CANADA: A NEW NATION

Confederation and National Policy©Ruth Writer

Roots of Confederation [Evolution]A cautious approach to national independence due to

two culturestwo languagesdeference to authorityloyalty to Englanddistrust of U.S.A.

Road to BNA Act of 1867—1st Constitution of Canada• Quebec Act• Constitution Act of 1791• Rebellions of 1837• Durham Report

Reasons for Concern in BNA [Canada]

• POLITICAL—BNA disunited • Colonies separate and distinct with competition• Francophone v. Anglophone--Catholic v. Protestant

• ECONONIC—weak economies• Slow growth compared to USA• Small population with centers along border• Funds for public workers needed• Education at risk

• NATIONHOOD—Transportation key• Roads• Waterways• Railroads

• INTERNATIONAL TENSIONS—USA intentions in question

Early Politics• Tories—True Conservatives

• Anglo and Loyalists—loyal to crown• Bleus—Reform

• George-Etienne Cartier• Liberal-Conservatives

• Unification goal• John A. Macdonald

• Grits—closer ties with USA• George Brown• Liberal

Evolution not Revolution• Canada did not WIN self government with war

• No rebellion against Britain• Canada did it politically with British encouragement

• Political union negotiated among colonies• Debates for long time—years • Vested interests needed protection

• Compromise not easy, however…• International tensions following U.S. Civil War• Fenian threat helped get compromise

• BNA got fast British approval for Confederation• Britain eager to end squabble• Wanted BNA to cover more costs • Movement toward free trade

Meetings• Charlottetown [PEI] in 1864

• Macdonald—Liberal Conservative • Cartier—Bleus [Reform]• Brown—Grits

• Quebec—after Charlottetown• 6 colonies met• 72 resolution• Balance of power—national vs. provincial [colony]

• Confederation became the outline

Fear of USA• Role of BNA in Civil War

• Raid at St. Alban, VT• Support of CSA—Alabama Claims• Booth [?]

• Fenian Raids• Discharged Irish soldiers from Union army• Anti-Britain—wanted Britain out of Ireland• BNA closest place to attack

• Niagara area• New Brunswick

British North America Act—1867 • BNA Act served as framework of government until 1982• Combined British and U.S. system of government• Constitutional monarchy• Division between national and provincial power

• Powers not delegated go to federal government [reverse of U.S.]• As important as our Constitution is to USA• July 1, 1867—CANADA DAY• Original provinces:

• Nova Scotia• New Brunswick• Quebec• Ontario

Goal:

Peace, Order, and Good Government

http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/mapping/historical_maps/1867.asp

Would Canada Survive and Grow?

Next phase of historyGIANT step toward nationhood

1604-1763—French control 1763-1867—British North America1867-2012—Canada

What to call this new nation?

Population diversity--3.5 million in 1867

• 28% French• 22% Irish• 20% English• 14% Scotch• 6% German• 9% Native

Links with Britain remain• Self governing yet remained under British crown

• Still British subjects• Queen of England and of Canada as well

• Queen Victoria• Revisions in Confederation

• Had to be approved by British Parliament• Seldom an issue• Somewhat embarrassing

• Foreign Affairs• Officially represented by Britain• Few in Canada objected—at first

Capital OTTAWA• Ottawa

• On Ottawa River• Called Bytown• Lumbering frontier

• Selected by Queen Victoria • Between Franco/Anglo• Neutral like D.C.http://www.itcwebdesigns.com/w52608.htm http://www.victorianweb.org/painting/gallery/victoria.html

http://www.passageshistoriques-heritagepassages.ca/ang-eng/ouvriers-labour/les_conditions_de_vie-living_conditions/corktown_et_la_basse_ville_de_bytown-corktown_and_lower_bytown

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/history_americas.html

Government of Canada• Queen

• Governor General• Legislative--Parliament

• House of Commons• Prime Minister• Cabinet• Loyal Opposition

• Senate• Judiciary

http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=information&sub=publications&doc=aarchives/decision/canada-eng.htm

