CANADA HISTORY

Maritime Union

Governor Arthur Hamilton Gordon, appointed as the governor of Nova Scotia, arrived in the colony with ambitions and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing British North America. Initially, Gordon’s arrival in Nova Scotia in the early 1860s was met with some disappointment. Unlike other British colonies, Nova Scotia had long-established responsible government, which meant that his role was largely ceremonial, with little executive power. As a result, Gordon found himself restless and somewhat detached from the political life of the colony, particularly given his previous experiences in more dynamic postings.

However, Gordon’s keen awareness of the rapidly shifting political landscape in North America, particularly with the American Civil War raging just to the south, soon inspired him to take a more active role in shaping the future of the region. The war in the United States, with its bloody battles and widespread devastation, loomed large in the minds of British North Americans. There was a growing sense of unease about the possibility of American expansionism or the vulnerability of the isolated British colonies. It was in this context that Governor Gordon began formulating his plan for Maritime Union.

The idea of uniting the Maritime provinces—Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island—had been discussed for decades, but no serious action had ever been taken. Various economic and political factors had made the idea appealing, including the desire for greater economic cooperation, improved defense, and more efficient governance across the region. However, these discussions had never advanced beyond theoretical considerations. Gordon, recognizing that his influence as governor could still be put to good use, decided to make Maritime Union his mission.

Gordon's plan was simple but bold: to use his royal influence to rally support from the governors of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island and convene a conference to discuss the feasibility of union. He knew that in an era where the powers of governors were increasingly limited, his ability to build consensus among the political elites of the Maritime provinces could still be a powerful tool in moving forward a significant project like union. The British government, always wary of the shifting power dynamics in North America, responded positively to the idea. Westminster viewed Maritime Union as a potential precursor to a more ambitious union of all the British North American colonies. The threat posed by a reunified and potentially expansionist United States further solidified British support for some form of greater colonial unity as a way to protect the colonies.

Governor Gordon was successful in persuading his counterparts to bring together political leaders from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island for a conference. The Charlottetown Conference, as it became known, was scheduled for September 1, 1864. The intention of the conference was to discuss the mechanics of forming a union of the Maritime provinces, addressing everything from political structure to economic cooperation and mutual defense. The gathering was expected to explore whether a stronger, more cohesive regional government could better serve the interests of the Maritimes, especially given the growing tensions on the North American continent.

As preparations for the conference were underway, a surprising and significant development occurred. While the focus of the Charlottetown meeting was intended to be on Maritime Union, news of the gathering reached Canada—then the united provinces of Canada West (Ontario) and Canada East (Quebec)—where political deadlock was severely hampering progress. Leading figures from Canada, including John A. Macdonald, George-Étienne Cartier, and George Brown, saw the upcoming Charlottetown Conference as an opportunity to propose an even broader vision: the creation of a larger political union that would include not only the Maritime provinces but also the Canadas themselves.

For the Canadians, this was an unexpected yet crucial chance to address the deep political stalemate that plagued their system of government. The union of Canada West and Canada East had become untenable due to conflicting political interests between the French-speaking and English-speaking populations. A broader federal union with the Maritimes could offer a way out of this impasse by expanding the scope of representation and creating a more balanced political system. The Canadians, eager to solve their own political paralysis and inspired by the potential for increased economic and defensive strength, decided to send a delegation to Charlottetown to make their case.

On the day the conference opened, the Canadian representatives arrived at Charlottetown. What had initially been intended as a relatively modest meeting to discuss the future of Maritime Union quickly transformed into a much grander vision. Macdonald, Cartier, and their colleagues managed to captivate the Maritime delegates with their arguments for a broader union. They emphasized the potential economic benefits of an expanded intercolonial market, the promise of building an intercolonial railway to link the provinces, and the strategic importance of uniting against external threats, particularly from the United States.

The Canadians also highlighted the advantages of political stability, suggesting that a larger union would allow the region to achieve majority governments more easily, reducing the gridlock that plagued the Canadas. Additionally, they offered assurances that the unique cultures and interests of the various regions, including the French-speaking population of Quebec and the smaller provinces like Prince Edward Island, would be respected and protected through a federal system of government.

Governor Gordon’s initiative, intended to bring about a Maritime Union, became the stepping stone toward something far greater. The Charlottetown Conference was the first of three major meetings—the other two being the Quebec Conference in 1864 and the London Conference in 1866—that would ultimately lead to the creation of the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867. While the idea of Maritime Union was set aside, the groundwork had been laid for the birth of a new nation. Governor Arthur Gordon’s vision of uniting the Maritimes paved the way for Confederation, and his leadership was instrumental in shaping the discussions that would transform British North America into the Canada we know today.

The importance of the Charlottetown Conference and Governor Gordon's role in it cannot be overstated. By convening the conference, he set in motion a process that would lead to the establishment of a united and independent Canada, laying the foundation for the country's political and economic future.