Confederation Quotes:
Sources and Further Reading
These quotes highlight some of the thought provoking, notable or humorous comments made while Canadian Confederation was being debated. These documents can be found in their entirety online at The Confederation Debates’ website: https://hcmc.uvic.ca/confederation.
Confederation Quote 1.1
John A. Macdonald, quotation from Province of Canada, Legislative Assembly, 6 February, 1865. Reproduced from Province of Canada, Parliamentary Debates on the Subject of the Confederation of the British North American Provinces. Quebec: Hunter, Rose and Co., Parliamentary Printers, 1865, 27–28.
Photograph: Library and Archives Canada, C-006513
Confederation Debates: See Province of Canada—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 1.2
Kenneth McKenzie Brown, quotation from Newfoundland National Convention, 28 October 1946. Reproduced from Newfoundland, The Newfoundland National Convention, 1946–1948. Vol. 1: Debates. Edited by J.K. Hiller and M.F. Harrington Montreal: Memorial University of Newfoundland by McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1995.
Photograph: Who’s Who in and from Newfoundland 1930, 198.
Confederation Debates: See Newfoundland National Convention—Debates
Confederation Quote 3.1
George Brown, quotation from Province of Canada, Legislative Assembly, 8 February, 1865. Reproduced from: Province of Canada, Parliamentary Debates on the Subject of the Confederation of the British North American Provinces. Quebec: Hunter, Rose and Co., Parliamentary Printers, 1865, 92.
Photograph: William Ellisson, Library and Archives Canada, C-008359
Confederation Debates: See Province of Canada—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 3.2
Matthew Crooks Cameron, quotation from Province of Canada, Legislative Assembly, 24 February 1865. Reproduced from: Province of Canada, Parliamentary Debates on the Subject of the Confederation of the British North American Provinces. Quebec: Hunter, Rose and Co., Parliamentary Printers, 1865, 92.
Photograph: Notman & Fraser, Library and Archives Canada, PA-028639
Confederation Debates: See Province of Canada—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 3.3
Mawedopenais, quotation from Alexander Morris’ book, The Treaties of Canada with the Indians of Manitoba and the North-West Territories Including the Negotiations on Which They Are Based, and Other Information Relating Thereto. Toronto: Willing & Williamson, 1880, page 59.
Photograph: Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1986-79-1638
Confederation Debates: See Treaty Negotiations—Alexander Morris, The Treaties of Canada, Chapter 5
Confederation Quote 4.1
George-Étienne Cartier, quotation from Province of Canada, Legislative Assembly, 7 February 1865. Reproduced from: Province of Canada, Parliamentary Debates on the Subject of the Confederation of the British North American Provinces. Quebec: Hunter, Rose and Co., Parliamentary Printers, 1865, 57.
Photograph: Library and Archives Canada, MIKAN 2242461
Confederation Debates: See Province of Canada—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 4.2
Thomas D’Arcy McGee, quotation from Province of Canada, Legislative Assembly, 9 February 1865. Reproduced from: Province of Canada, Parliamentary Debates on the Subject of the Confederation of the British North American Provinces. Quebec: Hunter, Rose and Co., Parliamentary Printers, 1865, 144.
Photograph: William Notman, Library and Archives Canada, C-016749
Confederation Debates: See Province of Canada—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 4.3
Étienne-Paschal Taché, quotation from Province of Canada, Legislative Council, 3 February 1865. Reproduced from: Province of Canada, Parliamentary Debates on the Subject of the Confederation of the British North American Provinces. Quebec: Hunter, Rose and Co., Parliamentary Printers, 1865, 9.
Photograph: Library and Archives Canada, PA-074100
Confederation Debates: See Province of Canada—Legislative Council
Confederation Quote 4.4
Christopher Dunkin, quotation from Province of Canada, Legislative Assembly, 27 February 1865. Reproduced from: Province of Canada, Parliamentary Debates on the Subject of the Confederation of the British North American Provinces. Quebec: Hunter, Rose and Co., Parliamentary Printers, 1865, 511.
