The Government of Canada Recognizes the National Historic Importance of the Charlottetown and Québec Conferences of 1864
News Release
October 11, 2017 Parks Canada Agency
Canada’s national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas enable Canadians to experience their rich and varied history in a special way. On the 150th anniversary of Confederation, in 2017, the Government of Canada is inviting Canadians to come enjoy nature and learn more about our history.
Today, the national historic significance of the Charlottetown and Québec conferences of 1864 was commemorated by a Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada simultaneous plaque unveiling in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Quebec City, Quebec.
On behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Sean Casey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Member of Parliament (MP) for Charlottetown, was present during the plaque unveiling ceremony at the Confederation Center of the Arts in Charlottetown.
Joël Lightbound, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and MP for Louis-Hébert, represented Minister McKenna at the plaque unveiling ceremony at the Montmorency Park National Historic Site in Quebec City. A three-stele structure, also commemorating George-Étienne Cartier and the Parliament of the Province of Canada, was unveiled.
The Government of Canada is committed to recognizing the people, places, and events of national importance that contributed to our country’s rich and diverse history. The Charlottetown and Québec conferences of 1864 were pivotal meetings that brought together influential political leaders from Prince Edward Island, the Province of Canada (Ontario and Quebec), Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick to deliberate on a federal union.
The first meeting took place in September in Charlottetown, in the building now called Province House. At this meeting, 23 delegates from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the Province of Canada expressed a desire to create a union and worked together to agree on several fundamental principles.
During the second meeting in Quebec City in October 1864, after heated discussions between the delegates, the 72 Resolutions were written, which would serve as the legislative basis for the British North America Act. These resolutions were finalized by the Canadian delegates during the London Conference (which began on December 4th, 1866) before being presented to the British Parliament, which received royal assent from Queen Victoria, thereby creating the Dominion of Canada on July 1st, 1867.
As part of the centennial of national historic sites, Parks Canada invites Canadians to be inspired and captivated by the stories of the people, places, and events that shaped the Canada of today. With free admission to all the national historic sites in 2017, come discover the sites and stories of Canada!
Quotes
“The Government of Canada is pleased to commemorate the national historic importance of the Charlottetown and Québec conferences of 1864. Those meetings played a crucial role in the creation of Confederation. As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, I encourage all Canadians to take the opportunity to learn more on those historical conferences and their role in our country’s history.”
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos,
MP for Quebec City and Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
“Both commemorative plaques that were unveiled today in Prince Edward Island and in Quebec are an integral part of the 150th anniversary of Confederation and represent a milestone while being also a unique opportunity to reinforce our Canadian identity. The Government invites all Canadians to discover those important moments of our history and to learn more about our heritage with free admission at Parks Canada’s places.”
Joël Lightbound,
MP for Louis-Hébert and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
“I am very proud to commemorate this important national historic event that laid the foundation of the nation of Canada. The Charlottetown Conference was the driving force for Confederation which led us to the country that we know today. I encourage all Canadians to learn more about the people, places and events that have shaped our rich culture and history – especially as we celebrate our 150th anniversary of Confederation.”
Sean Casey,
MP for Charlottetown and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Quick Facts
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The Charlottetown Conference in September 1864 gave birth to the idea of a confederation of provinces. Delegates from Prince Edward Island, the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick built relationships and established basic principles for a union; they agreed to meet again to discuss the legislative structure of a political union.
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The delegates met again for a second time in Quebec City on October 10th, 1864. The painstaking debate lasted 16 days.
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The last conference was in London in December 1866 with representatives from the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. The bill including the 72 resolutions written by the delegates moved relatively easily through the British parliamentary process.
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Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national historic significance of places, people, and events that have marked Canada’s history.
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Contacts
Kimberly Labar
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Québec City Field Unit
Parks Canada Agency
418-648-4444
kimberly.labar@pc.gc.ca
Madelyn Deveau
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Prince Edward Island Field Unit
Parks Canada
madelyn.deveau@pc.gc.ca
902-672-6384
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca