The first comprehensive vaccinations in the Canadian West were carried out by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). Macdonald, of course, is now widely condemned for being cruelly parsimonious in his native policy. “We should certainly celebrate the success we’ve had with smallpox in Canada,” says Hackett, giving credit where it’s due. This isn’t to suggest Canadian native policy was wholly benevolent. But it should still be possible to recognize the Canadian government’s smallpox vaccination campaign for what it was — a true colonial-era native policy success story.

Source: National Post March 28, 2019 09:56 UTC