July 1st, 1867 Ottawa, Canada $10 cents

Daily Gazette
Confederation Day in
Canada
Church bells, fireworks and festivities mark the beginning of the new existence of Canada. Festivi-
ties are celebrated all across the country and a proclamation from the Queen is read out in every
city center. A previously disorganized group of provinces has become a single independent nation
with its own power and authority. The provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Canada and the Ru-
perts Land, previously surrendered by the Hudson Bay Company, have settled to form one country.
Just three months ago, delegates from all 3 provinces met at the London conference to discuss the
change and write a constitution outlining the fundamental laws of this new country. The Constitu-
tion, called the British North American Act, has been finished and it has been signed by the Queen
and the parliament of the United Kingdom. The name Canada has been adopted from the previous
province by the same name, the province of Canada. As well, due to past language barriers between
French and English speaking parties, the previous province of Canada has been divided into Ontario
and Quebec.

Why Confederation?
Confederation was considered for a number of
reasons, but above all, it was to diminish politi-
cal disagreement between provinces. English
and French speaking parties from the province
of Canada were at odds about how its province
should be governed. During the Charlottetown
conference in 1864, they proposed a union to
the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
and Prince Edward Island. Not only would a un- Delegates attend the London Conference

ion solve their political problems but it would

strengthen the economy as a whole. In a sec- Proclamation of the Queen:
ond conference in Quebec, they discussed the
It shall be Lawful for the Queen, by and with
terms of how the country should be run and
the advice of Her Majestys most honorable
what our federal government would look like.
Privy Council, to declare, by Proclamation, that
Their decisions were called the Quebec Reso-
on and after a day therein appointed, not being
lutions. The Quebec Resolutions became the
more than six months after the passing of this
foundation of the British North American Act,
act, the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and
also named the constitution created during the
New Brunkswick, shall form and be one Domin-
London conference just three months ago.
ion under the name Canada

A New Prime Minister

Mr John A. Macdonald has been appointed by
the governor general to be the first Prime Min-
ister of Canada following the majority win by
The Conservatives. He will be the single highest
leader of Canada and will serve in office for 6
years.