Newfoundland National Convention
Encyclopedia
The Newfoundland National Convention of 1946 was a forum established to decide the constitutional future of Newfoundland
, of Labrador
had secured a seat, the first time that Labrador had elected representation.
chaired the proceedings until his untimely death. He was succeeded as Chairman by Convention Member Gordon Bradley for most of the rest of the Convention's life, but after Bradley's resignation the lawyer J.B. McEvoy served in the chair. The Commissioner of Home Affairs issued pay checks to delegates: $15 a day, with a traveling stipend of $10 per day.
Not only were observers allowed in the gallery but the general public could listen to the debates on radio stations VOCM, VOAR and the state-run Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland
station, VONF.
Some delegates who were critical of the Commission of Government used the opportunity to demand Commissioners justify to the Convention some of their policies. However, Governor MacDonald would explain that delegates were not the Government of Newfoundland, but were convened to debate the constitutional options which would appear on a ballot in a forthcoming referendum.
. More motions and amendments were passed in the days following, when on October 30 Kenneth M. Brown
, the delegate from Bonavista South, collapsed on the floor of the chamber. Tragedy struck again when on November 16, Judge Fox suffered a heart attack and died suddenly. Smallwood's motion revealed that confederation with Canada had only a minority of support in the Convention, but it was now on the agenda and the confederates used the radio broadcasts of the Convention to tell the people of Newfoundland and Labrador of the financial advantages that joining Canada would bring. The Convention adjourned on December 13 for the Christmas break, but the widespread feeling that Smallwood and the confederates had the upper hand encouraged St. John’s businessman F. M. O'Leary and others to form the Responsible Government League
. The RGL was dedicated to the resumption of the former (1933) constitution for the Dominion.
On June 19, 1947, the National Convention dispatched the Ottawa Delegation to negotiate the Terms of Union for Confederation between Newfoundland and Canada. While the British government had offered nothing, the Canadian Government wanted Newfoundland as a province so they were prepared to negotiate support for the new province. There was a limit to that however, it was not possible to offer Newfoundland any special deal that was not allowed other provinces under the British North America Act.
The Ottawa Delegation was supposed to return to Newfoundland after one week. But the negotiations spanned on longer than that. Each delegate received a travelling subsidy of $25 per day. The members (With their districts) were:
Interestingly, at least half of the Ottawa Delegates belonged to the Orange Lodge: Joseph Smallwood, P.W. Crummey and F.G. Bradley were Orangemen
; and two of them had been grand-masters: P.W. Crummey and F.G. Bradley.
P.W. Crummey had the hardest portfolio. Because the economy of his district was almost exclusively fishery-oriented, he was assigned to negotiate maritime issues. Crummey quickly discovered that after Confederation, Newfoundland would lose control of the Grand Banks because the BNA designated fisheries as under federal jurisdiction. Crummey also sensed that the federal negotiators intended to draw out the negotiations.
suggested economic union with the United States
. Another National Delegate named Ches Crosbie subsequently created the Economic Union Party
On April 11, 1947, D.I. Jackman moved that a delegation be sent to Washington, DC to seek terms of union but his motion was not passed by the assembly. Thus, union with the United States was effectively taken off the table.
, Gordon Macdonald
would announce on March 11, 1948 that Confederation with Canada would be on a national referendum ballot along with Dominion government and the Commission.
was held on the advice of the Convention. Voters had three options:
The option for responsible government won a plurality, but not an absolute majority. The Governor and Commissioners called for a second National Referendum, one between Confederation and Dominion status. Anti-Confederates wanted the second National Referendum options limited to "Responsible Government" and "Commission of Government", believing that if Responsible Government won, it would be in a position to negotiate better terms with Canada.
On July 22, 1948 A second National Referendum was held. In the second referendum only two options appeared:
The confederation option won, and Newfoundland would become Canada's tenth province the following year.
