- Encouraged the construction of transcontinental railroads to connect the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Canada, facilitating trade and settlement
- Provided subsidies and land grants to railway companies to incentivize construction
- Established the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) as the main transcontinental line, completed in 1885
Alexander Mackenzie's Railroad Policies
- Adopted a more cautious approach, focusing on completing the CPR
- Questioned the need for government subsidies to private railway companies
- Emphasized the importance of regulating railway rates to protect farmers and other shippers
Differences in Approach:
- MacDonald took a proactive role in promoting railway construction, while Mackenzie had a more reserved and supervisory approach.
- Macdonald relied on subsidies to encourage railway development, whereas Mackenzie preferred regulation to ensure fair competition and protect public interests.