Confederation

The first definite step in the movement looking towards

the union of the British North American colonies, was the Charlottetown

Conference, 1864. Delegates from the three Maritime Provinces met to

consider the union of those provinces. At the Conference, delegates from

Canada (constituting what are now the provinces of Ontario and Quebec)

appeared, and urged the broadening of the discussion to cover all the

provinces. ut of this meeting grew the Quebec Conference, of the same

year, attended by delegates from Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,

Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland; the two latter subsequently

withdrew from the movement. The Quebec Conference drew up a series of

resolutions, which were made the basis of the final legislation. In 1866

delegates from the provinces met at the Westminster Hotel in London, and

framed the British North America Act. The Act was passed by the Imperial

Parliament, and received the queen's assent, March, 1867. It was

proclaimed throughout the new Dominion of Canada, July 1, 1867. Manitoba

was created a province, July 15, 1870. British Columbia joined the

union, July 20, 1871; and Prince Edward Island, July 1, 1873. The

provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were created Sept. 1, 1905.