Queen and the Governor General• Head of state—Queen• Queen’s Privy Council• Governor General represents crown when Queen absent

• Term of office—5 years• Bilingual

• Roles• Ceremonial duties only—power only at time of crisis• Officially appoint Prime Minister and set elections• Dissolve Parliament• Formal gatherings, meetings and dinners with heads of state• Welcome special guests• Throne Speech—state of Canada written by Prime Minister• Signs laws [Royal Assent]—mere formality

Governor General David Johnston• 28th Governor General• 2010

• https://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=13874

Elections in Canada• At least every 5 years—May 2, 2011• Called by Prime Minister [officially by Governor General]

• Keeps opposition off guard• Vital to keep own party loyal

• Campaign only 6 weeks long—March 26, 2011• Elect only Members of Parliament—NOT Prime Minister

• Districts called RIDINGS• Local areas• Parachuting into a Riding possible—does not need to be resident

Legislative• House of Commons

• Elected—no term limits, no defined term length

• Senate• Appointed by Prime Minister• Term until 75 years of age• No real power

Sherman, George. Teaching Canada. Plattsburgh, NY: Center for the Study of Canada, 2002. page 45.

House of Commons• Membership—308 [338 in next election]

• From Ridings—names not numbered districts• No residency requirement

• Meets daily September to December and February to July• THIS IS RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT• Question Period—most important role

• Governing party• Loyal opposition and shadow cabinet

Fusion of Legislative and Executive Branches

Sherman, George. Teaching Canada. Plattsburgh, NY: Center for the Study of Canada, 2002. page 45.

http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/GuideToHoC/who-e.htm

Prime Minister• Head of the government—Chief Executive• First among equals—Chief Legislator

• Must be elected by riding and thus Member of Parliament--MP• Party leadership

• No term limit; no definite term length; no requirements• Head of the majority of House of Commons—UNLESS• Appoint Cabinet• Appoint Senate• Calls elections• Party loyalty—never vote against party

Justin Trudeau—Liberal--2015• Elected by single riding [population of about 110,000]• Still represents riding in Parliament• Leadership of Majority Party

• Delegates and conventions• Tradition—only upon death or resignation

• Majority Party forms government• If no majority, coalition government

• http://pm.gc.ca/eng/cabinet

Cabinet http://pm.gc.ca/eng/cabinet

• Portfolios—advisors to Prime Minister who has total selection control• Deputy Prime Minister [Vice President role]

• Attorney General• President of the Treasury Board• Regional and Economic Development• State• Communications• Transport• Revenue• Environment• Justice• Multiculturalism• Defense• Finance• International Trade• Health• Fisheries• Etc. http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/postscript-canada-the-beautiful-1.2646105

Loyal Opposition• Minority party with most votes• Sitting across aisle--pressure on governing party• Prepared to take over in next election• Shadow cabinet with similar portfolios/assignments• Other minority parties• Watch dogs of government—vocal critics• Question period key check on government— www.cpac.ca

• Hammer majority party with questions—”feet to the fire” daily• In full view each day in session—televised• One hour long--approximately• Government must defend actions

• Role of the media

Senate http://sen.parl.gc.ca/portal/about-senate-e.htm

• Membership—up from 104 to112 • Equality based on population and region

• Ontario and Quebec—most Senators, equal number• Maritimes • West• North

• Appointed by Prime Minister• Political patronage• Not a great deal of real power• Seldom vote NO [last in 1940]• Perks

How a Bill Becomes Law in Canada

Sherman, George. The Canadian Parliamentary System. Plattsburgh, NY: The Center for the Study of Canada. [video]

Judicial• Supreme Court

• Appointed by Prime Minister• 9 Justices• Based on regions• Beverley McLachin—Chief Justice

• Provincial judges—federal appointmentshttp://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/supreme-court-of-canada/http://www.scc-csc.ca/home-accueil/index-eng.aspx http://o.canada.com/news/coyne-recent-rulings-from-surprisingly-liberal-supreme-court-beginning-to-become-alarming

Other interesting facts• Provinces—like states

• Premier• Parliaments

• Territories• Local governments

• Power derived from provinces• Metro planning

• No double jeopardy rule in Canada• Crimes are federal crimes

• RCMP• Provincial police

Comparison—U.S. and Canada

• George Sherman, The Canada Connection in American History: a guide for teachers. Plattsburgh: Center for the Study of Canada, 1992.

