"At first I didn't know there were two languages ​​in Canada. I just thought there was one way to talk to my father and another way to talk to my mother." --Louis Stephen St. Laurent. As Canada's second French-Canadian Prime Minister, Louis St. Laurent played a very influential role in Canada. St-Laurent became prime minister in 1948, after a choice authorized by a Liberal Convention. He was a highly respected Prime Minister and was given the name "Uncle Louis" for reshaping and improving Canada as an internationally known country. Actions and policies, including the Trans-Canada Highway Act, the union of Newfoundland and the St. Lawrence Seaway, were introduced by St-Laurent to transform Canada into a more developed country with a better and more advanced economy and structure . The Canadian Highways Act was passed by Parliament in 1949, the year after St-Laurent was elected Prime Minister of Canada. The law offered provinces a 50-50 split of the cost of building a coast-to-coast highway to reduce federal money and reduce tax needs. Furthermore, as the name suggests, the purpose of this act is to approve the construction of the Trans-Canada Highway. As a matter of fact, the Trans-Canada Highway is extremely beneficial to Canada and is the longest national highway in the world as it stretches from Victoria, British Columbia to St. John's, Newfoundland, connecting all 10 provinces together. Before this transportation system existed, passengers and cargo had to cross Canada by horse-drawn wagon or boat, which could take months to reach their intended destination. However, this major project allows companies to transport Canada's abundant natural resources around the world...... middle of paper ......May 20, 2014. Bothwell, Robert. "Louis St-Laurent." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Np, nd Web. May 20, 2014. Richard, Katherine Schulz. "Trans-Canada Highway - Trans-Canada National Highway of Canada." About.com Geography. Np, nd Web. May 20, 2014. Hancock, Pat and John Mantha. "Canada's Twelfth Prime Minister: Louis Stephen St. Laurent." The children's book of Canadian prime ministers. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1998. 33. Print.Library and Archives Canada. "ARCHIVED - First Canada among equals."ARCHIVED - First Canada among equals. Np, nd Web. May 22, 2014.Neeleman, Edwin. "Economy." Welcome to Newfoundland. Np, nd Web. May 22, 2014."Quotes from Prime Ministers - Louis St. Laurent." canadachannel.ca. Np, nd Web. May 20, 2014. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. "the way of the sea." Maritime route system. Np, nd Web. May 22 2014.