This year, Prince Edward Island celebrates its 125th year in Confederation. In the beginning, Islanders were very reluctant Canadians. After hosting the initial talks on the union of the British American colonies at Charlottetown in 1864, they decided against joining the new Dominion when it was created in 1867.
A number of overtures by the new Canadian government were turned down by the administration of Prince Edward Island because of the strongly anti-confederate views held by many Islanders.
It wasn't until they faced the heavy financial burden resulting from the construction of the Colonial railway that the government of the small colony began to seriously consider union. The Liberal government of Robert Haythorne had to choose the latter and negotiated an agreement that included the Dominion assuming the railway debt, advancing funds to buy out the Island's absentee landlords, an annual subsidy for local government, continuous ferry service with the mainland and representation by six members in the House of Commons and four senators.
Haythorne returned from Ottawa with his agreement and took it to the people for ratification by way of an election. Neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives waged an anti-confederate campaign as had often been the case in the past. The Liberals campaigned on the agreement they negotiated. The Tories, under the leadership of J.C. Pope, campaigned on the claim they could get a better deal.
Pope won and a delegation went to Ottawa where they met very stiff resistance to changing the agreement. It was only by very tough negotiating that the government was able to get a marginally better agreement – a modest increase in the subsidy. The new agreement was put to both the council and assembly of the colony; and with only two dissenting votes, the bill passed on May 26, 1873.
On June 28, the proclamation was issued by the Colonial Secretary, T. Heath Haviland and it was read from the balcony of the Colonial Building (Province House) by the High Sheriff of Queens County on July 1, 1873. Prince Edward Island ceased being a British colony and became the seventh province of the Dominion of Canada.
To mark the 125th Anniversary of this historic occasion, planners and producers of festivals and events on Prince Edward Island are encouraged to consider using the 125th Anniversary theme for any event they are organizing this year.
For additional information contact:
Martha Ellis, 125th Anniversary Coordinator, Phone: 368-0055, Fax: 566-7450