 |
|
Introduction Canada did not just become a country all at once. It was a long process of making long speeches, passing bills and laws, voting, making more speeches and conferences. Reasons for Confederation Between 1857-1864, British North America considered six reasons to become a country.The colonies in British North America began to consider joining the colonies together to create a country. The process of this was called Confederation. Political deadlock occurred frequently in th Legislative Assembly in the United Province of Canada, making it difficult to pass important laws. An intercolonial railway was needed to increase trade and improve transportation and communication. If the colonies joined together they could share costs. Trade with the United States was no longer protected under the advantages of the Reciprocity Treaty. If the colonies joined together and traded among themselves, economic prosperity might continue. There was a threat of American expansion into British North America. American settlers were moving into the Red River settlement and the colony of British Columbia. The Fenians, a group of Irish Catholics in the U.S, led several armed raids across the border into the BNA colonies. Great Britain's attitude about her British North American colonies were changing. Britain wanted the colonies to work more on their own. Available farmland was decreasing in the United Province of Canada. Some people wanted to expand into Rupert's Land and into the North-West Territories. [Some of text taken from Canada Revisited 8]. To make all that concise, these are basically the six:
Conferences In 1864, some leaders in the maritime region wanted a union of three Atlantic colonies. These colonies were New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward lsland. In September of 1864, representatives from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and P.E.I met to discuss Maritime union, this was called the Charlottetown Conference. They were joined by delegates from the United Province of Canada who put forward the idea of a union with all four colonies. In October 1864, the Quebec Conference was held and the Seventy-Two Resolutions were adopted. In 1866, the British North America Act was drafted at the London Conference. Then on July 1, 1867, the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the United Province of Canada joined together to form the Dominion of Canada. It was said that some of the 'Fathers of Confederation' were John A. Macdonald, George Brown, and George-Étienne Cartier because they worked so hard to bring about Confederation. After Confederation [Some of text taken from Canada Revisited 8] Canada's first prime minister was John Alexander Macdonald. He lived from 1815-1891. John A. Macdonaled helped create the Liberal-Conservative Party in Canada West (1854). He was part of the Conservative Party. In 1856, one year before Canada became a country, he became the leader of the government of Canada West in the Legislative Assembly of the United Province of Canada. In 1867, he became the prime minister of the Dominion of Canada. Today, Canada's prime minister is Jean Cretien. Canada's capital is Ottawa. Ottawa is located in Ontario and is near the border of Ontario and Quebec. Canada currently has ten provinces. Four (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick) joined Confederation in 1867. But what about the other six? Manitoba became a province in 1870, British Columbia became a province in 1871, Prince Edward Island became a province in 1873, Alberta and Sashatchewan both became provincces in 1905, and Newfoundland became a province in 1949. Canada now has three territories. The newest of them to join Canada is Nunavut. Nunavut was created on April 1, 1999. Conclusion J)What do you think and feel about Canada continuing as a country in the future? Lauren: I think Canada will do very well in the future. We have already being doing great on our own for about 136 years. I think we'll do good for another 136 years and on. My feelings on Canada continuing as a country in the future are relatively good. I hope that Canada can continue successfully. Even though Canada is one of the best countries in the world today, I hope it will it will rise above the other competitors. K)What do you think will happen to the rest of Canda if Quebec withdraws? Karen: Quebec, under the parti quebecois has often tried to seperate from Canada (though stay in economic partnership with it). What would happen to the rest of Canada if it did? For one, the movement of people to and from Quebec would be slowed if not restricted (some what). To travel to a seperate country would require a visa and/or passport, trucks carrying goods would need to be stopped and inspected etc. This would be felt most by the provinces bordering Quebec (Ontario, New Brunswick and Nefoundland). If Quebec were to seperate, Canada might not put such an emphasis on the French language or culture. Albeit there are people of French descent in the rest of Canada, the vast majority are in Quebec and if that province were to become it's own country, the need for recognition of the French culture wouild lessen somewhat (though not disappear). If Quebec were not included in NAFTA (which would be unlikely), trade with Quebec would be discouraged between it and the rest of North America. But I see no reason why Quebec would not be included as it is in North America. If it were included in NAFTA, I don't think trading with Quebec would be changed from what it is today. Canada would also be seperated physically. The maritime provinces would be cut off from the rest of Canada (and the capital). Whether or not this would create further rifts in the country id debatable. Personally, I believe that the only problem would be the physical barrier that would be Quebec. In past times, I think it would have become difficult for Ottawa to communicate with those provinces and further seperation would ensue. However, as we have the technology, I doubt this would occur. If Quebec were to decide to entirely withdraw from Canada (not be in economic partnership), we would be aliented even more. Quebec would need to set up an exchange rate of its own, and when it does, tourists would need to change there money before travelling there. And of course, the Canadian identy would change. We would no longer be a country stretching from sea to sea . . .we'll need a new motto. 'Au revoir' says Lauren! and 'Bye bye says the magical bear!' says Karen. Back |
