8.2 The Confederation Deal

What ideas of citizenship shaped Confederation?

jeopardize - to threaten

Indian - this term is no longer used to describe the First Nations people, except as recognized by the Canada's Indian Act.

The rights of each region were to be protected and allow for each region to make decision on their own.

Passed in 1867, the BNA created the Dominion of Canada with :

• Canada East
• Canada West
• Nova Scotia
• New Brunswick

Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland DID NOT join in at this time due to outweighing disadvantages.

Key Points of the BNA Act

• Federal government created laws for "peace, order and good government
• Division of powers between federal and provincial levels
• Both French and English language used in government
• Public Schools for all Canadians:
  • Protestant minorities in Québec
  • Catholic minorities in remaining parts of Canada
• Federal government protected religious and language rights in any province
• Representation in parliament through population base
• Federal government would pay for railway linking the Maritimes to the rest of Canada

Strengthening the Maritimes

The economy in the Maritimes was based on:

• British trade
• Caribbean trade

How do you think mercantilism and geography had shaped these global trade patterns?

How do you think the end of mercantilism affected them?

With the promise of a railway, the Maritimes joined confederation in hopes that the future would be stronger.

Charles Tupper, the leader of the Nova Scotia assembly was in disagreement with joining Canada. There was a fear that Nova Scotia would lose their identity.

First Nations and Confederation

Negotiations were not done with the First Nations over Confederation. However, this is how Confederation affected them:

• Gradual Civilization Act (1857) - To be a Canadian citizen and have the right to vote, one must give up their way of life.
• BNA (1867) - First Nations became the responsibility of the federal government.
• Legal status Indians - were not allowed to vote until 1960. Only those who gave up the status could vote.