To properly understand the impetus for confederation, we have to go back
to 1841 and the British Parliament Act of Union that joined Upper and
Lower Canada into one Province of Canada. Each of the former provinces would
elect an equal number of representatives to a central Parliament.
Lower Canada was annoyed as Upper Canada had a population of about
450,000 while Lower Canada had a population of about 650,000. The result was
that no political leader could draw enough support from the ‘other side’ to
form a majority government.
Elections were held in 1841,1844, 1848,1851, 1854, 1858, 1981, and 1863 without
a workable government being elected. The notion of joining with other provinces
to break the deadlock led to talks between Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, and New
Brunswick. Quebec joined the talks.
All provinces were concerned over a potential American invasion as the
American Civil War had ended in 1865, and the US had an ample army in uniform
to invade and annex Canada. Quebec was particularly concerned as she feared
that if America invaded and won, she would lose the rights she was granted by
the Quebec Act of 1778.
The main reasons for confederation were to break the political deadlock
in the Province of Canada, and unify to fight off a potential American
invasion. There was no thought creating a wider Confederation or anything that
did not protect the enjoined provinces of Upper and Lower Canada.
The British North America Act of 1867 clearly reflected the importance
of Ontario and Quebec and made it clear that they were the central core of the
confederation. Nothing has changed since.
In 1869, Canada purchased Rupert’s Land from the Hudson’s Bay Company,
with considerable pressure from the British government. The Hudson’s Bay Company
wanted to sell to the US at a higher price.
When the federal government tried to install a governor in the Red River
Settlements, he faced a rebellion and the Province of Manitoba was created
(1870).
The construction of a railway brought British Columbia into
Confederation (1871).
These efforts were to vastly expand the territory under control of
Canada. There was no thought to creating strong provinces or equality of any
sort.
When the area between Manitoba and British Columbia was under settlement,
the federal government feared a strong province might appear which would become
a political problem, so it spit the territory into Alberta and Saskatchewan.
From the outset and creation of the British North America Act -- to
today -- the intention is to concentrate political power in Ontario and Quebec ...
and that has been succeeded so far.
Immigration has kept populations in those provinces high, and between
them they hold 58.8% of Commons seats and a 45.7% of the Senate seats. Since
the Senate is split along party lines despite efforts to show otherwise,
Liberal control of the Senate is even stronger. |
The die is cast and we cannot look to constitutional amendments to
improve our lot. We face a stark choice of remaining a subsidiary controlled by
Ottawa or striking out on our own.
John Feldsted ... is a political commentator, consultant, and strategist. He makes his
home in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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