The Manitoba Schools Question
The Manitoba Schools Question was a crisis that arose in the province of Manitoba in 1890. The provincial government of Manitoba led by Premier Thomas Greenway passed new laws that disallowed public funding for two separate denominational school boards (Catholic French-speaking and Protestant English-speaking) and replaced them with one public school system taught in English. In addition, the use of the French language in the legislature and in the courts was disallowed. The French-speaking Catholic citizens were outraged by this violation to their rights under the original Manitoba Act of 1870 and the blatant violation of their rights under the Canadian Constitution. After many court cases, the issue became a crisis on the national level and of the Federal government.
This issue caused the downfall of the Conservative party led by Prime Minister Mackenzie Bowell, and after his resignation Prime Minister Charles Tupper. Wilfrid Laurier, leader of the Federal Liberal party won the 1896 election based on the promises he made that he would solve this problem. Greenway and Laurier (pictured above) negotiated a settlement that failed to restore the education and language rights to French speaking Catholics in Manitoba. The crisis was viewed as the most detrimental historical event surrounding language and religious education rights in Canada.
This issue caused the downfall of the Conservative party led by Prime Minister Mackenzie Bowell, and after his resignation Prime Minister Charles Tupper. Wilfrid Laurier, leader of the Federal Liberal party won the 1896 election based on the promises he made that he would solve this problem. Greenway and Laurier (pictured above) negotiated a settlement that failed to restore the education and language rights to French speaking Catholics in Manitoba. The crisis was viewed as the most detrimental historical event surrounding language and religious education rights in Canada.