CANADA HISTORY

Durham Report

In 1839, John Lambton, the Earl of Durham, published his famous report, commonly referred to as the Durham Report, which recommended sweeping changes in the governance of Upper and Lower Canada, both of which had recently experienced significant unrest and rebellions. The report was highly controversial, sparking diverse reactions in both Britain and Canada. It would go on to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Canadian self-governance and the relationship between French and English populations in the colonies.

Durham arrived in Canada at a time of deep bitterness and unrest. In Lower Canada, the French-Canadian Patriotes had suffered a devastating defeat during the 1837–1838 rebellion. More than 200 of their number had been killed, and their leadership was either executed or exiled, many fleeing to the United States. The atmosphere was equally tense in Upper Canada, where dissatisfaction with British rule simmered among reformers, leading to further unrest. Both colonies were ripe for change, and Durham's arrival was expected to bring decisive action.

Durham himself was regarded as a political radical in Britain due to his progressive views on several key issues. He supported removing legal restrictions on Roman Catholics, advocated for a universal education system in Britain, strongly backed free trade, and was an influential supporter of the Reform Bill of 1832, which expanded the British electorate. His liberal political stance undoubtedly influenced his approach to reforming the Canadian colonies. Durham’s report reflected his belief in more democratic forms of governance, and his recommendations were groundbreaking for their time.

One of Durham’s most important recommendations was to grant greater power to the elected legislative assemblies in both colonies. He argued that governors should only appoint individuals to the executive council who had the support of the legislative assembly, effectively introducing the concept of responsible government. This was a major shift in colonial governance. Under this system, the governor would be accountable to the elected legislative assembly, which in turn would be responsible to the voters. The executive, chosen by the governor, would require the assembly’s approval and would be answerable to it for its actions. This was Durham's way of addressing the pent-up frustrations of the electorate and allowing for greater political expression through an organized and accountable system. His proposal laid the foundation for responsible government, which would eventually come to fruition in Canada.

Additionally, Durham saw the need for a secondary level of government—municipal government—that could handle local issues more effectively. He believed that smaller, local matters could be managed at the municipal level, allowing the colonial government to focus on broader, colony-wide concerns. This proposal was forward-thinking and laid the groundwork for the development of local governance structures that would later become critical to the political organization of Canada.

However, one of the most controversial aspects of Durham’s report was his view of the French-English divide in Lower Canada. Durham characterized the tensions between the French and English populations as racial, rather than political. He believed that the root cause of the conflict in Lower Canada stemmed from the existence of two distinct nations within a single colony. In his view, the solution to these tensions was the assimilation of the French population. Durham recommended uniting Upper and Lower Canada into a single colony, where the English-speaking majority would dominate the government. Over time, he argued, the French culture, language, and legal traditions would be eroded, and the French-Canadians would eventually be assimilated into the dominant English culture. This proposal, known as the Union of the Canadas, would merge the two colonies into a single political entity and was intended to eliminate the French influence in Canadian governance.

The reception of Durham’s report in London was mixed. While British officials were quick to act on his proposal to unite Upper and Lower Canada, they hesitated when it came to implementing responsible government. The colonial office was wary of granting too much autonomy to the colonies at a time when stability was still fragile, and it would take several more years before responsible government was fully realized. Nevertheless, the union of the Canadas came into effect in 1841, marking the first step toward a more unified Canadian state, albeit with the long-term goal of assimilating the French population.

Durham’s report also resonated beyond Upper and Lower Canada. In Nova Scotia, reformer Joseph Howe had been campaigning for responsible government, and he was keenly interested in Durham’s recommendations. However, like his counterparts in the Canadas, Howe was disappointed by Britain’s reluctance to fully implement responsible government immediately. Nevertheless, the seeds of change had been planted, and Howe’s efforts would eventually lead to the introduction of responsible government in Nova Scotia in 1848, making it one of the first colonies in the British Empire to achieve this.

In conclusion, the Durham Report had far-reaching consequences for Canada’s political evolution. It laid the groundwork for responsible government, the union of Upper and Lower Canada, and the eventual development of federalism in Canada. However, it also introduced a controversial legacy, particularly in its recommendations for the assimilation of French Canadians. While Durham's vision of English domination over French culture did not fully come to pass, his report set the stage for ongoing tensions between the two linguistic and cultural groups that would continue to shape Canadian politics for generations. The report was both a catalyst for progress and a source of conflict, leaving a lasting imprint on the nation’s identity and governance.