The year was 1901. There was no Alberta. There was no Saskatchewan. There was Manitoba – but a fraction of its present size. There was BC – but separated from the rest of Canada by the North West Territory & Rupert’s Land, both purchased by Canada in 1869 from the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Just as today, it was time for a decision. A decision that would shape the West for more than a century – until today.
”If you form part of what I would like to see – one big province in the West, you will have unlimited resources; you will be able to do things no province in Canada has ever been able to do …”. The words of Frederick Haultain as he made his impassioned speech to argue for creation of a vast province stretching from Manitoba to the Rockies .
What might have been. What could have been.
What could still be.
The politics of the day ultimately turned on then North West Territory Premier Haultain. Separate, smaller, less economically independent provinces of Alberta & Saskatchewan joined the Confederation of Canada in 1905. History books tell the tale of what took place.
Voice of the West invites all Westerners & Northerners to join the discussion of what still could become a reality. Frederick Haultain’s vision of a West with unlimited resources – able to do things no province in Canada has been able to do.
Voice of the West is meant to become your voice as Westerners. Voice of the West will provide facts, will ask questions that must be asked. Voice of the West will allow you to ask your own questions, in the process perhaps providing your own answers worthy of merit – worth sharing with others.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
George Santayana
The West is not condemned to repeat past mistakes.
A brighter future perhaps awaits for Westerners & Northerners bold enough to accept the challenge.
Voice of the West welcomes your comments. Thoughtful, respectful comments are encouraged. Abusive language, profanity and other comments deemed inappropriate and/or unacceptable may be edited or deleted entirely at the sole direction of the moderator.
I don’t see the logic in Federick Haultain’s position. A single province with about 11 million people would still not have more people than Ontario. There is absolutely no reason to believe it would do anything but cause a massive headache in trying to provide a provincial government across a huge span of territory with over 100 years of different cultures. Even Alberta and Saskatchewan which are very similar have very different political cultures. Better to recognize individual character and insist on changes that allows that character to be expressed.
That is the way Ottawa wanted things to be. In 1869 Orangemen from Ontario and a English army leader came to Red River and terrorized the population for 2 years. they did the same basic thing in Sask. and Ab. at the time. Ontario wanted the land for plunder. No different today. We in the west are not the same people as Ont. east. There is only one solution an that is separation leaving Vancouver out along wi Victoria and Van Isle.
That is the way Ottawa wanted things to be. In 1869 Orangemen from Ontario and a English army leader came to Red River and terrorized the population for 2 years. they did the same basic thing in Sask. and Ab. at the time. Ontario wanted the land for plunder. No different today. We in the west are not the same people as Ont. east. There is only one solution an that is separation leaving Vancouver out along wi Victoria and Van Isle.