Confederation..50 years after

[histrav]

Very nostalgic, with some beautiful images there, but Newfoundland simply isn't economically viable as an independent nation, especially with no cod fisheries.

[ralphyization]

That poem was pretty deep. As a person from Northern Ontario, I think we feel a little bit of brotherhood with Newfoundland. Because within our own Province, we are usually forgotten. 10% of Southern Ontario is inhabited by about 80% of the people. The Northern part of the province, well, we're basically not important. Bottom line, is I don't think you would be Canadian, if you DIDN"T feel left out. We are SO spread out! Loving the Newfies!

[oldtimefreedom]

if you can be joined with a signature, you should have the freedom to seperate with a signature... no govt should own your great island but yourselves...

[hydromorphineIV]

I would only like to see Newfoundland separate from Canada if we became completely autonomous from Canada aka a republic. But one major problem is that there is so much corruption in both the oil industries and fishing industries and the left overs of the merchant class are still fucking us over. So we would have to kick those rich leeches out unless we wanted to just change one bad government for another and i don't see much sense in that.

[hydromorphineIV]

There where alot of lies going around on all sides and our own basically sold us out. There is alot of speculation that we where not as bad off as we where made out to be at the time and that the British just made alot of it up. One thing they where afraid of was Newfoundland becoming a part of the US because at the time alot of Newfoundlanders liked the yanks more then the Canadians. No hard feelings to anyone from Canada by the way.

[crf230fboy41]

newfoundland joined canada because of the old age pension, and baby bonus, that kind of stuff, but peter cashin predicted the falling of the cod fishery because of canada, my opinion, newfoundland should never have joined, no hard feelings canada though

[Litterboxer529]

Newfoundland joined Canada because it sort of made sense, and at the time it seemed better than Britain. But I guess thats my opinion.

[Utubemember3]

Danny Williams is the man. Sucks he's leaving politics.

[talamhaneisc]

Waddya mean should? We were, we still are, and we shall always be...as long as Newfoundlanders see it themselves!!! I am saddened by the amount of political assimilation to the mainland confederation....we need to raise our collective voices!!! Tis too precious a thing to let our nation, ourselves, go!

Talamh an Éisc go bragh

[BrichWood]

recounted. The British however did not deem this an apporiate reason for another referendum. That is a problem to many people. Funny, some take it that a minority win is not good enough when in favour of Independance, but perfectly acceptable when for Confederation. That those votes where never found. That Britain, who was supposed to be objective throughout the ordeal had vetoed the rejection of Confederation, and then when it lost dismissed that vote in favour of a second. Those are the facts.

[BrichWood]

The vote was so close that a few "mistakes" amongst the counting could have made a significant difference. And there were incidents invovling the count. Communites where Confederation had won outright, or even slightly where the votes had disappered. After the intial counting the ballouts had seemingly gone astray, leaving nothing but the counters word as to which side won out. There are reports of Confederation towns were the actually ballouts had been burned, and were therefore not able to...

[BrichWood]

Smallwood first task was to get Confederation on the ballout. His idea to give Confederation with Canada a place on the ballout was democratically rejected. The British interfered and vetoed that decision. Here we start to see the conspiracy theories. The Brits overulling a consuel they formed, for doing it's job. Fast forwarding a to the first referendum. Three choices are offered to the people, Commission of Government, Condfedration, and Independance. The former loses miserably....

[BrichWood]

at which point independance would be returned to the people of Newfoundland, as they chose to have it. It was not returned. Instead Britian commissioned a National Convention to look into the situation of the Newfoundland and decide on the possiblities of Her future. This Convention comprised of both English and Newfoundlandmen, Joesph Robert Smallwood, a Gambo-born Townie, was a semi-famous unionzer and radio personality and was among these. he spearheaded the battle for Confederation...

[BrichWood]

The fact that Newfoundland had been a key component to the success of The Empire throughout the centuries, Britain was not keen to oblige us. After haggling about for awhile, Britain "came to our aid", They sent officals to judge Newfoundland. We were determined the very scruge of Imperial deprivatity, something the Brits had figured at for some time. They sent a Commission of Government to Newfoundland, which took control of our affairs for a time until Newfoundland was again self supporting...

