Clifford Sifton, Canada's dynamic Minister of the Interior, 1896-1905, regarded mid-western American farmers as ideal settlers, particularly those of north-west European background who brought capital and equipment with them. With first-hand experience of prairie farming in the United States, these were the most likely people to succeed in western Canada, Sifton believed. They spoke the same language as Canadian westerners, and shared many common values. And the time was right to promote western Canada as The Last Best West. American farmers found it increasingly difficult to acquire tracts of good, cheap land for their sons to farm.

By 1900 Sifton had established agents in Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin. Soon Montana and Washington were added to the list, and more agents hired. Agents received a commission for every man, woman and child who actually settled in western Canada. Between 1900-1910, close to half a million Americans were reported to have left for Canada. However, numbers of these "Americans" were probably returning Canadians. The official figures are not reliable.