What was the purpose of the second transcontinental railway announced by Wilfrid Laurier in 1903?

In 1903, Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier announced the construction of a second transcontinental rail system to support the rapid development of Canada at the turn of the 20th century.12

This expansion was driven by the significant settlement of the Canadian West and the need to facilitate the transport of resources, particularly as the region became known as the "granary of the world" due to its massive wheat production. The project, which included the National Transcontinental Railway and the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, was intended to provide necessary infrastructure for the burgeoning mineral and forest wealth of the country's northern and western territories.123

By building this additional line, the Laurier government aimed to bolster the national economy and accommodate the country's growth during a period of significant prosperity and expansion.12