Central Government and Westward Expansion

The Fathers of Confederation envisaged a country that would extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Their objective was rapidly realized with the acquisition of the Rupert’s Land and the North-West Territories from the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1869, the creation of Manitoba in 1870, and the inclusion of British Columbia in 1871 [see Territorial Expansion: The March Westward and The Acquisition of Rupert’s Land]. The increase of federal power, however, generated resistance from several quarters [see The Red River Rebellion and the Creation of Manitoba (1869–70) and The North-West Rebellion of 1885]. Among the western proponents of provincial rights was the Manitoba politician Thomas GREENWAY, who had objections that were shared by his constituents:

“[He opposed] federal disallowance of Manitoba railway legislation [see Norquay] and [supported] provincial control of natural resources, especially land, withheld by Ottawa when Manitoba entered confederation in 1870. In the provincial election of January 1883 Greenway and 15 others ran as Provincial Rights candidates, campaigning primarily on the issue of disallowance. After challenges to election results were settled, 21 Conservatives confronted a combined opposition of 9, made up of Provincial Rights candidates, Liberals, and independents, who quickly coalesced under the Liberal banner with Greenway as their leader.”

For more information on the entries of Manitoba and British Columbia into confederation and on the campaigns for provincial rights in western Canada, consult the biographies that can be found in the following lists.