Final answer:
The National Policy of Canada, with its tariffs on imports, aided economic growth in certain areas while causing Atlantic Canada to remain underdeveloped and behind central Canada's growth, making d) Both a) and c) the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The National Policy, initiated by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald in 1878, aimed to enhance the growth of the Canadian economy during a period of industrialization. By imposing tariffs on imports, the policy was designed to protect Canadian industries from U.S. competition, leading to a growth in businesses particularly in the eastern provinces such as Quebec and Ontario. However, this policy also contributed to economic disparities, with the Maritime Provinces like Atlantic Canada lagging behind due to these protectionist measures, which helped maintain high prices for goods in the prairies and contributed to Atlantic Canada remaining economically underdeveloped compared to central Canada.
Therefore, considering the effects of the National Policy, the correct answer to the student's question is d) Both a) and c) since it caused Atlantic Canada to remain a hinterland region and prompted Atlantic Canada to lag behind the economic growth of central Canada.
Answer: d) Both a) and c)