839:, the delegate from Bonavista South, collapsed on the floor of the chamber. Tragedy struck again when on 16 November, 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 13 December for the Christmas break, but the widespread feeling that Smallwood and the confederates had the upper hand encouraged St. John's businessman
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wanted to ensure that people from St John's, the capital and largest city, 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
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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
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The option for responsible government (dominion status) 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
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chaired the proceedings until his death. He was succeeded as chairman by
Convention Member Gordon Bradley for most of the rest of the convention's duration, but after Bradley's resignation, the lawyer J. B. McEvoy served in the chair. The Commissioner of Home Affairs issued pay cheques to
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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 as it was not possible to offer
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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.
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On 11 December 1945 the
British Government 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
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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 Governor,
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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.
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Delegation was supposed to return to Newfoundland after one week. But the negotiations went on longer. Each delegate received a travelling subsidy of $ 25 per day. The members (with their districts) were:
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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.
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explained 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.
1097:"responsible government" and "Commission of Government", believing that if responsible government won, it would be in a position to negotiate better terms with Canada.
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were held on 31 May 1946, and on 21 June 1946 Newfoundlanders elected 45 delegates. Two women offered themselves as candidates, but neither was elected.
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announced on 11 March 1948 that confederation with Canada would be on a national referendum ballot along with dominion government and the Commission.
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fisheries as under federal jurisdiction. Crummey also sensed that the federal negotiators intended to draw out the negotiations.
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with Canada. More motions and amendments were passed in the days following, when on 30 October
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On 19 June 1947, the National Convention dispatched the Ottawa Delegation to negotiate the
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1174:"Falling into the Canadian Lap: The Confederation of Newfoundland and Canada, 1945–1949"
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with Canada were in a minority in the National Convention. On 28 October 1946,
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of 1946 to 1948 was a forum established to decide the constitutional future of
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1197:. Memorial University of Newfoundland (published November 2000). 11 July 1996
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1946–48 forum established to decide the constitutional future of Newfoundland
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secured a seat, the first time that Labrador had elected representation.
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http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/politics/biography-william-keough.php
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1179:. Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada.
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was held on the advice of the convention. Voters had three options:
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969:: Joseph Smallwood, P. W. Crummey and F. G. Bradley were
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delegates: $ 15 a day, with a travelling stipend of $ 10 per day.
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The National Convention was convened on 11 September 1946. Judge
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http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/politics/robert-brown-job.php
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1191:"Job's Papers Reveal His Family's Commitment to Province"
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At least half of the Ottawa Delegates belonged to the
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moved that a delegation be sent to Ottawa to discuss
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1195:The Gazette
1084:Commission
888:Albert Butt
819:Proceedings
745:St. Mary's
433:Grand Falls
419:Grand Falls
351:Burin West
339:Burin East
256:Bell Island
240:Bay Roberts
143:Nominations
1262:Categories
1151:References
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609:St. Barbe
542:Lewisporte
448:Green Bay
101:March 2008
71:newspapers
1201:14 August
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364:Carbonear
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68:·
41:.
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