British Columbia's negotiations and entry into Confederation (1866–1871)

  1. Vancouver Island and mainland colonies united

    Labels: Vancouver Island, Colony of

    Imperial legislation united the Colony of Vancouver Island and the mainland Colony of British Columbia into a single colony, creating the political framework in which Confederation debates would unfold.

  2. Capital moved from New Westminster to Victoria

    Labels: Victoria, New Westminster

    The colony’s seat of government was moved to Victoria, intensifying mainland–island political rivalries that Confederation advocates later argued union with Canada could help resolve.

  3. Confederation League begins organizing

    Labels: Confederation League, Amor De

    Amor De Cosmos and allies began organizing the Confederation League to campaign for union with Canada and to press a set of terms (notably financial relief and a major transportation link to the East).

  4. Confederation League Yale Convention adopts resolutions

    Labels: Yale Convention, Confederation League

    Delegates at a Yale convention adopted 37 resolutions outlining desired terms for union, helping standardize and popularize the pro-Confederation platform across the colony.

  5. Anthony Musgrave arrives as pro-Confederation governor

    Labels: Anthony Musgrave, British government

    After Governor Frederick Seymour’s death, Britain appointed Anthony Musgrave with a mandate to secure British Columbia’s entry into Confederation; he arrived and pushed negotiations forward quickly.

  6. Legislative Council debates Terms of Union framework

    Labels: Legislative Council, Terms of

    A sustained debate in the colony’s Legislative Council considered whether—and on what conditions—British Columbia should join Canada, setting up the appointment of negotiators to meet Ottawa.

  7. Trutch, Helmcken, and Carrall appointed as delegates

    Labels: Joseph Trutch, John Helmcken

    Governor Musgrave appointed Joseph W. Trutch, John S. Helmcken, and R. W. W. Carrall to travel to Ottawa and negotiate mutually acceptable terms for Confederation.

  8. Ottawa negotiations secure railway and financial terms

    Labels: Ottawa negotiations, Transcontinental railway

    In negotiations with the Canadian government, British Columbia’s delegates secured major commitments, including federal assumption of certain debts/subsidies and a promise to build a transcontinental railway linking B.C. to the rest of Canada within a set timeframe.

  9. Imperial Order in Council approves admission terms

    Labels: Imperial Order, Queen Victoria

    Queen Victoria, acting in Council, issued the Order in Council approving the negotiated terms and setting British Columbia’s admission to Canada to take effect on a specified date.

  10. British Columbia enters Confederation as a province

    Labels: British Columbia, Dominion of

    British Columbia was admitted into and became part of the Dominion of Canada, becoming Canada’s sixth province under the approved British Columbia Terms of Union.

  11. Interim provincial ministry formed under Joseph Trutch

    Labels: Joseph Trutch, Interim ministry

    Following entry into Confederation and before elected provincial institutions were fully in place, an interim executive ministry governed the new province under Lieutenant Governor Joseph Trutch.

  12. First provincial general election held

    Labels: Provincial election, Legislative Assembly

    British Columbia held its first provincial election after joining Canada; polling occurred over an extended period (October–December) to elect members of the first Legislative Assembly.

  13. McCreight forms first responsible government ministry

    Labels: John Foster, Responsible government

    After the first provincial election, John Foster McCreight formed the first ministry, marking the practical start of responsible government in British Columbia within the Canadian федераtion.

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Last Updated:Jan 1, 1980

British Columbia's negotiations and entry into Confederation (1866–1871)