Great Coalition
Encyclopedia
The Great Coalition was a grand coalition
of the political parties of the two Canadas (Upper and Lower, or more legally, West and East) in 1864. The previous collapse after only three months of a coalition government formed by George-Étienne Cartier
, George Brown and John A. MacDonald
. The Great Coalition was formed to stop the political deadlock between Canada East and Canada West. The government at that time was unable to pass anything because of the need for a double majority
. In order for a bill to pass in the Legislative Assembly
, there had to be a vote in both Canada East and Canada West sections of the assembly. The French and the English could never agree on anything; this caused the political deadlock.
The removal of the deadlock resulted in three conferences that led to confederation. The Charlottetown Conference
, was intended for politicians to discuss the idea of a Maritime union. They chose to expand their talk to the colony of Canada, and took the opportunity to discuss the possibility of a larger union that would include all of British North America
. The Quebec Conference
was to further discuss the union of British North America and to define the details of what shape that government would take. They settled on Provincial and Federal responsibilities and got approval from the Queen. The London Conference
was to refine The Quebec Resolutions.
All of these events led to Canada's existence on July 1, 1867.
Grand coalition
A grand coalition is an arrangement in a multi-party parliamentary system in which the two largest political parties of opposing political ideologies unite in a coalition government...
of the political parties of the two Canadas (Upper and Lower, or more legally, West and East) in 1864. The previous collapse after only three months of a coalition government formed by George-Étienne Cartier
George-Étienne Cartier
Sir George-Étienne Cartier, 1st Baronet, PC was a French-Canadian statesman and Father of Confederation.The English spelling of the name, George, instead of Georges, the usual French spelling, is explained by his having been named in honour of King George III....
, George Brown and John A. MacDonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
. The Great Coalition was formed to stop the political deadlock between Canada East and Canada West. The government at that time was unable to pass anything because of the need for a double majority
Double majority
A double majority is the name given to a vote which requires a majority of votes according to two separate criteria. The mechanism is usually used to require strong support for any measure considered to be of great importance...
. In order for a bill to pass in the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
, there had to be a vote in both Canada East and Canada West sections of the assembly. The French and the English could never agree on anything; this caused the political deadlock.
The removal of the deadlock resulted in three conferences that led to confederation. The Charlottetown Conference
Charlottetown Conference
The Charlottetown Conference was held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island for representatives from the colonies of British North America to discuss Canadian Confederation...
, was intended for politicians to discuss the idea of a Maritime union. They chose to expand their talk to the colony of Canada, and took the opportunity to discuss the possibility of a larger union that would include all of British North America
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
. The Quebec Conference
Quebec Conference
Quebec Conference refers to one of several different meetings by the same name that were held in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada:*The Quebec Conference, 1864, the second conference to discuss Canada's confederation, which was finally accomplished three years later...
was to further discuss the union of British North America and to define the details of what shape that government would take. They settled on Provincial and Federal responsibilities and got approval from the Queen. The London Conference
London Conference
The London Conference could refer to several conferences:* London Conference of 1832* London Conference of 1838–39* London Conference of 1852* London Conference of 1866* London Conference of 1881 * London Conference of 1908...
was to refine The Quebec Resolutions.
All of these events led to Canada's existence on July 1, 1867.