"I have been represented as a Protestant minister; there was not one of the canvassers of the honourable gentlemen opposite that did not represent to the people that I was not a Minister of the Crown, but that I was a Protestant minister"
- Wilfrid Laurier
About this Quote
Wilfrid Laurier's quote is a criticism of the canvassers of the honourable gentlemen opposite, who he thinks misrepresented him to the people. He specifies that they represented him as a Protestant minister, instead of a Minister of the Crown. This indicates that the canvassers were trying to use his religious identity to acquire votes, instead of concentrating on his political qualifications. This quote is a reflection of the political climate of the time, as religious identity was typically used to get support. It likewise speaks with the significance of accurate representation in politics, as misstatement can lead to an absence of trust in the political system. Wilfrid Laurier's quote is a pointer of the value of accurate representation in politics, and the requirement to focus on political credentials rather than religious identity.