Nov.5.1864

                  The second day of the conference that will hopefully lead to a new country of our own started off in a silent few minutes, everyone tired from last night’s party and drinks.  Then the first questions were asked and the room became an explosion of noise, everyone arguing and trying to get their voice heard.

                  We began on proposal two, which was for the federal government system.  Three colonies wanted this form of government, while three didn’t, as they didn’t like representation by population.  My colleagues and I, from Canada East, West and of course Nova Scotia tried to explain that the government only dealt with issues at a federal level, not at a colonial level.  The other colonies delegates were convinced that with Canada East and West and Nova Scotia containing the majority of the seats that we would pass laws that only benefited our colonies.  Unfortunately they didn’t understand that once elected our people wouldn’t be split into colonies in the House of Commons, that they would split in political parties who have the same interests and whichever party had the most seats would have their leader as the leader of the government.  If only they understood that it would have made the long afternoon of explaining so much shorter.

                  Again and again, the other delegates and I explained that the federal government wouldn’t deal with issues that only affected specific colonies, that those laws would be dealt with by a colonial government.  Prince Edward Island was particularly stubborn, convinced that because they had the lowest population they would have the least say in the government.  They didn’t understand that if their colony didn’t like the law their Senate members could vote against it, and as both a majority of votes in the House of Commons, and the Senate is needed to pass a law, there would be less chance the law would be passed.  Newfoundland and New Brunswick were equally not willing to compromise as they, along with Prince Edward Island wanted equal seats for each colony in the government.  They didn’t understand that this would lead to political deadlock, just like what was happening in Canada East and West right now.  Eventually Frederic Carter and Ambrose Shea of Newfoundland came up with an idea that gives slightly more seats to the Maritime colonies but still gives more seats to Canada East and West than any other colony.  After voting on that with all the Maritimes agreeing on Newfoundland’s proposal we moved onto proposal three which was the government taking up the colonies debts.