Party Government in Nova Scotia, 1879-1897

Abstract

In 1867 Nova Scotia ceased to be a separate colony under the British Crown, and became one of the four provinces forming the Dominion of Canada. Confederation was the issue which divided Nova Scotians from 1864 to 1872, and which led to a new alignment of parties.

The people of Nova Scotia had never elected an Assembly on the platform of Union or Non-Union. On September 18, 1867, they were able to express their opinions at the polls. The Confederates or "Canada" party advocated Confederation because they claimed that "union is strength" and because Nova Scotians would benefit by belonging to a strong nation such as the Dominion of Canada. The Anti-Confederates or "Nova Scotia" party urged the people to elect their candidates as a protest against Union. They felt that Nova Scotia was being used as a pawn by the Canadian politicians, and that her independence and interests were being sacrificed.