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A summary of the R.M. Burns essay published in the early 1970s that discusses the relationship between BC and Canada and the issues involved in BC joining Canadian Confederation.
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“B.C. and the Canadian Federation”
Notes from R. M. Burns’ One Country or Two
J. Marshall, 2014
Intro:
B.C. joined Canada to “solve pressing problems of the day.”
For all of its history, B.C. has experienced
“emerging colonialism” desiring the benefits of Confederation while fighting “parental control.”
http://www.sfu.ca
B.C. is not homogeneous
1. Even before Europeans, many First Nations with unique languages and cultures2. Wide range of geographic and climatic regions3. Even today, regions defined by resources/economic activity: self-interest can drive political agenda
Still, enough to keep the province together: but we traditionally saw ourselves as an “outpost of empire – first of Great Britain then of Canada”
http://www.nps.gov
Born of the Sea
• Explorers and settlers came from the sea
• Russia, Spain, Britain and USA
http://www.u-s-history.com
Part of the USA?
• Colonial Office wanted the colonies to stay British
• The 1858 gold rush ended quickly so US miners went home
• Economic depression in the 1860s saw leaders look to Canada for cash
• Vancouver Island, especially, pro British
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca
Fighting for more (revenue/expenditure imbalance)
• B.C. leaders have always tried to get more
(power, money, etc)
• Power to exclude Chinese (head tax)
• Adjustments / payment for CPR / contracts
(and other contracts since!)
• Try to get subsidies (still going on: have vs. have not)
http://faculty.umf.maine.edu
end