Sifton, Sir Clifford

Sifton, Sir Clifford, 1861–1929, Canadian political leader, b. Ontario. A lawyer in Manitoba, he sat (1888–96) in the provincial legislature and then served (1896–1911) in the Canadian House of Commons. As minister of the interior (1896–1905) in Wilfrid Laurier's cabinet he pursued a vigorous immigration policy, which brought to W Canada many settlers from the United States and Europe. Disagreement with Laurier over religious education in the schools in Alberta and Saskatchewan caused him to resign his ministry. In 1911 he withdrew from Parliament and from the Liberal party in opposition to Laurier's reciprocal trade policy. He was chairman of the Canadian conservation commission from 1909 to 1918. Sifton was knighted in 1915.