On July 1, 1867, many Maritime communities marked Confederation and the beginning of Canadian nationhood by flying flags at half-mast. Nova Scotians in particular resented the high-handed and undemocratic methods that had been used to impose Confederation on them. In the inaugural Dominion elections of 1867, Nova Scotias voters seized the opportunity to elect opponents of Confederation to 18 of the 19 seats in the federal Parliament and 36 of the 38 seats in the provincial legislature. A resolution to repeal the union was subsequently introduced in the Nova Scotia legislature, and Joseph Howe led a delegation to London to appeal to the imperial authority to release the province from the bondage of Confederation. Since Britain wanted to reduce rather than increase its North American commitments, the Colonial Office refused even to meet with Howe, let alone consider his request to reintegrate Nova Scotia into the empire. --Roger Riendeau. A Brief History of Canada, 2nd ed., p. 206
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 01:47:50 +0000