The Charlottetown Conference, Quebec Conference and the London Conference

Spring, 1864, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island were discussing the possibility of a Maritime Union.

But BNA has bigger problems, and they want to join the conference to shine a light on the legislative of Canada East, and Canada West. It was decided that they would hold the meetings in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The first meeting would begin September 1, 1864. Representatives were appointed from the Province of Canada, and the Three Maritime colonies that originally discussed union. Newfoundland asked belatedly if it might attend, but there wasn’t enough time to organize a delegation.

First person to arrive was Robert Dickey of Nova Scotia, on August 30^th, his four delegates arrived the next day; New Brunswick’s delegates arrived the same late evening. The Canadians arrived in the morning of September 1^st.

Proceedings began on the afternoon of September 1^st, with the appointment of officers. The conference was following Parliamentary Protocol, Canadians were only observers. They made their presentations about union the next day, when invited to do so by the Maritime delegates. Once the presentations started, talk about Maritime Union disappeared from the conference agenda. Since the proceedings were closed, there exists little information about was said in the presentations. However it is known that George-Étienne Cartier and John A. MacDonald presented the argument in favor of union, that Alexander Galt discussed the posible financial arrangements, and that George Brown the form that a united government might take.

The Conference also included various social events that were just as important as the business. Activities included the famous oyster and champagne lunch aboard the Canadians’s ship, luncheons at the home of local delegates and officials, seaside excursions, and a grand ball at the legislative building. The letter George Brown sent to his wive during the Conference vividly explains these events.

The meetings at Charlottetown were adjourned on September 9, 1864, but the delegates continued with meetings in Halifax, Saint John, and Fredericton. It was decided that the idea of British North American union was worthy enough to hold a second conference for. The second conference was scheduled to begin October 10, 1864 in Quebec City.

Quebec Conference, October 10-27, 1864

The same delegates who met in Charlottetown met in Quebec City the next month, in a building overlooking the St. Lawrence River. In this meeting the delegates of the colonies established the 72 Resolutions, these resolutions are the basis for the upcoming London Conference.

The London Conference, December 1866

Only sixteen delegates traveled to England for discussion. Meetings began December 4^th, at the Westminster Palace Hotel in London. They choose Canada as the name of the united colonies.

In addition of the BNA Act, the Conference had to endure the presence of an anti-union delegation form Nova Scotia, which was led by Joseph Howe, he was determined to overturn any union agreement. Charles Tupper was busy countering each submission.

The delegates completed the text for the bill and was submitted to the Queen on February 11. The bill was passed. And the BNA Act received the Royal Assent on March 29, 1867.

The Delegates returned home to prepare for union, which is scheduled to take place on July 1^st.