Why Did Canada's Prosperity?

What has set the West apart from the rest of the world and lead it to its prosperity? Many historians have struggled to answer this question for a long time. However, Scottish historian, Niall Ferguson, believes he’s found the answer. The West’s superior political and economic force in the modern world is due to what he calls the six killer apps: competition, science, property rights, modern medicine, consumerism and work ethic. And, looking at Canada’s history, there is abundant evidence to support his theory. Firstly, building Canada as a strong and prosperous nation was based largely on competition. For instance, the main reason the French and English colonized Canada was for its resources and, more specifically, the Fur Trade. This lead to the creation of trading companies, including the Hudson Bay Company, which was British based. But the French had their own company and the two struggled for control of the Fur Trade in Rupert’s land until 1763 with the Treaty of Paris.
Property rights in Canada were originally modelled after England’s. The biggest issues was women’s rights, or lack thereof, which gradually improved. Initially, in 1859, only married women could own land but they couldn’t sell it without their husband’s consent so it wasn’t really theirs. In 1871, the married women could keep their ownership of land but their wages went directly to their spouse. This was quickly changed the next year. However, it wasn’t until the 1890’s that widows and spinsters could own land. By 1910, throughout the majority of Canada, women had almost all the same property rights as men. This was so important because property rights were significantly related with voting rights. Shortly after gaining property rights, women were allowed to vote in Canada. Promoting equality between the genders is just one way that put Canada and the West above the rest of the