André Pratte: Laurier’s vision was prompted by the fact that he was deeply convinced that if Canada failed to work, Francophones, Quebec and the province of Quebec would quickly be swallowed up by the United States and that would spell the end of the French language and Catholicism.
Therefore, Laurier’s first concern was to preserve the Canadian union for the benefit of Francophones.
The challenge was considerable: to have people of different nations share the same convictions regarding the country’s future.
For example and by comparison, Trudeau wanted a charter of rights; Laurier knew exactly what form the Canadian Union must take.
In Laurier’s opinion the important thing was to bring the two nations closer so that they might together manage the emerging country that would become Canada.