Pacific Scandal

The Pacific Scandal was a political crisis in Canada during the 1870s involving allegations of corruption against Prime Minister John A. Macdonald's government. It centered around the claim that Chinese-Canadian businessman Robert McPherson had bribed officials to secure a lucrative railway contract for the Canadian Pacific Railway. The scandal led to widespread public outrage, resulting in Macdonald's resignation in 1873. This event exposed issues of corruption and governance, significantly impacting Canadian politics and prompting reforms to improve accountability in public office. It remains a pivotal moment in Canadian political history.