SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Newfoundland and Labrador

Honourable senators, today I’m pleased to present Chapter 80 of “Telling Our Story.”

Friends, this year we are celebrating a major milestone in the creation of our country: 2024 marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of Canada joining Newfoundland and Labrador.

The road to Confederation was a long and tedious process. To this day, there are people in our province who say the referendum vote was rigged and at that particular time in our history, we were hoodwinked by the British government, who many believed were in bed with the crowd in Ottawa.

Inhabited for thousands of years by Indigenous peoples, the area known as Newfoundland and Labrador was briefly settled by Vikings around 1000 CE and later used by European fishermen and whalers, beginning in the 1500s. For several centuries, English and French settlers established villages throughout the land and fought over fishing rights and imperial control. France relinquished its claims in 1713 but retained some fishing rights until 1904.

In 1825, due to the large number of permanent English and Irish settlers, Britain changed Newfoundland’s status from fishing station to official colony. In 1832, the colony was granted a representative government. Although an elected House of Assembly was formed, most of the power was held by the British-appointed governor and his handpicked legislative and executive councils. In 1855, Newfoundland achieved responsible government with power shifting to the elected House of Assembly.

Then in 1869, two years after the province of Canada united with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Newfoundlanders voted on whether to join Confederation. The idea was soundly rejected.

Following the sacrifices of the First World War, the Statute of Westminster declared the Dominion of Newfoundland an equal and independent nation within the British Commonwealth.

The First World War and the construction of the railway created enormous debt owed mainly to Canadian banks. The Great Depression made matters that much worse, so in 1933, the Newfoundland legislature voted to dissolve itself. Britain then appointed a Commission of Government with a governor and six commissioners to temporarily rule the dominion.

On June 3, 1948, Newfoundland held a referendum with three options: continuation of the Commission of Government, return to responsible government or Confederation with Canada. The Commission of Government option received the fewest votes and was dropped from the second referendum, which was held on July 22. Newfoundlanders voted in a slim majority with 52.3% in favour of joining Confederation. Our fate was sealed. Newfoundland officially joined Canada on March 31, 1949.

German philosopher G. W. F. Hegel said that all history has taught us is that we learn nothing from history, but Canada’s great genius Northrop Frye claimed that we learn everything from our geography, that a people is formed by its geography and that where we are makes us who we are.

With that said, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are known across this country for our generosity, kindness, sense of humour and work ethic. Many of my island people have helped build this great nation and contributed to its success.

As I had the opportunity to travel this forbidding and beautiful land, I know how fortunate I am to call Canada home, but rest assured, I am, first and foremost, a proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian. That should be of no surprise to anyone when my home is a place that is warmly referred to as “The Rock.”

Thank you.