Dec 7, 2023
Join me to hear untold stories of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the birth of Canada. Acclaimed Author Stephen Bown shares excerpts from his new book Dominion, vividly describing the price paid to build the CPR and unite Canada. In this monumental saga, we learn about the ambitions, sacrifices, and the crimes against humanity that came with Canada’s most extraordinary infrastructure project.
Stephen paints a vivid picture of an era of greed, corruption, destruction, discriminatory labour practices and hubris that almost bankrupted a nation and wiped out the Indigenous Population. Was it worth it? You be the judge.
I ended the show by sharing my thoughts on what Canada needs to do to write its next chapter.
Key Moments
00:00 My opening
03:39 Stephen Bown – Rails and Tales
09:28 Fear of American control led to the need for a Canadian railway
13:10 Allan was influential, wealthy, politically connected, and manipulative.
14:24 Railway through Canadian Shield and financing scandal.
18:43 John A McDonald loses election, Mackenzie and more corruption.
23:34 Railways had devastating effects on Indigenous people.
24:56 Buffalo provided essential resources; extinction led to famine.
28:03 Chinese workers faced exploitation
35:23 Widespread corruption in both public and private sectors.
39:08 Riel's rebellion secured funding for the railway.
41:17 My takeaways
44:21 Tony – What Canada needs to do to write its next chapter
To buy Stephen Brown's book Dominion.
Indigo:
https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/dominion-the-railway-and-the-rise-of-canada/9780385698726.html
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0385698720?tag=prhca-20