The Hudson's Bay Route Supported. 509 



outlet by a new direction to the grain markets of the world. The 

 mineral wealth, the valuable fisheries, and the agricultural capabili- 

 ties of the country along the shores of the Hudson's Bay have been 

 lately brought before public attention by Dr. Bell and others who 

 have explored that region, and whose declaration as to the natural 

 resources of that section have startled the people of the older 

 Provinces. 



" We know there are prosperous and thickly-settled communi- 

 ties in Europe living at a much higher latitude than this, and there 

 are no special conditions in the Hudson's Bay district to render it 

 more unfavourable for settlement than those places to which I have 

 referred, and to which the hon. member for Provencher adverted by 

 name. The only possible ground of objection on the part of hon. 

 members from the older Provinces to the adoption of the proposed 

 motion can be an unworthy fear or jealousy that some trade which 

 otherwise might pass through the older Provinces might seek the 

 Hudson's Bay route. I call this an unworthy fear, for, although we 

 must look after our own local interests, I consider that Parliamentary 

 legislators must view these questions from a Dominion standpoint, 

 and consider whether the proposal is advisable in the interests of 

 the Dominion as a whole. Even on the ground of local interest, 

 there is no greater room for jealousy in regard to this scheme than 

 to other schemes to which the Dominion is committed. We are 

 aware that the great trunk line of the Dominion, the Canadian 

 Pacific Railway, is seeking outlets at points outside Canadian terri- 

 tory. We are aware that it has been securing connection with 

 Portland and Boston. We are aware that this has been done by 

 money advanced, in part, if not entirely, by the Dominion, and that 

 in spite of that fact the Dominion is proposing to advance further 

 sums to that railway company. 



" It seems to me a fact which will be generally admitted, that 

 the Dominion, as a whole, should have no ground for being jealous 

 of any railway company, because it seeks outlets to the east other 

 than those which have hitherto been looked upon as the natural 

 outlets for the trade of the Dominion. In this case, the wealth 

 which would be added to the Dominion by the opening of this out- 



