what was canadian confederation?

Confederation - Events - People - Significance

What Was Confederation?

•  The Events •  The People •  The Significance


The Events

•  Charlottetown Conference, 1864 •  Quebec Conference, 1864 •  London Conference, 1866-7


Charlottetown, 1864


Quebec, 1864


London, 1866-1867


Who’s Missing From This Picture?


What About?


The Players

•  The Canadians •  The Maritimers •  The British •  The American League •  The Natives?


The Canadians


The Maritimers


The British

Lord John Russell


The American League


The Natives

Big Bear Poundmaker


What Drives Confederation?

•  Internal – Failed Coalitions “Joint Premiership” – Political Stalemate “Double Majority” – Economic Situation – Positive and Negative

•  External – Fenian Threat – American Threat – British Policy


Political Stalemate


Failed Coalitions


Fenian Threat

Battle of Ridgeway, 1866


American Threat


What Were the Options

•  Annexation (One or All) •  Commercial Union •  Kingdom •  Federation •  Confederation •  Republic


Annexation

Joel Garreau – 9 Nations of North America - 1961


Commercial Union


Kingdom


Federation


Republic


Confederation



Political Union or Business Deal?


A Story Aside…

•  Sir Frank Smith •  Senator •  Roman Catholic •  Railway President •  Hotel Owner •  President of LVPA •  Chair of Committee •  Conflict of Interest??


British North America Act, 1867

•  Federal Government and Provincial Governments

•  Each Get some Responsibilities •  Local Things such as Education to Provinces •  Shared Things Immigration and Agriculture •  Federal Things such as Military, Trade etc. •  And if it isn’t explicitly defined …


Section 91

•  Peace, Order and Good Government •  Federal Government reserves right to

anything that pops up •  Everyone knows it is incomplete…but it’s

the best they can do.


The Result

•  British North America Act, 1867 •  Foreign policy remained in British hands •  Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

remained Canada's highest court of appeal •  The constitution could be amended only in

Britain. •  But Even with a flawed arrangement…


A Process A Railroad to the East


A Process Provincial Status – Land Rights


A Process A Railroad to the West


A Process Ferry Service to PEI


A Process Ontario wakes up to Resources


A Process Federal Provincial Battles


A Process Provincial Discord


A Process Ontario Wins


A Process Quebec Figures out the Land Game


A Process Believe it or Not Transfer Payments


A Process Tidying Things Up


A Process Not A Done Deal?


A Process Still Not Done


A Work in Progress


Another Story..

•  The Notwithstanding Clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms…

•  Next Term.