Photograph: Topley Studio, Library and Archives Canada, PA-026325
Confederation Debates: See Province of Canada—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 4.5
Antoine-Aimé Dorion, quotation from Province of Canada, Legislative Assembly, 16 February 1865. Reproduced from: Province of Canada, Parliamentary Debates on the Subject of the Confederation of the British North American Provinces. Quebec: Hunter, Rose and Co., Parliamentary Printers, 1865, 261.
Photograph: Topley Studio, Library and Archives Canada, PA-025755
Confederation Debates: See Province of Canada—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 4.6
Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière, quotation from Province of Canada, Legislative Assembly, 20 February 1865. Reproduced from: Province of Canada, Parliamentary Debates on the Subject of the Confederation of the British North American Provinces. Quebec: Hunter, Rose and Co., Parliamentary Printers, 1865, 350.
Photograph: Topley Studio, Library and Archives Canada, PA-025470
Confederation Debates: See Province of Canada—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 5.1
Samuel Leonard Tilley, quotation from New Brunswick, Legislative Assembly, 28 June 1866. Reproduced from House of Assembly. St. John: G.W. Day, 1865–1867. Microfilm copies provided by the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, 38.
Photograph: Topley Studio, Library and Archives Canada, PA-026347
Confederation Debates: See New Brunswick—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 5.2
Albert J. Smith, quotation from New Brunswick, Legislative Assembly, 1 June 1865. Reproduced from: New Brunswick, Reports of the Debates of the House of Assembly. St. John: G.W. Day, 1865–1867. Microfilm copies provided by the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, 118.
Photograph: Topley Studio, Library and Archives Canada, PA-025258
Confederation Debates: See New Brunswick—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 5.3
Adams George Archibald, quotation from Nova Scotia, Legislative Assembly, 12 April 1865. Reproduced from: New Brunswick, Reports of the Debates of the House of Assembly. St. John: G.W. Day, 1865–1867. Microfilm copies provided by the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, 226.
Photograph: Library and Archives Canada, MIKAN 3214517
Confederation Debates: See New Brunswick—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 5.4
William Annand, quotation from Nova Scotia, Legislative Assembly, 12 April 1865. Reproduced from: New Brunswick, Reports of the Debates of the House of Assembly. St. John: G.W. Day, 1865–1867. Microfilm copies provided by the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, 238.
Photograph: Nova Scotia Legislature, Province House Collection
Confederation Debates: See New Brunswick—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 5.5
William Henry Pope, quotation from Prince Edward Island, House of Assembly, 24 March 1865. Reproduced from: Prince Edward Island, The Parliamentary Reporter of Debates and Proceedings of the House of Assembly as Printed in the Examiner, 1866, 43.
Photograph: Topley Studio, Library and Archives Canada, PA-027027
Confederation Debates: See Prince Edward Island—Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 5.6
James Colledge Pope, quotation from Prince Edward Island, Legislative Assembly, 7 May 1866. Reproduced from: Prince Edward Island, The Parliamentary Reporter of Debates and Proceedings of the House of Assembly as Printed in the Examiner, 1866, 101.
Photograph: Topley Studio, Library and Archives Canada, PA-027027
Confederation Debates: See Prince Edward Island—House of Assembly
Confederation Quote 6.1
Louis Riel, quotation from Convention of Forty, Second Provisional Government of Manitoba, 27 January 1870. Reproduced from: Convention of Forty, “Third Day,” edited by Norma Jean Hall. Digitized by the Province of Manitoba, 2010.
Photograph: Duffin and Co., Library and Archives Canada, C-052177
Confederation Debates: See Convention of Forty
Confederation Quote 6.2
Donald Alexander Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona, quotation from Convention of Forty, Second Provisional Government of Manitoba, 27 January 1870. Reproduced from: Convention of Forty, “Third Day,” edited by Norma Jean Hall. Digitized by the Province of Manitoba, 2010.
