Canada
East. Before entering politics, he worked as a lawyer and newspaper
editor. He was a passionate supporter of liberal ideals such
as progress and democracy. In politics, he aligned himself with
the rouges, the wing of the Liberal party that supported
modernization and secular policies. He was opposed to the authoritarian,
conservative, clerical tendencies that the bleus who
dominated Quebec supported. Laurier believed that Quebec and
English Canada had to be closely associated in order to achieve
liberal ideals. The following are Laurier's political highlights:
- Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec 1871-1874
- Elected to the House of Commons 1874
- Leader of the Liberal Party 1887-1919
- Leader of the Official Opposition 1887-1896
- Prime Minister 1896-1911
Laurier was a French Catholic. He died on February 17, 1919 .
Charles Tupper - Conservative Party
Charles Tupper was born July 2, 1821 in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Before
entering politics, he worked as a doctor and an author. Tupper
was a key player in Confederation, leading Nova Scotia into the
union. He was supposed to be the natural choice to take over
leadership of the Conservative party after John A. Macdonald
died, but Governor General Lord Aberdeen's dislike of Tupper
prevented his leadership. It wasn't until the election of 1896
that Tupper was called on to try to give the Conservatives strong
leadership in the campaign. The following are Tupper's political
highlights:
- Premier of Nova Scotia from 1864-1867
- A Father of Confederation in 1867
- Leader of the federal Conservative Party from 1896-1901
- Prime Minister May-July 1896
Tupper was an English Protestant. He died on October 30, 1915.
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