Canada's Founding DebatesJanet Ajzenstat, Paul Romney, Ian Gentles, William D. Gairdner Canada's Founding Debates is about Confederation—about the process that brought together six out of the seven territories of British North America in the years 1864-73 to form a country called Canada. It presents excerpts from the debates on Confederation in all of the colonial parliaments from Newfoundland to British Columbia and in the constituent assembly of the Red River Colony. The voices of the powerful and those of lesser note mingle in impassioned debate on the pros and cons of creating or joining the new country, and in defining its nature. In short explanatory essays and provocative annotations, the editors sketch the historical context of the debates and draw out the significance of what was said. By organizing the debates thematically, they bring out the depth of the founders' concern for issues that are as vital today as they were then: the meaning of liberty, the merits of democracy, the best form of self-government, the tension between collective and individual rights, the rule of law, the requirements of political leadership, and, of course, the nature of Canadian nationality. Canada's Founding Debates offers a fresh and often surprising perspective on Canada's origins, history, and political character. Previously published by Stoddart Publishing, 1999. |
From inside the book
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... French authorities; they study European constitutions and compare federal systems. They readily refer to the founding of the United States, and to American constitutions and constitutional practice, both of the United States and of ...
... French speeches. In addition to the quality of the reports, the nature of the debates themselves has influenced our choice of excerpts. In every province but Canada, the debate is essentially one about “joining Canada.” This is as true ...
... French nation might have been ours on that wellfought field. I recall those olden times merely to mark the fact that ... French Canadians.) Here sit the representatives of the British population claiming justice — only justice; and here ...
... in fact, which are enjoyed in any portion of the dominion. (Cheers.) — Convention at Fort Garry, English and French Delegates in Council, January 27, 1870 Chapter Two RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT NO ONE DOUBTS THAT THE GENERAL.
... French Delegates in Council, January 31, 1870 Riel: Gentlemen, we have been assembled in this chamber on several occasions, having been sent here by the people to deliberate on the political state of the country and to adopt such ...
Contents
PART THREE WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT IDENTITY | |
British or Canadian? | |
What Is a Canadian? | |
PART FOUR WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE NEW NATIONALITY | |
Minorities and Minority Rights | |
PART FIVE HOW TO MAKE A CONSTITUTION | |
Pro and | |
Appendixes | |
Afterword on Books | |
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Canada's Founding Debates Janet Ajzenstat,Paul Romney,Ian Gentles,William Gairdner No preview available - 2017 |