What would William S. Fielding say about Canada's economic performance today? Probably: "Incredible."

It was 100 years ago – on March 23, 1900 – that Fielding, the longest-serving federal finance minister, delivered his budget speech in Parliament.

The government leader was Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier – who predicted that the 20th Century would belong to Canada. And the 1900 budget speech itself was full of confidence, with trade growing and federal finances in surplus.

But it's doubtful that anyone could have foreseen just how far this country would progress – to now stand as one of the world's seven leading industrialized nations, and a country consistently ranked by the United Nations as the most desirable place to live.

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