POST-WAR NEWFOUNDLAND a chc2d history presentation

INADEQUATE RESPONSES One territory that didn’t have the ability to solve the problem the same way as Canada was Newfoundland Newfoundland’s economy was too small to offer the jobs needed for the soldiers Newfoundland was facing a return to Depression-era levels and that presented its citizens with a hard decision: what should they do? In 1946, a committee was set up for discuss the issue

CHOICES The committee wasn’t really interested in joining Canada In the end, however, there was enough push by some members (led by Joey Smallwood ) to send a delegation to Ottawa as well as London The London group felt that Britain had already decided to sell the territory to Canada They didn’t know Britain had offered Newfoundland to Canada in the Depression and during the war

CHOICES Canada was more receptive to the Newfoundlanders PM King, however, broke off the negotiations when the representative from New Brunswick died King insisted that every province be represented at the table since it affected all of Canada Ottawa’s offer arrived while the two delegations were making their reports back to the committee

CANADA’S OFFER Ottawa’s offer had three main points: 1. Canada would assume the majority of Newfoundland’s debt 2. Canada promised to negotiate on taxes so that it would be fair 3. Set boundaries would be established as to what would remain in Newfoundland’s power and what Canada would take over

NEWFOUNDLAND VOTES By recommendation to the British government, a referendum was held on 3 June 1948 The ballot had three options: join Canada, go independent, or remain a British colony The majority voted for independence but they did not get 50% A second referendum had to be held, this time without the colony option because that one only got 14% of the vote On 22 July 1948, 52.3% voted in favour of joining Canada

RESULTS The votes against Canada were all centred around St. John’s — because that’s where the protestant areas were

A revised version of the British North America Act was presented to Britain Right before midnight on 31 March 1949, Newfoundland and Labrador became Canada’s tenth province officially The first premier would be Joey Smallwood Some loved him, some hated him — but he had a major impact on Canada RESULTS