Problems With CPR

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Problems With the CPR

There were many problems that were caused while building the Canadian Pacific Railway, they were mainly land and money issues. The railway was prepared to go through the Siksika reserve and this caused the natives to get angry. This was because the railroad would scare the buffalo that was left. The buffalo provided the natives shelter, clothes, and food, without the buffalo the natives lives would become extremely difficult. Also the treaty number seven guaranteed the natives land, but the government ignored it. As well The Northwest Rebellion caused many interferences while building the railway. Using the land of the Metis for the railway caused problems between them (Metis) and the government. Ultimately there was conflict between the both which caused the hanging of Louis Riel and forced the Metis to live on land reserves. Lastly there were the money problems. No one had anticipated that the cost of the railway would be so much. The government only paid when a section of the line was built, so in the meantime the CPR was not able to make any profit. By the end of 1883 the company was running out …show more content…

Macdonald was the first prime minister of Canada, lawyer, businessman, and politician. He had a dream to “create a single Dominion from sea to sea”. His involvement in the negotiations for the CPR caused him to get involved in the Pacific Scandal. The Pacific Scandal was the first major political scandal in Canada after Confederation. It was the taking of election funds by Macdonald in exchange of the contract for building the railway. The scandal affected Macdonald in a bad way, and forced the resignation of his government, but he eventually led his government to power again. He also created the National Policy which was an economic program. It had three main parts which were a system of protective tariffs, increased immigration, and the CPR. Sir John A. Macdonald was a big part in Canadian history and he made what Canada is

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