Confederation Conferences in 1864

Charlottetown Conference

On the first of September, delegates from the Province of Canada including the Fathers or Confederation (John A. MacDonald, George Brown, D’Arcy McGee, Alexander Galt, George Cartier). They have come for a conference for a union discussion between the Maritime and Atlantic colonies. The conference was to make them more convinced to join confederation. Here is the Charlottetown Conference Program:

Québec Conference

In October, delegates from all colonies gather at Québec City to talk business and plans for their idea of union and confederation. The discussion was a long one but mainly was about ideas to prevent the government being broken so easily. Soon, all the politicians agreed and the big plan changed Canadian history strongly, the plan is called the Seventy-Two Resolutions. 

KEY POINTS OF THE SEVENTY-TWO RESOLUTIONS

-          there would be a strong central (federal) government to look after affairs affecting the whole country such as defense, trade, and foreign affairs

-          each province would have its own government to deal with local matters

-          the system of government would follow the British Constitution and the lead of the government would be the queen or king of England

-          the federal government would be made up an elected House of Commons and the Legislative Council or Senate

-          members in the house of commons would be elected according to the principle of “rep by pop”

-          members of the Legislative Council would be appointed and each region would have twenty-four(24) members

-          Newfoundland, the North-West Territories, British Columbia and Vancouver would be allowed into the union as terms could be worked out.