Newfoundland, the country that joined Canada

Britain’s oldest colony says no

Newfoundland got responsible government, an elected government answerable to its own legislature, in 1855.^[1] When the other British colonies met at Quebec in October 1864 to plan Confederation, two Newfoundland politicians, Ambrose Shea and Frederic Carter, went only as observers.^[1]

A pro-Confederation government won the 1865 election, but the legislature voted not to discuss the plan, and Newfoundland stayed out when Canada was created in 1867.^[1] A deal was close by the summer of 1869 until the anti-Confederation side, led by Charles Fox Bennett, turned the public against it, warning of taxes on fishermen’s boats and gear.^[1] Talks after a bank crash in the 1890s also failed, because Canada offered less than Newfoundland wanted.^[1]

Bankrupt and run from London

Facing bankruptcy in the Depression, Newfoundland’s leaders gave up self-government.^[1] On 16 February 1934 a Commission of Government of seven people appointed by Britain was sworn in, and for 15 years there were no elections and no legislature.^[2] Newfoundland stayed a dominion in name, but it now needed London’s permission for any major decision.^[2]

At one low point, in 1925, Newfoundland had even offered to sell Labrador to Quebec to pay off its debts; Quebec’s premier said no.^[3] The Second World War brought prosperity through American, British and Canadian military spending, and by 1949 the colony had cleared its debts and had a $40 million surplus.^[1]

Two referendums

An elected National Convention debated Newfoundland’s future from 1946, and voters were offered three choices: keep the commission, return to self-government as an independent dominion, or join Canada.^[1]

In the first vote, on 3 June 1948, self-government came first with 44.6%, Confederation got 41.1% and the commission 14.3%. In the run-off on 22 July, Confederation, led by Joey Smallwood and Gordon Bradley, won 78,323 votes to 71,344, or 52.34%.^[1]

The British and Canadian parliaments approved the Terms of Union, and Newfoundland became Canada’s 10th province on 31 March 1949, with Smallwood as its first premier. In 2001 the province’s name was changed to Newfoundland and Labrador.^[1]