1948 Newfoundland referendums
The Newfoundland Referendums of 1948 were a series of two referendums to decide the future of the British Colony of Newfoundland. They occurred on July 3 and July 22, 1948. The eventual decision by Newfoundlanders was to enter the Canadian Confederation.
Background
Newfoundland was the oldest settled region in Canada, but the last to get a local government. Newfoundland received local representative government finally in 1832 [1]. In 1855, Newfoundland was granted responsible government [1]. When the Charlottetown Conference was called in 1864, Newfoundland didn't send any delegates. When the Quebec Conference was called later that year, Newfoundland sent two delegates, F. B. T. Carter and Ambrose Shea, who both came back to Newfoundland very much in favour of a union with Canada [2]. The Government of Newfoundland took no action, and were not represented at the London Conference in 1866 when the British North America Act was passed by the British Government.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Newfoundland was in almost $40 million in debt [3], and on the verge of economic collapse. A commission was called, and recommended that Newfoundland should be "given a rest from party politics" [3]. It also recommended a special "commission of government", consisting of 3 people of Newfoundland, 3 from the United Kingdom, and chaired by the governor, should govern the island [3]. The United Kingdom also agreed to take on Newfoundland's debts. This commission of government governed the island until it entered Canada in 1949.
The National Convention
The British government was hoping that by the end of World War II, the commission government would be replaced[4]. They were also hoping that Newfoundland would decide to join the Canadian Confederation. Canada was asked at first to help Newfoundland return to responsible government, but Canada was not interested in helping Newfoundland economically, instead deciding to encourage Newfoundland to join the Canadian Confederation [4].
The British government decided to let Newfoundlanders deliberate by calling a National Convention. It was called in 1946, consisted of 45 members, and was chaired by Judge Cyril J. Fox [5]. One of the members was future first premier of Newfoundland Joey Smallwood.
Committees were set up to study where Newfoundland's future lie. most members assumed that the major decision of what to do with the government would be decided at the end. This plan was upset when Smallwood moved that the Convention should send a delegation to Ottawa to discuss a union on October 28 1946 [5]. His motion was defeated, as it only received the support of 17 members. The Convention did later decide to send delegation to both London and Ottawa.
The London Delegation
The London delegation was made up of so-called anti-confederates [5]. It left Newfoundland on April 25, 1947, and met with a British delegation headed up by the Dominions Secretary, Viscount Addison. The British response was that it would give no economic help to Newfoundland if it returned to responsible government. The leader of the delegation from Newfoundland, Peter Cashin, gave a speech to the Convention on May 19 claiming that "a conspiracy existed to sell this country to the Dominion of Canada" [5].
The Ottawa Delegation
The Ottawa delegation included Smallwood, and was mostly made up of pro-confederates [6]. The talks between them and Ottawa began on June 24, 2007. The delegation was there to negotiate terms for Newfoundland to enter confederation. Ottawa was reluctant at first, but the Federal Cabinet began negations on July 18 [6]. Draft terms were mostly agreed on in mid-August. The delegation was then sent a blow, as Frank Bridges, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's minister from New Brunswick died. King refused to further negotiate until New Brunswick had representation [6]. The delegation headed back to St. John's.
Back in St. John's
The whole Convention reconvened on October 10. Smallwood presented his delegations report to the Convention, which infuriated the anti-confederates [6]. The Convention was going to debate the delegations report, but Ottawa had just sent its terms. Ottawa offered to assume most of the debt, negotiate a tax agreement, and outlined terms of which services and departments would be taken over by Ottawa [6].
The Referendums
A recommendation was sent to the British Government to hold a referendum on Newfoundland's future. London agreed, and a referendum was organized. Originally, the National Convention decided that only two choices were to be on the ballot: restoration of responsible government, and the continuation of the Commission of Government [7] [6].
Smallwood moved on January 23, 1948 that Confederation with Canada should be added to the choices. The debate ended at 5:30 in the morning on January 28, with the motion being defeated 29-16 [6]. The British government then intervened in March, deciding that Confederation would indeed be on the ballot.
