Quebec, << kwih BEHK, >> Conference was a meeting at which Canadian leaders proposed a plan for forming a united Canada. It was held in the city of Quebec from Oct. 10 to Oct. 27, 1864. At that time, eastern Canada consisted of five self-governing colonies of the United Kingdom—the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The Hudson’s Bay Company, a fur-trading firm, controlled most of western Canada. British Columbia and Vancouver Island were two British colonies on the Pacific coast.
Three chief factors made union desirable: (1) The United Kingdom felt Canadians could better defend themselves if they united. (2) Union could aid economic growth. (3) Union might help end friction between Canada’s French- and English-speaking groups.
The delegates to the Quebec Conference, now called the Fathers of Confederation, proposed a federal union of all the eastern colonies under a central government. They also made provision for future admission of the western territories. Within two years, the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia agreed to the plan. The Province of Canada was divided into the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia were the provinces when the British North America Act formed the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867.
See also Confederation of Canada .
