Expanding the Dominion: Riel, the Mounties and the Railway West

Confederation in 1867 created Canada — but a small Canada of four provinces. The decades that followed were about expansion: bringing vast western and northern territories into the new country, building a railway to hold it together, and managing the conflicts that arose along the way. The story involves Canada’s first Prime Minister, a Métis leader whose legacy divides and inspires Canadians to this day, the founding of the Mounties and one of the great engineering feats of the 19th century.

Canada’s First Prime Minister

In 1867, Sir John Alexander Macdonald Canada's first Prime Minister, born in Scotland on January 11, 1815, who came to Upper Canada as a child, became a lawyer in Kingston, Ontario and proved to be a gifted and colourful politician. His portrait is on the $10 bill; Parliament has recognised January 11 as Sir John A. Macdonald Day. — a Father of Confederation — became Canada’s first Prime Minister. Born in Scotland on January 11, 1815, he came to Upper Canada as a child and became a lawyer in Kingston, Ontario. Parliament has recognised January 11 as Sir John A. Macdonald Day, and his portrait appears on the $10 bill.

The key architect of Confederation from Quebec was Sir George-Étienne Cartier A railway lawyer from Montreal, close ally of Macdonald and patriotic Canadien, who led Quebec into Confederation and helped negotiate the entry of the Northwest Territories, Manitoba and British Columbia. — a railway lawyer, Montrealer, close ally of Macdonald and patriotic Canadien who led Quebec into Confederation and helped negotiate the entry of the Northwest Territories, Manitoba and British Columbia into Canada.

The Growth of the Dominion

Canada grew steadily in the decades after 1867:

Challenge in the West: Louis Riel and the Métis

When Canada took over the vast northwest region from the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1869, the 12,000 Métis of the Red River were not consulted. In response, Louis Riel A Métis leader who led two uprisings to defend Métis and Indigenous rights: the Red River Resistance of 1869–70 and a second rebellion in Saskatchewan in 1885. He was tried and executed for high treason, though he is seen by many as a hero, a defender of Métis rights and the father of Manitoba. led an armed uprising and seized Fort Garry, the territorial capital. Ottawa sent soldiers to retake Fort Garry in 1870. Riel fled to the United States and Canada established a new province: Manitoba. Riel was later elected to Parliament but never took his seat.

Later, as Métis and Indigenous rights were again threatened by westward settlement, a second rebellion broke out in 1885 in present-day Saskatchewan. This led to Riel’s trial and execution for high treason — a decision that was strongly opposed in Quebec. Riel is seen by many as a hero, a defender of Métis rights and the father of Manitoba.

After the first Métis uprising, Prime Minister Macdonald established the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) A police force established by Macdonald in 1873 to pacify the West and assist in negotiations with the Indians. The NWMP founded Fort Calgary, Fort MacLeod and other centres, with Regina as headquarters. It is the forerunner of today's Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). in 1873, to pacify the West and assist in negotiations with the Indians. The NWMP founded Fort Calgary, Fort MacLeod and other centres that grew into cities and towns, with Regina as its headquarters. Today, the NWMP’s successor — the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Canada's national police force and one of the country's most recognisable symbols, descended from the North West Mounted Police. Informally known as 'the Mounties.' or “the Mounties” — is one of Canada’s best-known symbols. Some of Canada’s most colourful heroes, such as Major-General Sir Sam Steele, came from the ranks of the Mounties.

A Railway from Sea to Sea

British Columbia joined Canada in 1871 after Ottawa promised to build a railway to the West Coast. On November 7, 1885, a powerful symbol of unity was completed when Donald Smith (Lord Strathcona) The Scottish-born director of the Canadian Pacific Railway who drove the last spike on November 7, 1885, completing the transcontinental line. — the Scottish-born director of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) The transcontinental railway completed in 1885, financed by British and American investors and built by European and Chinese labour. Its completion fulfilled Canada's promise to British Columbia and connected the country coast to coast. — drove the last spike. The project was financed by British and American investors and built through the labour of both European and Chinese workers.

Afterwards, Chinese workers were subjected to discrimination, including the Head Tax A race-based entry fee imposed on Chinese immigrants to Canada after the completion of the CPR. The Government of Canada apologised for this discriminatory policy in 2006. — a race-based entry fee imposed by the government. The Government of Canada apologised for this discriminatory policy in 2006. Despite this dark chapter, the CPR’s “ribbons of steel” fulfilled a national dream.

Moving Westward

Canada’s economy grew and became more industrialised during the economic boom of the 1890s and early 1900s. One million British and one million Americans immigrated to Canada during this period. Sir Wilfrid Laurier Canada's first French-Canadian Prime Minister since Confederation, who actively encouraged immigration to the West. His portrait appears on the $5 bill. became the first French-Canadian prime minister since Confederation and actively encouraged immigration to the West. His portrait is on the $5 bill. The railway made it possible for immigrants — including 170,000 Ukrainians, 115,000 Poles and tens of thousands from Germany, France, Norway and Sweden — to settle in the West before 1914 and develop a thriving agricultural sector.