Opposition in the Maritimes
Anti-Confederation Sentiment and Leadership
Confederation was far from universally popular. In the Maritimes, many people saw it as a bad deal that would strip their provinces of political power and economic independence. The Maritime colonies already had functioning governments and established trade relationships (particularly with Britain and the United States), so the benefits of joining a larger union were not obvious to everyone.
Joseph Howe, a prominent Nova Scotian politician, became the leading voice against Confederation. He argued that joining would mean higher taxes for Nova Scotians while giving them minimal influence in a federal government dominated by the larger provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Howe even traveled to London to lobby the British government against Nova Scotia's inclusion, but his efforts failed.
Resistance and Rejection in the Maritimes
- Nova Scotia entered Confederation despite significant public opposition. Premier Charles Tupper pushed the province into the union without holding a public vote on the matter, which fueled resentment. In the first federal election after Confederation (1867), anti-Confederation candidates won 18 of Nova Scotia's 19 federal seats, showing just how unpopular the decision was.
- New Brunswick initially rejected Confederation in an 1865 election, largely over concerns about the proposed financial arrangements and the loss of provincial autonomy. However, a change in government the following year, combined with British pressure and fears about American expansion, led New Brunswick to accept Confederation in 1866.
- Prince Edward Island refused to join in 1867 and held out until 1873. The island wanted to maintain control over its land and resources, and its leaders felt the original terms of union were unfavorable. PEI eventually joined after accumulating heavy debt from a railway-building project, which the federal government agreed to take on as part of the deal.
Newfoundland's Refusal to Join Confederation
Newfoundland was a separate British colony and chose not to join Confederation in 1867. Its leaders believed the colony's interests, particularly its valuable fisheries, were better protected by remaining independent. There was also a fear of being politically overwhelmed by the much larger Canadian provinces.
Newfoundland remained a separate Dominion for decades. It did not join Canada until 1949, when a closely contested referendum (52% to 48%) made it the tenth province. That gap of over 80 years shows how deep the resistance to Confederation ran in some parts of British North America.
Red River Resistance
The Red River Resistance
In 1869, the Canadian government purchased Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay Company, a massive territory that included the Red River Colony (present-day Manitoba). The problem: no one consulted the people already living there. The Métis, who made up a large portion of the Red River population, feared that Canadian control would threaten their land, language, culture, and Catholic faith.
The resistance that followed (1869–1870) was the Métis' direct response to being ignored in a decision that would reshape their lives.
Louis Riel's Leadership
Louis Riel emerged as the leader of the Métis resistance. He organized the community, seized Upper Fort Garry (the main Hudson's Bay Company post), and established a provisional government to negotiate with Ottawa on behalf of the Red River settlers.
Riel's provisional government drafted a List of Rights that outlined their demands:
- Guarantees for Métis land rights
- Political representation in the federal government
- Protection of the French language and Catholic religion in the region
- Local control over public lands and resources
The situation became more volatile when Riel's government executed Thomas Scott, an Ontario Orangeman who had opposed the provisional government. Scott's execution turned English-speaking Canada sharply against Riel and made him a deeply polarizing figure.
The Manitoba Act and Resolution
The Canadian government, recognizing it needed to resolve the crisis, negotiated with Riel's provisional government. The outcome was the Manitoba Act of 1870, which created the province of Manitoba and addressed many Métis demands:
- Bilingual (French and English) government services
- A system of both Catholic and Protestant schools
- 1.4 million acres set aside for Métis families
- Provincial representation in the federal Parliament
While the Manitoba Act resolved the immediate conflict, its promises were poorly implemented. Many Métis never received the land they were guaranteed, and an influx of settlers from Ontario pushed Métis families further west. These unresolved grievances contributed directly to the North-West Rebellion of 1885, when Riel would once again lead the Métis in armed resistance against the Canadian government.