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
Nominations
On 11 December 1945 the Government of Britain announced that there would be an election to a National Convention, which would debate constitutional options and make a recommendation as to which options would appear on a ballot in a national referendum. British Prime Minister Clement Attlee wanted to ensure that people from St John's did not dominate the seats, so he recommended that delegates would be elected in the former electoral districts and that each delegate would have to have been a resident of the district. Nominations to the National Convention were held on May 31, 1946 and on June 21, 1946, Newfoundlanders elected 45 delegates. Only two females offered themselves as candidates, but neither succeeded in winning a seat. Lester BurryLester Burry
Lester L. Burry born Safe Harbour, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland.-A United Church Minister:Lester Burry was baptized Methodist in 1898 and ordained a United Church minister in 1924.-Politics:...
, of Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
had secured a seat, the first time that Labrador had elected representation.
Convening the National Convention
The National Convention was convened on September 11, 1946. A Supreme Court of Newfoundland Justice named Judge Cyril J. FoxCyril J. Fox
Cyril James Fox was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented St. John's East in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1919 to ....
chaired the proceedings until his untimely death. He was succeeded as Chairman by Convention Member Gordon Bradley for most of the rest of the Convention's life, but after Bradley's resignation the lawyer J.B. McEvoy served in the chair. The Commissioner of Home Affairs issued pay checks to delegates: $15 a day, with a traveling stipend of $10 per day.
Not only were observers allowed in the gallery but the general public could listen to the debates on radio stations VOCM, VOAR and the state-run Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland
Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland
The Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland was the government-owned public radio service of the dominion of Newfoundland. Following Newfoundland's admission as a Canadian province in 1949, the BCN was absorbed into the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and its three main AM radio transmitters...
station, VONF.
Some delegates who were critical of the Commission of Government used the opportunity to demand Commissioners justify to the Convention some of their policies. However, Governor MacDonald would explain that delegates were not the Government of Newfoundland, but were convened to debate the constitutional options which would appear on a ballot in a forthcoming referendum.
National Convention Proceedings
Many delegates believed Newfoundland should return to Responsible Government and Self-Determination; delegates sympathetic to Confederation with Canada were in a minority in the National Convention. On October 28, 1946, Joseph R. Smallwood moved that a delegation be sent to Ottawa to discuss Terms of Union with CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. More motions and amendments were passed in the days following, when on October 30 Kenneth M. Brown
Kenneth M. Brown
Kenneth McKenzie Brown was a pulp and paper worker and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented Twillingate from 1923 to 1932 as a member of the Fisherman's Protective Union and Grand Falls from 1932 to 1934 as a member of the United Newfoundland Party in the Newfoundland and Labrador...
, the delegate from Bonavista South, collapsed on the floor of the chamber. Tragedy struck again when on November 16, Judge Fox suffered a heart attack and died suddenly. Smallwood's motion revealed that confederation with Canada had only a minority of support in the Convention, but it was now on the agenda and the confederates used the radio broadcasts of the Convention to tell the people of Newfoundland and Labrador of the financial advantages that joining Canada would bring. The Convention adjourned on December 13 for the Christmas break, but the widespread feeling that Smallwood and the confederates had the upper hand encouraged St. John’s businessman F. M. O'Leary and others to form the Responsible Government League
Responsible Government League
The Responsible Government League was a political movement in the Dominion of Newfoundland.The Responsible Government League of Newfoundland, led by Peter Cashin, was formed in February 1947 by anti-Confederation delegates to the Newfoundland National Convention on the future of the colony...
. The RGL was dedicated to the resumption of the former (1933) constitution for the Dominion.
The London Delegation
In 1946, the National Convention dispatched the London Delegation to seek guarantees of continued assistance if Newfoundland were to resume Responsible Government. The British government favoured Newfoundland joining Canada, so it did not offer any promises of continued financial aid.The Ottawa Delegation
The Ottawa Delegation was supposed to return to Newfoundland after one week. But the negotiations spanned on longer than that. Each delegate received a travelling subsidy of $25 per day. The members (With their districts) were:
- T.G.W. Ashbourne (Twillingate)
- F.G. Bradley (Bonavista South)
- Charles BallramCharles BallramCharles H. Ballam union leader, officeholder and delegate at Newfoundland National Convention, born Curling, Newfoundland, Canada, son of Alice and Manoah Ballam....
(Humber) - Lester BurryLester BurryLester L. Burry born Safe Harbour, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland.-A United Church Minister:Lester Burry was baptized Methodist in 1898 and ordained a United Church minister in 1924.-Politics:...
