Clifford Sifton was the Canadian politician appointed minister of the interior in 1897 under Prime Minister Laurier. He made a pivotal contribution to the intensification of immigration to Canada, and as a result, about 3 million people arrived in the country from 1896 to 1914.
Sifton also directed the Canadian Commission of Conservation activities, created in response to alarming trends in environmental pollution and resource depletion. The commission investigated the various activities, such as urban planning or power development, and their impact on nature. Studying the minister’s actions is significant for the course as it helps to learn how immigration laid the foundations of modern society, its defining features, and values.
Sifton influenced the history of Canada by attracting new people, mainly hardworking peasants, to the country from other territories. Many immigrants arrived in Canada, which allowed expansion geographically with new settlements, acceleration of economic development, and cultural diversity.