Canadian Conference Timeline

What was purpose of this Conference

The Charlottetown conference took place on September 1 1864. It lasted nine days. The purpose of the conference was to discuss the possibility of a union of the Maritime Provinces.

Talking about the possibility of a union was on the agenda.

George-Etienne Cartier senses that he could persuade the Maritimes to join in a union and together their population would balance Upper Canada. George Brown wanted an end to what he considered French domination of English affairs. The end of a political stalemate.John A. Macdonald was nervous about American aggression and felt that the united British colonies could perhaps resist their powerful neighbour.

Even though there were representatives from all over the First Nations People, Black people were not given a voice and did not have their opinions viewed. They were not even asked whether they had an opinion on this.

The terms agreed upon by the representatives were unknown. The meetings were private and no one was allowed to take notes

What Was The Reason For This Conference?

From October 10 to 27, 1864 politicians from five British North American colonies which would be the province of Canada, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. They met in Quebec city where they would discuss becoming one united nation. The discussion began at the Charleston conference the previous month. The major issue decided was the distribution of power between the federal and provincial governments.

The main issue decided was the structure of Parliament and distribution of power between the provincial and federal governments. They were trying to decide if the new country should have a single or central government or, should they have a mix of power between national and provincial government.

In the eastern part of the country, the opponents feared that that confederation would take power away from provinces and give it to the federal government, or that they would have to pay higher taxes and military conscription. Many of the opponents ultimately gave up afterwards and even some of them served in the Canadian government.

The opinions were represented by very high status people. That includes people from Canada East such as: George-Étienne Cartier, Étienne-Paschal Taché and Thomas D'Arcy McGee. As we all know however the opposite of Canada East is Canada West and they weren’t afraid to represent their opinions either. Some of them include: George Brown and John A.

Indigenous people were not invited to the conference, and were not represented at the charlottetown and Quebec conferences. In spite of what they believed to be bilateral (nation-to-nation) commitments and relationships with the crown, through the historical treaties.

For a union of the five Britain’s five North American colonies, New Brunswick, the Province of Canada, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia, mainly came from Canada west. The legislature that governed Canada west and Canada east had been in a situation where no progress were being made and unstable for years. The conservatives and the reformers disagreed on s lot of issues. The relations between the french in Canada east and the English in Canada west were really tense. The delegates agreed that the federal government would help them by fund and finish the constructions of the intercolonial Railway from Quebec city to the Maritimes.

What ideas were presented in the conference?

In the london Conference John A. Macdonald asked everyone that everything that is discussed, and done stay confidential. He also cooperated with a couple of delegates to avoid publicity as that might “tend to premature discussion on imperfect information of the subject both in this country and America.” In the london conference 72 resolutions co-created by the fathers of confederation in previous meetings were presented. At the London conference, minor changes were made to the resolution stating that if Prince edward Island, Newfoundland, the North-west territories and British Columbia. In london, after the government agreed to the act John A. Macdonald urged all of the delegates to make little changes as possible and proceed with the act. Though many delegated believed that the resolution should be perfected before the bill is passed. John A. macdonald was worried that the new government on Nova scotia might be anti-confederation but at last he allowed the delegates to make some amendments.

Indigenous peoples were not invited to or represented at the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences. This despite the fact they had established what they believed to be bilateral relationships and commitments with the Crown through historic treaties.

By November 1866, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Canada had agreed to join Confederation. Newfoundland and Prince Edwards Island declined. All that was left was to get the British North America bill passed in the British Parliament. Sixteen delegates from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Canada - including john A. Macdonald, george-Etienne Cartier, Alexander Galt and George Brown.