How Did Canada’s Provinces Joining Confederation

Reasons for joining Confederation

The Province of Canada

The citizen’s in Canada West were happy with confederation. But the Canadiens in the East were worried about the English Canadians controlling the new country. Francophones received promises that their languages and culture would be protected.

New Brunswick

1867- Britain put pressure on New Brunswick to join the union. They promised a railway many colonists were pleased, they decided to support the union.

Nova Scotia

1867- Nova Scotia was also promised a railway they voted to join too.

Manitoba 

1870- In July 1870 the Government passed the Manitoba Act which created the 5th province of Canada.

British Columbia

1871- There wasn’t enough money for the Government to meets it’s financial needs. They had 3 choices

- to remain a British colony

- to become a province of Canada

- to join the United States

They decided to become a province of Canada

Prince Edward Island 

1873- The Government of Prince Edward Island wanted to build a railway. The railway was expensive to build. If P.E.I. joined confederation the Federal Government they would help pay for the railway. Prince Edward Island decided to join.

Alberta and Saskatchewan

1905- The Saskatchewan Act and Alberta Act created two new provinces. Each had a government with control over local matters.

Newfoundland 

1949- During the Great Depression in the 1930’s Newfoundland was facing an economic crisis. In 1934 commission members from the British Government would would run the colonies problems until the economy was back to normal. Britain wanted Newfoundland to take over once again. The people had 3 choices:

-to return to colonial status

-to leave the commission at place 

- to become the 10th province of Canada

52.3 percent of the people voted to join Canada.  On March 31, 1949 Newfoundland and Labrador became the 10th province of Canada.