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Serving Agriculture:
Canada's Ministers of Agriculture

John Henry Pope

Birthplace

Federal Constituency

Education

Professional Background

Political Affiliation

"This Department, although charged . . . with the subject of Agriculture, has not hitherto, except incidentally, dealt with it . . .The subject is, however, of the greatest importance to Canada, andthe branch, properly organized, would be of very great service. . .in facilitating improvements in agriculture. . . to enable our farmers to compete with those of other countries."
-- John Henry Pope, 1871 Department of Agriculture annual report

Political Career

Pope represented his township on Sherbrooke county council in the 1840s. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the colonial government in 1851, 1853 and 1854 before being acclaimed to the legislative assembly in 1857. He represented the riding of Compton in the assembly and, later, in the House of Commons until he died in 1889. Once in office, he proved to be a popular representative. He often ran unopposed or won with large margins.

As was the case with many Confederation-era politicians, Pope's mix of politics and business was frequently controversial. He was involved in questionable land deals and his efforts to secure a railway link for his county and his businesses tangled him in a web of deal-making with local, provincial and federal government officials.

Pope's farm was his original and constant business interest. He was one of the first Canadians to try to improve cattle herds by importing thoroughbred stock. When he was appointed minister of agriculture in 1871, he became the first minister to focus on agricultural issues. Pope resigned with the rest of Macdonald's cabinet over the Pacific railway scandal of 1873. When the Conservatives were re-elected in 1878, Pope went back to his old portfolio.

Later in Pope's second term, he also became acting minister of railways and canals. When the government could not find British capital to complete the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), Pope took action to secure the necessary construction contract, persuading Macdonald to offer the CPR a controversial $30-million loan in 1884 so it could finish construction. In 1885, Pope officially became minister of railways and canals. Even though he had cancer of the liver, he continued to serve in that portfolio until he died in 1889.

Industry Issues

Canadian agriculture was in a "transition state" between a system where farmers depended on virgin soil--fast becoming exhausted from use--and a more sophisticated system of soil maintenance. Farmers needed new farming techniques to diversify and improve productivity and sustainability on farms.

The Conservatives' "National Policy", a scheme of preferential tariffs designed to promote east-west trade across Canada, also developed agriculture. As shipping methods for livestock improved, disease and injury in transit decreased. More valuable, pedigreed animals were imported to improve the quality of Canadian herds and exports. Farmers established large cattle ranches at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in the Northwest Territories.

Departmental Developments

By 1878, the department oversaw the new Library of Parliament, an infant public archives, and the national census. It continued to be responsible for immigration, since many settlers arrived ready to buy farms or land thanks to an agricultural depression in the United Kingdom.

The department also expanded its efforts in animal disease control. It began actively discouraging the use of American ports with inferior health facilities after some Canadian animals had to be destroyed because of foot and mouth disease before reaching the United Kingdom. Pope banned the import of American cattle in 1879 and 1884, except at points where quarantine and inspection were available, to avoid an outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia and to maintain Canada's strong reputation for disease control in the eyes of British trade officials.

Department inspectors were dispatched to implement quarantines to control livestock diseases in Canadian communities. Pope was the first minister to recognize that producers would co-operate with disease control measures only if they realized a net benefit from the government's interventions. For the first time, farmers whose diseased animals were slaughtered received compensation.

Accomplishments as Minister

Pope presided over early attempts to gather agricultural statistics. By 1883, he was supervising a comprehensive system of crop reporting for Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. The findings showed great potential for wheat production, settlement and economic development in the Canadian West.

International and domestic exhibitions promoted Canadian agricultural products at home and abroad. Pope presided over the awarding and distribution of medals as well as the organization and funding of these events.

In 1883, Pope responded to recent crop damage due to insect attacks by appointing the first departmental entomologist.

Worth Noting

• Pope served in the militia during the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837.
• Pope was a loyalist and opposed the American annexationist movement. He became friends with John A. Macdonald at a meeting of the British American League in Kingston. He later acted as an intermediary between Macdonald and George Brown in the Confederation negotiations.