John A Macdonald—1st Prime Minister

• First of 22 Prime Ministers• Prime Minister of Canada twice for 19 years total• Born in Scotland—emigrated at age of 5 to Ontario• Dropped out of school at 14 became lawyer at 19• Served as legal counsel for 1837 rebels• Premier of Ontario in 1856• “Old Tomorrow”• Family • Died in office 1891http://www.canadahistory.com/sections/politics/pm/johnmacdonald.htm

Macdonald’s Vision for Canada• Form first government

• Four provinces—Atlantic and Great Lakes• Set stage for future

• Westward expansion—”From Sea to Sea”• Rupert’s Land take over by Canada in 1869• British Columbia • Railroad West• RCMP

• Reelection in 1872• Blurs in his vision

• Metis in Manitoba [next week]• Riel Rebellion [next week]

British Columbia becomes # 5• Desire to gain foothold on Pacific• Negotiations with whites [10,000]• Legacy of fur trade• Brief gold rush in Fraser Valley• 1871 with strings

• Absorb BC debt• Sponsor public works• Link BC with rest of Canada==railroad

• Problematic• Funding questions• Rail construction dilemmas

Macdonald reelection in 1872

• Due to expansion west and north• Dominion Lands Act of 1872

• Modeled after our Homestead Act• Started transcontinental railroad

• Canadian Pacific Railway charter• Conservative government• Montreal business

• Scandal with railroads for Macdonald• Macdonald resigned• Conservative government collapsed

Alexander Mackenzie—2nd Prime Minister

• Liberals won in 1873• Mackenzie—ineffective leader for 5 years

• Stimulus plan• Attempt to keep coalition together• Economic depression• Railroad progress slowed to crawl• US rejected Liberal plan to reestablish reciprocity

Changed Judicial System with Supreme Court established in 1875More voter suffrage, secret ballothttp://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/government/mackenzie.html

National Policy—Macdonald’s Return

1878Interconnected plan

1. Protection of industries2. Transcontinental Railroad3. Settlement of West

Protectionism• Free trade v. Protectionism pitted two conflicting impulses

• desire for beneficial economic ties with the United State• fear that closer economic ties would lead to American domination and

annexation• High tariffs adopted in 1879 by Conservatives=more $$$• Protected industries in Ontario and Quebec• Angry consumers especially in West and Maritimes• Some industries did grow—job creation in industrial heart

• Textiles• Shoes• Agricultural machinery

• Sharpened regional disputes• Americans developed branch plants to sidestep tariffs

Perennial Issue?Macdonald's Conservatives tried to persuade voters that a policy of reciprocity – one of the planks in the 1891 election platform of the Liberal party – amounted to selling Canada to the United States. The Conservatives were successful, but Sir John A. Macdonald died three months after winning the electionhttp://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=his&document=chap2&lang=e

Railroads• Money from tariff could fund transcontinental rail• East to west dilemmas—forest, swamps, lakes, Shield• Used U.S. route via Michigan—Grand Trunk Railroad• Fear of U.S. claiming unsettled Canada• Others railroads built

• 1720s—Cape Breton horse drawn carts• 1820s—Halifax• 1836—St. Lawrence to Richelieu—15 miles• 1860—Ontario, Quebec, Maritimes had railroads• BUT…

