|
Responsible Government, loosely used to mean a government responsible to the people, as popular rule is naturally conceived to be. Properly, however, as used by those who gained it in Canada, it meant a government responsible to the representatives of the people, ie, an executive or Cabinet collectively dependent on the votes of a majority in the elected legislature. This key principle of responsibility, whereby a government needed the confidence of Parliament, originated in established British practice. But its transfer to British N America gave the colonists control of their domestic affairs, since a governor would simply follow the advice (ie, policies) of responsible colonial ministers, except in imperial matters. This control was enlarged by degrees, so that Canadians through governments based on elected parliaments gradually acquired command of their own political concerns, thereby achieving national self-direction without revolution.
The idea of responsible government was taken up in the 1830s in BNA largely by loyal admirers of the British model, who sought it both to remedy discontent with unyielding local oligarchies and to keep the provinces securely, though freely, within the Empire. Radicals such as William Lyon MACKENZIE and Louis-Joseph PAPINEAU preferred American elective patterns, but Joseph HOWE in Nova Scotia and Robert BALDWIN in Upper Canada showed far better comprehension - better even than Lord DURHAM, an influential advocate of responsible government - since they realized that an organized party system was vital. Howe in Nova Scotia, and Baldwin and Louis LAFONTAINE in the PROVINCE OF CANADA, built up strong, moderate Reform parties to gain responsible government, and by 1848 saw it fully operating, accepted by a Liberal, imperial Britain. It then was granted to other eastern colonies: PEI in 1851, NB in 1854 and Nfld last, in 1855, and as western provinces emerged in CONFEDERATION they too obtained it.
 Elgin, James Bruce, 8th Earl ofFor the Earl of Elgin responsible government was the best way to solve the political strife in the Canadas. Aquatint signed by the earl (courtesy Library and Archives Canada).
 Howe, JosephThe Nova Scotian patriot par excellence, Howe could use his oratorical powers to influence his compatriots as no other man has ever done (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-22002).
 Baldwin, RobertBaldwin was the first popularizer of responsible government and one of the first proponents of a bicultural nation (courtesy Metropolitan Toronto Library).
Author
J.M.S. CARELESS
Links to Other Sites
Responsible Government
Historica’s acclaimed one-minute movies about Canadian history.
Robert Baldwin
A biography of Robert Baldwin with photographs and other archival resources. This “Canadian Confederation” website is from Library and Archives Canada.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Time waits for no man… and neither do trains... |
|
| Pierre Elliott Trudeau, politician, writer, constitutional lawyer, prime minister of Canada 1968-79 and 1980-84 (b at ... |
|
|
| Few countries were affected as severely as Canada by the worldwide Depression of the 1930s. It is estimated that ... |
|
|
| Louis Riel, Métis leader, founder of Manitoba, central figure in the NORTH-WEST REBELLION (b at Red River ... |
|
|
| The Group of Seven was founded in 1920 as an organization of self-proclaimed modern artists. The original members - ... |
|
|
| Sir John Alexander Macdonald, lawyer, businessman, politician, first prime minister of Canada (b at Brunswick Place, ... |
|
|
| Few countries were affected as severely as Canada by the worldwide Depression of the 1930s. It is estimated that ... |
|
|
| John Ware, "Nigger John," horseman, rancher (b near Georgetown, SC 1845; d near Brooks, Alta 11 Sept 1905). ... |
|
|
| Créditistes, Québec party involved in federal politics. For nearly 2 decades before its 1958 formation ... |
|
|
| Julia Verlyn LaMarsh, "Judy," lawyer, politician, broadcaster, novelist (b at Chatham, Ont 20 Dec 1924; d at ... |
|
Browse the rich visual resources of The Canadian Encyclopedia through thematic galleries of Canadian Art, History, Nature, People, and Science and Technology.
Illustrations, lively text, animations, sounds and games help make learning about Canadian history, art, geography, architecture and other topics entertaining as well as informative.
The ultimate test of your knowledge of Canada, trivial and otherwise. You can choose from more than 60 dynamic quizzes with visual or text clues. Your scores depend on the speed with which you answer and the number of clues you need. Results are sent to you by email and high scores are posted on the site.
This unique resource includes more than 6000 events from Canadian and world history. It can be searched by era, subject, keyword or date. To find out what happened on your birthday, select the month and day of your birth.
This selection of the 100 "greatest" events in Canadian history was made by editor in chief James H. Marsh to draw attention to events that have left an indelible memory in the minds of later generations.
| THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MUSIC IN CANADA |
|
| The Mennonite Children's Choir of Winnipeg. A 40-voice choir, also known as Winnipeg Mennonite Children's Choir. The Mennonite Children's Choir of Winnipeg was founded in 1957 under the direction of its conductor, Helen Litz ... |
|
|
