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House of Commons, 11 June 1869, Canadian Confederation with Alberta and Saskatchewan

740 COMMON DEBATES June 11, 1869
Sir John A. Macdonald said those who were in favour of Confederation would vote against the amendment. (Loud cries of No, No). It was well that the veil should be removed and the position exactly understood. It was well that the member for Lambton, by seconding this amendment, had at last revealed his true position as an enemy to Confederation. (Cries of No, No, and ironical cheers). That hon. gentleman had claimed to be a friend of Confederation and had made all kinds of professions on the subject. But when he found the key-stone of Confederation was about to be put in its place, without which all other efforts were useless, the hon. gentleman for party considerations, negated all his previous professions. Rather than see Confederation carried out by the present Government, to which he was opposed, he would insidiously, if not openly, oppose it. (No, No.) The object of Confederation was to bring all British North America into one Union. We were now incorporating the North-West, we were about to admit Newfoundland. All that remained was this measure to pacify Nova Scotia and hon. gentlemen opposite were found opposing it. If the gentlemen opposite were successful, then there would be a jubilee among anti- Unionists, and such classes in Nova Scotia, throughout Canada, and outside of the Dominion as well. Let them reconcile Nova Scotia —the very keystone of the Dominion. The people of that Province at first refused to come into the Union, but now were about to be reconciled.

Source:

Canada. House of Commons Debates, 1875-1949. Provided by the Library of Parliament.

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Selection of input documents and completion of metadata: Isabelle Carré-Hudson.

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