The Factions
There were three main factions that actively campaigned during the lead up to the referendums. One faction was the Confederate Association (CA). It advocated for Newfoundland to join the Canadian Confederation, and was lead by Smallwood. Their campaigning was done by a newspaper known as The Confederate. The Responsible Government League (RGL) advocated for an independent Newfoundland, and a return to responsible government, and was lead by Peter Cashin. They also had their own newspaper The Independent. A third smaller group, Economic Union Party (EUP) advocated for closer economic ties with the United States, and was lead by Chesley Crosbie. The EUP failed to gain much attention, and merged with the RGL after the first referendum. [8].
The First Referendum
The first referendum took place on July 3, 1948. The votes were as follows: [7]
| Choice | Votes | % of Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Responsible Government | 69,400 | 44.6% |
| Confederation With Canada | 64,066 | 44.1% |
| Commission of Government | 22,331 | 14.3% |
| Total Votes | 155,777 | 88% (of total electorate) |
The Second Referendum
Since none of the choices had gained over 50%, the option of Commission Government was dropped from the ballot, and another referendum was held with the remaining two choices. It was held on July 22, 1948. The results of the second referendum were: [7]
| Choice | Votes | % of Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Responsible Government | 71,334 | 47.7% |
| Confederation With Canada | 78,323 | 52.2% |
| Total Votes | 149,657 | 85% (of total electorate) |
Newfoundland then began to negotiate with Canada for a union. Terms were sent to the British Government, and the British North America Act, 1949 was passed by the British House of Commons. Newfoundland officially joined Canada at midnight, March 31, 1949 [7].
Reaction to the Referendums
Elections for the Newfoundland House of Assembly were held a few months after entering Canada, and the Liberal Party, led by Smallwood the pro-confederate, swept to power. The Liberal's controlled the house until the 1970s. Reactions were, and have been mixed to Confederation [9].
Newfoundland as a province secured some signifcant guarantees as a part of the union. As ruled by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1927, Canada would put Labrador under the jurisdiction of Newfoundland, which Canada agreed to after some consideration [10]. Such commitments carried over to other areas, as well, such as a ferry between Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and North Sydney, Nova Scotia, and a guarantee that Newfoundland would be able to continue to manufacture and sell margarine [10].
Canada was very welcoming of Newfoundland into confederation, as seen in an editorial in the The Globe and Mail on April 1, 1949: [11]
- Union with Newfoundland , as everyone knows, rounds out the dream of the Fathers of Confederation. This newspaper is certain that Canadians welcome their new fellow-countrymen with full hearts. May the union be forever a blessing for Canada and to the island which is yielding its ancient independence, but not its identity, to belong to a larger fraternity.
An editorial from the Montreal Gazette also gave Newfoundland a warm welcome, saying: [12]
- For Canadians tomorrow will be a day of welcome. For this is the day when a tenth province is added to the Dominion of Canada. There will be a greater meaning than ever to the Canadian motto, chosen by Sir Leonard Tilley from the words of Isaiah which describes the dominion that reaches "from sea to sea".
The Vancouver Sun also chimed in, saying: [13]
- Today a dream of greatness, present in the minds of the Fathers of Confederation more than 80 years ago, comes true. Newfoundland at long last is part of Canada.
Notes
- ^ a b The Development of Self-Government in Newfoundland
- ^ First Confederation Talks of Newfoundland With Canada (1864-1869)
- ^ a b c The Great Depression, Economic Collapse in Newfoundland and Newfoundland's Loss of Responsible Government
- ^ a b British Policy and Newfoundland, 1942-1946
- ^ a b c d The Newfoundland National Convention, 1946-1948
- ^ a b c d e f g The Ottawa Delegation, 1947
- ^ a b c d Newfoundland Joins Canada (1946-1949) and Newfoundland and Confederation (1949)
- ^ The 1948 Referendums from Library and Archives Canada
- ^ Newfoundland: Aftermath
- ^ a b Expectations as We Joined Canada from the Government of Newfoundland
- ^ Editorial from the The Globe and Mail
- ^ Editorial from the Montreal Gazette
- ^ Editorial from the Vancouver Sun