Political Deadlock in the Province of Canada

• In the 1860s, four main political parties existed in the Province of Canada: Conservatives, Clear Grits, Parti Bleu, and Parti Rouge.
• Upper and Lower Canada were united into the Province of Canada, with each section receiving an equal number of seats in parliament.
• Canada East and Canada West had to collaborate to pass laws in the legislative assembly.
• Differing interests, languages, and religions made collaboration difficult.
• Members would vote against each other's bills, leading to political deadlock as neither side could secure a majority.
• George Brown, leader of the Clear Grits, suggested a coalition government to solve the political deadlock, where different parties set aside differences.
• The coalition government aimed to unite British North American colonies and officially split Canada East and Canada West into separate provinces.
• Each province would have its own local government, and a central government would handle issues concerning both provinces.
• The 1800s were a time of change for British North America, with colonies desiring more freedom from Britain.
• The Rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada occurred in 1837 because concerns were not addressed quickly enough.
• The British parliament sent Lord Durham to investigate the rebellions, and he recommended merging Upper and Lower Canada into one colony with an English-speaking majority
• Durham also recommended assimilating French culture into English and implementing responsible government through an elected assembly.
• The Act of the Union was passed in response to the rebellions, unifying Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada on February 10, 1841.
• The unified areas became Canada East (formerly Lower Canada) and Canada West (formerly Upper Canada).
• Selecting a capital for the Province of Canada posed a challenge.
• Kingston, in Canada West, was initially selected, but complaints arose over location and border security.
• Leaders could not decide on a capital that would satisfy both Canada East and West, so Queen Victoria made the decision.
• Bytown, now Ottawa, was chosen as the new capital due to its location.
• Ottawa could be protected from American attacks, with the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River providing water transportation routes.
• Ottawa was located on the border between Canada East and West.
• Critics were upset because Ottawa was far from the more developed cities of Toronto, Kingston, Montreal, and Quebec City.

Political Parties and Platforms in Canada West

• Clear Grits were led by George Brown.
• Clear Grits wanted more public voice in government operations.
• Clear Grits advocated for the representation by population government system.
• Clear Grits had support from the rural population.
• Clear Grits supported the idea of confederation of British North American colonies.
• Conservatives were led by John A. Macdonald.
• Conservatives were loyal to Queen Victoria and Britain.
• Conservatives strongly supported and worked toward confederation of the British North American colonies.

Political Parties and Platforms in Canada East

• Parti Bleu was led by George-Etienne Cartier.
• Parti Bleu supported confederation only if Canada East maintained its religious and family law systems.
• Parti Bleu wanted cooperation between the French and English.
• Parti Rouge was led by Antoine-Aime Dorion.
• Parti Rouge opposed confederation of British North American colonies.
• Parti Rouge felt it would not benefit the French population of Canada East.