National Policy

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

This article is part of a series on
Conservatism in Canada
Schools Calgary School Clerico-nationalism Right-wing populism Trumpism Social conservatism Social credit Toryism Blue Red
Principles Canadian values Federalism Economic liberalism Limited government Loyalism Monarchism Nationalism Property rights Protectionism Rule of law Tradition
History Château Clique Family Compact National Policy Unite the Right United Empire Loyalist Upper Canada Tories
Intellectuals Black Blackwood Byfield Farthing Flanagan Granatstein Grant Groulx Peterson
Politicians Bennett Borden Diefenbaker Duplessis Harper Harris Klein Lougheed Macdonald Manning Mulroney
Commentators Camp Jivani Levant Segal Speer Steyn
Extant parties Federal Christian Heritage Party of Canada Conservative Party of Canada Libertarian Party of Canada People's Party of Canada Provincial British Columbia United Coalition Avenir Québec Conservative Party of British Columbia Conservative Party of Quebec Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party of NB Progressive Conservative Party of NL Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario Progressive Conservative Party of PEI Progressive Conservative Party of Sask. Saskatchewan Party United Conservative Party Yukon Party
Historical parties Federal Canadian Alliance Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942) Liberal-Conservative Party Progressive Conservative Party of Canada Reform Party of Canada Social Credit Party of Canada Unionist Party Provincial Action démocratique du Québec British Columbia Social Credit Party Conservative Party of Quebec (historical) Parti bleu Progressive Conservative Assoc. of Alberta Union Nationale Upper Canada Tories Wildrose Party
Media CFRA Free Dominion LifeSiteNews National Post The Post Millennial Rebel News Sun News Network Toronto Sun Western Standard Winnipeg Sun
Other organizations Campaign Life Coalition Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform Canadian Coalition for Democracies Canadian Taxpayers Federation Catholic Civil Rights League Citizens Centre for Freedom and Democracy Focus on the Family Canada Fraser Institute LGBTory Mackenzie Institute Montreal Economic Institute National Citizens Coalition Orange Order Progressive Group for Independent Business REAL Women of Canada Voice of Canadians
Related Common Sense Revolution Conservatism in the United Kingdom Conservatism in the United States Harperism Lament for a Nation Western alienation Alberta Agenda Alberta separatism
Canada portal  Conservatism portal
v t e

The National Policy was a Canadian economic program introduced by John A. Macdonald's Conservative Party in 1876. After Macdonald led the Conservatives to victory in the 1878 Canadian federal election, he began implementing his policy in 1879. The protective policy had shown positive responses in the economy with new industries flourishing Canada's economy in the 1880s. John A. Macdonald combined three elements as a strategy for the post-Confederation economy. First, by calling for high tariffs on imported manufactured items to protect the manufacturing industry. Second, by calling for a massive expansion of physical infrastructure, such as roads and railroads. Finally, enabled and supported by the former two, by promoting population growth, particularly in western Canada. The building of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the fostering of immigration to Western Canada.^[1] Macdonald campaigned on the policy in the 1878 election, and defeated the Liberal Party, which supported free trade. It lasted from 1879 until sometime in the early 1950s.