• 1862—took 7 months to go from Manitoba to Victoria

Dilemmas of Transcontinental Railroad• Surveying land—1st task• Winter work cold, wind, snow [-40 degrees]• Summer work bugs, heat, humidity [90+ degrees]• Easiest route marked—flattest [no tunnels, bridges]• Mountains tougher• Followed path cut by axes• Drew maps• Fire, drowning, sunstroke, frostbite, scurvy, bear, snakes• Years away from family• Covered 12,000 miles on foot• SCANDAL—Macdonald out, Mackenzie elected

Chose route in 1881

Stanford Fleming• Engineer• Divided Canada into 3 sections• Took 6 years to survey land, map• Most famous for STANDARD TIME ZONEShttp://inventors.about.com/od/fstartinventors/a/SandfordFleming.htm http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/services/time/time_zones.html

Actually building the track• American oversaw actual work• Used immigrant labor

• Chinese laborers from Pacific • As young as 12• Hard working • Hardest most dangerous due to mountain passes

• Irish, Italian, German, Russian, Scandinavian, Polish, English• English built bridges and machinery

• Cut trees, clear path, blast through rock• 1880-85 in BC alone—27 tunnels, 600 bridges

• Used black powder and nitro• Rock slides, falls, deathhttp://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/v-g/pm-mp/lhn-nhs/kickinghorse_e.asp

http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/v-g/pm-mp/lhn-nhs/kickinghorse_e.asp; http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/railway-history/

Workers’ lives• Low pay [$1-2.50/day]• Had to pay for own food, housing, clothing, blankets,

transportation to site, mail, medical—all provided by CP • If bad weather, no pay but still expenses.• If lucky, $16 per month for self and family back home• Away for years on railroad work—many from China• Hazards • Hard work

• Wooden ties every 2 feet [8 feet long]• Steel rails—12 feet long• Rock, gravel, dirt to level bed• ALL by hand

Last spikeCraigellachie, British ColumbiaFinal spike of millionsNovember 7, 1885 [US May 10, 1869]First passenger train following July

Montreal to Port Moody, BC2900 miles in 5 days 19 hoursburned 520 cords of wood

John A. Macdonald and wife to BC a week later

http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/v-g/pm-mp/lhn-nhs/kickinghorse_e.asp

BTW• Canadian Pacific hotels—Banff• Colonists cars—settlement west• Track walker—lonely life• Snow sheds• Bridges

• Longest/highest in Lethbridge, AL—5328 feet long, 315 feet high• Tunnels—80 of them

• Spiral tunnel where too steep, used extra engines• Longest tunnel—9 miles

• Sidings• School trains [1920-1967] • Standard time zones

• http://www.cbc.ca/sevenwonders/wonder_spiral_tunnel.html• http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/docs/SpiralTunnels.pdf • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banff_Springs_Hotel

Settlement West—National Unity• Needed transcontinental railroad first• Red River Rebellion• Riel Rebellion• Immigrants would then settle Canadian West

Last Best West—Canada!• More next week

5 Prime Ministers in 5 years• John A Macdonald—Conservative died in 1891 [19 years]• John Abbott—Conservative

• Quit after 18 months• John Thompson—Conservative

• Died at Windsor Castle after 2 years• Mackenzie Bowell—Conservative

• Forced to quit after about 18 months• Charles Tupper—Conservative

• Defeated in election after 2 months• Wilfred Laurie—Liberal

• Held power from 1896 until1911http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/compilations/federalgovernment/primeministers/gallery.aspx

Resources• http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/compilations/federalgovernment/primeministers/galler

y.aspx

• http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Compilations/SupremeCourt.aspx?Current=True&Menu=SupremeCourt

• Morton, Desmond. A Short History of Canada. Edmonton: Hurtig Publishing, 2001. [pages 88-121 and 126-141]

• Sherman, George. “Different Democracies: Comparing the Ways of Canadians & Americans Govern Themselves,” Teaching Canada. Plattsburgh, NY: Center for the Study of Canada, 2002: 40-52

• http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/railway-history/#h3_jump_5 • Waite, P.B. “Confederation,” The Canadian Encyclopedia

www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com