Today in Canada’s Political History: Rupert’s Land transferred to Canada

Sir John A. Macdonald had entrusted talks with the HBC to two of his most valuable ministers, George-Étienne Cartier and William McDougall, to achieve the deal which saw Rupert’s Land’s 3.9 million sq. It was only $1.5 million in 1869 dollars. Cartier and McDougall, with an assist from the British government who pressured the HBC to make the deal, had delivered for Canada. To appreciate the importance and size of the purchase, consider that large parts of Quebec and Ontario, then Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories were eventually created from what had been Rupert’s Land. The stage was now set for Macdonald of Kingston and his government to unite this far-flung and new nation from Atlantic to Pacific with a band of steel, the CPR.