M. Gavreau, Speaking in the House of Commons

I am well aware that 1897 is the Jubilee year: but I am also reminded that it was marked by the discovery of the Klondike gold mine, an unhoped-for and most welcome discovery of untold wealth, and one well calculated to fill with hope the breasts of all Canadians who wish to see our country rich and prosperous. The gold fever is raging in every quarter of the globe, and is spreading among the most enlightened people of the old world. Powerful syndicates are being formed, at the head of which appear the leading men in financial, commercial and aristocratical circles of Great Britain, and those powerful syndicates are going to invest their capital in this country and thus assist the exploiting, on a large scale, of the fabulous wealth of the gold fields of our new Eldorado. As the Jasons of old, the gold-seekers, from the different countries of the world are about to rush to the conquest of a new golden fleece, the access to which is perhaps still more difficult in our days than it had proved in times gone by; but I am sure it will give better and still more remunerative returns. . .

There is no gainsaying it, Sir, the discovery of the Klondike gold fields and their working on a large scale will rapidly increase the tide of immigration to this country, and secure us a large and healthy class of settlers . . . Immigrants from all parts of the civilized world will come to swell our population, develop our latent resources, and build up the country . . . History repeats itself, Sir, and once the gold fever is over which, anyway, cannot be but temporary, it will be the turn of Manitoba and the North-west Territories to benefit by this movement . . .

[M. Gavreau was the Liberal Member for Temiscouata]