[glacier2121]

it is not as simplle as all of that..we didn't get enough when we joined..and we paid too much..if someone would fight for the rite to control our resorses.. the fish,hydro,and forestry and oil.. if we had this newfoundland would be fine in 5 years... we don't need to be a republc.. just let us control,sell and tax what rightfully belongs to us... problem solved

[nat4053]

im from newfoundland and labrador...maybe we should leave canada..but not as a republic...kingdom maybe...never republic

[calg5000]

i wept as i watched...we are losing our heritage...we need a leader to rescue us from this union with canada

[apoctalyptoV]

i am proud to have Newfoundland be a province in my country :) and when I get involved in politics, I wish to settle things between the Quebecois, the Maritimers and the Aboriginal nations :)

[GDragon9666]

Oh yeah! let's unite!!!

[skeezix91]

When I saw this it showed "views: 1949"

1949 views is right. Let us become a proud dominion once more.

[dionphaneuf555]

you on drugs

[johnowenD]

Newfoundland should be a nation*

[johnowenD]

I dont know how any newfoundlander could be loyal towards canada....

They tried to rid us of our culture, take our resources, treat us like crap.... and we're supposed to say "Go Canada !" ?

We should bide for more indpendenc. Canada should be a nation within a confederation, a confederation that resembles the european union

[johnowenD]

Ironically, im joining the canadian forces lol

[kingdavidek]

Don't join if you have an attitude like that. This is a guy in the canadian military telling you.

[johnowenD]

Arent the forces non-political ? if it is id assume it would be kept to myself and wouldnt interfere with any duties, unless in the unlikely event of a newfondland-canada standoff leaning towards physical force

[kingdavidek]

Do what you want i will just warn you against saying it.

[NLhistory]

WOW Great pictures.

[chadconnors]

great job...........take me back to '49

[james88ca]

NIce video, the mixture of new and old photos to really make your point. To cutenewfy your views are the same as my own. THe mistakes of the 20, 30 and 40's that led to confederation, not to mention the hard to prove conspirisy to led nlfd to confederation, connot be undone. However if enough of us work together we can fix the problem of confederation and have a bright future for newfoundland.

[cutenewfy]

Great video,Am i the only one who thinks confederation was a huge mistake for Newfoundland,We should have stayed on our own as our own nation,Not a part of Canada or the usa.I consider Newfoundland my country and always will.Maybe if we did'nt join Canada 58 years ago we still have a fishery ,Control of all of our natural resources and still have a strong newfoundland cultural indentity instead of slowing becoming more like canadians and americans.

[xouwan021592]

I am from B.C. and i agree... You guys had a strong, unique culture that could have lasted through the years, not to mention a massive amount of fish and oils that could have made you a strong province had the government let you take the oil and sell it for your own profits, and not take it as their own... I do believe you could have still had many fisheries if you didn't join us, and we didn't force you to fish so much... Alas, though, we have driven all that into the ground

[xouwan021592]

and now have created a much weaker newfoundland then was there originally, and you now depend upon the Canadian government for support, as they wanted originally... Funny how we are thousands of miles apart, but both of our economies and political leaders are thinking the same thing, as both B.C.'s and Nfld's fish slowly disappear... and BC's wood and ores too. And can anyone message me with info on the conspiracy that caused Nfld to join confederation... I've never heard of it, and am interestd

[BrichWood]

Newfoundland economics were devasted after the Great War, we had just spent significant sums on the railway and other projects, also Newfoundland supposted itself entirely throughout the war, we paid our own way. And so the young Newfoundland men left home to fight for a world they'd deserted generations beforehand, we were used as bloody cannonfodder, like the Irish, by the Crown (Empire). So many young men never came home, and that was deadly on the Country's morale, and money flow. Next we...

[BrichWood]

see the Spanish Influenza hit Newfoundland killing more potenial workers and breaking now the spirits of the Newfoundland people. And then to top it all off the Great Depression. By all these things, in the god awful year of '33, Newfoundland was beated down, some thought passed hope. It was then that the the Government inquired assitance from the Mother Country, a well deserved hand during rough times. Albeit the efforts, and the loyalty of these Colonials throughout the war and ....

[Yetso]

You did a tremendous job on this video. Resettlement photos accompanied by your choice of music was perfect.