(Labrador) - P.W. Crummey (Bay de Verde)
- Joey SmallwoodJoey SmallwoodJoseph Roberts "Joey" Smallwood, PC, CC was the main force that brought Newfoundland into the Canadian confederation, and became the first Premier of Newfoundland . As premier, he vigorously promoted economic development, championed the welfare state, and emphasized modernization of education and...
(Bonavista Centre)
Interestingly, at least half of the Ottawa Delegates belonged to the Orange Lodge: Joseph Smallwood, P.W. Crummey and F.G. Bradley were Orangemen
Orangemen
Orangemen can refer:*Historically, to supporters of King William III of Orange.*To members of the modern Orange Institution - a Protestant fraternal organisation.*To the former name of male sports teams of Syracuse University, now called the Orange....
; and two of them had been grand-masters: P.W. Crummey and F.G. Bradley.
Newfoundland-Canadian Negotiations
Newfoundland - Canadian negotiations were largely a one way affair, because any union between the two dominions was dictated by the provisions of the British North America Act (BNA), under which Canada had come into being in 1867.P.W. Crummey had the hardest portfolio. Because the economy of his district was almost exclusively fishery-oriented, he was assigned to negotiate maritime issues. Crummey quickly discovered that after Confederation, Newfoundland would lose control of the Grand Banks because the BNA designated fisheries as under federal jurisdiction. Crummey also sensed that the federal negotiators intended to draw out the negotiations.
Economic Union Party
A National Delegate named Robert Brown JobRobert Brown Job
Robert Brown Job Knt. was an English-born businessman, politician, and economic unionist in the Colony of Newfoundland. He was the oldest elected member of the Newfoundland National Convention.-Early years:...
suggested economic union with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Another National Delegate named Ches Crosbie subsequently created the Economic Union Party
Economic Union Party
The Economic Union Party was a political party formed in the Dominion of Newfoundland on 20 March 1948, during the first referendum campaign on the future of the country. The British-appointed Commission of Government had administered the country since the financial collapse of 1934...
On April 11, 1947, D.I. Jackman moved that a delegation be sent to Washington, DC to seek terms of union but his motion was not passed by the assembly. Thus, union with the United States was effectively taken off the table.
The Confederation Debate
A motion to place Confederation with Canada on the ballot was defeated 29 to 16. Joey Smallwood felt slighted by what he called 'Twenty-Nine Dictators'. Smallwood and his Confederates took the matter public. Newfoundland's GovernorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
, Gordon Macdonald
Gordon Macdonald, 1st Baron Macdonald of Gwaenysgor
Gordon Macdonald, PC, 1st Baron Macdonald of Gwaenysgor, was a British Labour Party politician and Newfoundland's final British governor as well as the last chairman of the Commission of Government serving from 1946 until the colony joined Confederation in 1949 and became a province of Canada...
would announce on March 11, 1948 that Confederation with Canada would be on a national referendum ballot along with Dominion government and the Commission.
The Referendums
On June 3, 1948, the first of two Newfoundland referendumsNewfoundland referendums, 1948
The Newfoundland Referendums of 1948 were a series of two referendums to decide the political future of the Dominion of Newfoundland. Before the referendums, Newfoundland was in debt and went through several delegations to determine whether the country would join Canada, remain under British rule...
was held on the advice of the Convention. Voters had three options:
- A return to dominion status
- Commission of Government, the status quo
- Confederation with Canada
Votes Perc. Dominion Status 69,400 44.6% Confederation 64,066 41.1% Commission 22,311 14.3%
The option for responsible government won a plurality, but not an absolute majority. The Governor and Commissioners called for a second National Referendum, one between Confederation and Dominion status. Anti-Confederates wanted the second National Referendum options limited to "Responsible Government" and "Commission of Government", believing that if Responsible Government won, it would be in a position to negotiate better terms with Canada.
On July 22, 1948 A second National Referendum was held. In the second referendum only two options appeared:
- Dominion status
- Confederation
Votes Perc. Confederation 78,323 52.3% Dominion status 71,334 47.7%
The confederation option won, and Newfoundland would become Canada's tenth province the following year.