National Convention & Confederation

Inscription

NATIONAL CONVENTION & CONFEDERATION In 1946, elected delegates from across the island and one from Labrador attended a National Convention at Colonial Building to consider Newfoundland's political future. A referendum gave voters the options of a return to Responsible Government, continued Commission of Government, or Confederation with Canada. After two rounds of voting, Confederation won out and Newfoundland became the 10th Canadian province a few minutes before midnight on March 31, 1949. The first provincial election in July 1949 resulted in a majority for Joseph R. Smallwood's Liberals. They held power until 1972. Officials and Members of the House of Assembly carry the first post-Confederation Speech from the Throne from the Colonial Building to Government House, 1949. Premier Joseph R. Smallwood addresses the House of Assembly, Colonial Building, ca. 1957. WE ARE VOTING FOR 1. LOWER COST OF LIVING 2. FAMILY ALLOWANCES 3. OLD AGE PENSIONS 4. PENSIONS FOR THE BLIND 5. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE 6. A PROSPEROUS NEWFOUNDLAND AND 7. A BETTER LIVING FOR OUR FAMILY... WE ARE VOTING FOR CONFEDERATION DON'T SELL YOUR COUNTRY JOIN THE 90,000 NEWFOUNDLANDERS WHO REFUSE TO SELL US OUT AND VOTE RESPONSIBLE FOR ECONOMIC UNION WITH THE UNITED STATES "Labradorians as a people are hard-working in the great majority of cases, and they deserve a good living, a living they had not had. They have sent me in to see that they get a government that gives them a decent living." — Reverend Lester Burry, delegate for Labrador, National Convention, September 11, 1946. Opening of the National Convention at the Colonial Building, September 11, 1946. "We must develop or perish. We must develop or our people will go in the thousands to other parts of Canada. We must create new jobs.... Develop, develop, develop — that's been my slogan and that will remain my slogan." — Premier Joseph R. Smallwood, July 1949. "I say to you that there is in operation at the present time, a conspiracy to sell, and I use the word "sell" advisedly, this country to the Dominion of Canada." — Major Peter Cashin's report from the London delegation, National Convention, May 19, 1947.