Photograph: Library and Archives Canada, C-5489
Confederation Debates: See Convention of Forty
Confederation Quote 7.1
Amor de Cosmos, quotation from British Columbia, Legislative Council, 10 March 1870. Reproduced from: British Columbia. Legislative Council: Debates on the Subject of Confederation with Canada. Victoria: William H. Cullin, 1912, 38.
Photograph: Courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives, Image A-01224
Confederation Debates: See British Columbia—Legislative Council
Confederation Quote 7.2
Robert William Weir Carrall, quotation from British Columbia, Legislative Council, 11 March 1870. Reproduced from: British Columbia. Legislative Council: Debates on the Subject of Confederation with Canada. Victoria: William H. Cullin, 1912, 48.
Photograph: Topley Studio, Library and Archives Canada, PA-026366
Confederation Debates: See British Columbia—Legislative Council
Confederation Quote 7.3
John Sebastian Helmcken, quotation from British Columbia, Legislative Council, 9 March 1870. Reproduced from: British Columbia. Legislative Council: Debates on the Subject of Confederation with Canada. Victoria: William H. Cullin, 1912, 11.
Photograph: Courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives, Image A-01351
Confederation Debates: See British Columbia—Legislative Council
Confederation Quote 9.1
Chief Poundmaker, quotation reproduced from Peter Erasmus, “Buffalo Days and Nights,” Calgary: Glenbow-Alberta Institute, 1976, 244.
Photograph: O.B. Buel, Library and Archives Canada, C-001875
Confederation Debates: Peter Erasmus—Buffalo Days and Nights
Confederation Quote 9.2
Mistawasis (Big Child), quotation reproduced from Peter Erasmus, Buffalo Days and Nights, Calgary: Glenbow-Alberta Institute, 1976, 247.
Photograph: Saskatchewan Archives Board, R-B2837
Confederation Debates: Peter Erasmus—Buffalo Days and Nights
Confederation Quote 9.3
Frederick William Alpin Gordon Haultain, quotation from Northwest Territories, North-West Legislative Territories Assembly, 4 April 1902. Reproduced from: the Regina Leader, 10 April 1902.
Photograph: Saskatchewan Archives Board, R-B446
Confederation Debates: See North West Territories—North-West Legislative Assembly
Confederation Quote 10.1
Ambrose Shea, quotation from Newfoundland, House of Assembly, 2 February 1865. Reproduced from: The Newfoundlander, 13 February 1865.
Photograph: The Rooms Provincial Archives Division, Newfoundland and Labrador, B1-145
Confederation Debates: Newfoundland—House of Assembly
Confederation Quote 10.2
Charles Bennett, quotation reproduced from “No Confederation,” the Morning Chronicle, 29 September 1869.
Photograph: Library and Archives Canada, C-054438
Confederation Quote 10.3
Joey Smallwood, quotation from Newfoundland, Newfoundland National Convention, 28 October 1946. Reproduced from: Newfoundland. The Newfoundland National Convention, 1946–1948. Vol. 1: Debates. Edited by J.K. Hiller and M.F. Harrington Montreal: Memorial University of Newfoundland by McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1995, 96.
Photograph: Duncan Cameron, Library and Archives Canada, PA-113253
Confederation Debates: Newfoundland—National Convention
Confederation Quote 10.4
Michael F. Harrington, quotation from Newfoundland, Newfoundland National Convention, 28 October 1946. Reproduced from: Newfoundland. The Newfoundland National Convention, 1946–1948. Vol. 1: Debates. Edited by J.K. Hiller and M.F. Harrington Montreal: Memorial University of Newfoundland by McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1995, 98.
Photograph: Archives and Special Collections, Queen Elizabeth II Library, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Coll. 309
Confederation Debates: Newfoundland—National Convention