Orchestrating Confederation

‘One of the most significant people in achieving confederation is John A. Macdonald. He was so certain the combination of the provinces would occur that “during one of the breaks in the conference, when Macdonald took a tour of the Province House, the island’s legislature building, he came upon the visitor’s book. He signed his name and, in the column for occupation, wrote ‘‘Cabinet Maker’’. Macdonald was the head of the confederation; he calculatingly negotiated with delegates focussing on the objective he was determined to attain.  Macdonald wrote to Matthew Crook Cameron after the Quebec Conference and stated: “I am satisfied that we have hit upon the only practical plan. I do not mean to say the best plan, but the only practical plan for carrying out the Confederation”. Upon forming the United Government, Macdonald was sure to not repeat the American’s mistake to create a decentralized government, which is cause for his push for the national government to be established in Ontario on Quebec’s boarder. The historic perspective on Macdonald’s actions and understanding of the needs of the nation are to be greatly appreciated because they came before their era. “He was the first democratic leader in the world to argue publicly for the women’s vote … He described aboriginal peoples as ‘‘the original owners of the land’’. Macdonald understood what needed to be done long before the era of equality and acceptance; he understood that English, French, and First Nations must work together to create a peaceful country.’