The london Conferernce
Took Place Between December 1866 and March 1867 in London
Sixteen delegates sailed to London to present the 72 Resolutions to British officials. The conference was much smaller than than the other conferences. After premilinary discussions, meeting officially began on December 4th. This took place in the Westminster Palace Hotel in London. Business commenced with a thorough review to ensure that the wording of each was satisfactory. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick made some changes to the 72 Resolutions that were to there benifit. New Brunswick got assurances that a intrecontinental reailway would be built. Subsides to provincial governments were also increased. In late December, the review was complete. the modified 72 resolutions, known as the British North American Act was introduced in British Parliament. Choosing 'Canada' as the country's new name was easy , as was the choice of 'Ontario' and 'Quebec' for the two halves of the United Province of Canada. However, there were difficulties in choosing a designation. Delegates wanted to be a kingdom;British feared this would anger the US, so request was denied. An alternative 'Dominion' was suggested by Samuel Leonard Tilley. The conference had to cope with the presence of an anti-union delegation from Nova Scotia, led by Joseph Howe. Charles Tupper was occupied in countering each submission made to the Colonial office. The delegates had a completed text for the bill by the first week of February 29 1867.The BNA Act passed House of Commons and House of Legislature quickly. It was to the Queen on February 11. The British North American Act received the Royal Assent on March 19 1867. Once the Act was passed, the delegates returned home to prepare for union, which was scheduled on July 1st (Canada Day). Social activities didn't happen that much. The major social event of the conference was John A MacDonald's and Agnes Bernard's weeding that happened on February 16th 1867.