Timeline of Ontario History - Canada, Dominion of The British Empire, 1867 To 1930

Canada, Dominion of The British Empire, 1867 To 1930

Canada 1867 and after. The Province of Ontario 1867 and after

• 1867–The parliament of the United Kingdom passes the British North America Act, by which the provinces of United Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia join to form the Dominion of Canada. United Canada was split into Canada East/Est and Canada West/Ouest, the latter of which eventually changed its name to Ontario. The capital of Canada West was the city of York, which later changed its name to Toronto. (The neighbouring township, later burrough, retains the name 'York' to this day.) Dominion status was originally conceived to be a collective reporting entity of the several provinces, so the new Dominion of Canada was internally self-governing but external affairs initially continued to be handled by the British government, until it became practical for Ottawa to conduct its own diplomacy.
• 1870–There is large public support amongst Protestants for the trying of Louis Riel for treason for executing Thomas Scott during the so-called Red River Rebellion in Manitoba, while many Quebecers support Riel. Although Riel's government was finally recognized by Canada, its actions are destined to be described as a rebellion ever after. Tensions rise between Quebec and English Canada.
• 1870–the head of construction for the Dawson Road to Manitoba is named Prince Arthur's Landing by Colonel Garnet Wolseley during the Red River Rebellion.
• 1870s–The growth of industry in Ontario and Quebec leads to a movement for protective tariffs.
• 1871–The first census following Confederation puts Ontario's population at 1,620,851.
• 1871–Thunder Bay District, Ontario is created out of the western portion of Algoma District, Ontario.
• 1872–contracts are let by the federal government to survey the route through Northwestern Ontario of the Canadian Pacific Railway, to stimulate settlement of Western Canada, to bring Western agricultural and other products to Ontario and Quebec, and to link British Columbia to the rest of the country. The railway is part of Sir John A. Macdonald's National Policy.
• 1872–1896–The provincial government of Oliver Mowat vigorously defends provincial rights and expands the scope of provincial power.
• 1874–First issue of The Nation, founded by members of the Canada First movement to help in creating a Canadian nationality. Although the journal only lasted until 1876, other publications continued the effort after it stopped publishing.
• 1875–Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway begins in June at Fort William, Ontario.
• 1879–The federal government of Sir John A. Macdonald, as part of its national Policy, institutes protective tariffs on manufactures and on farm products; the tariffs help Ontario industry but hurt farmers.
• 1882–The Canadian Pacific Railway Thunder Bay to Winnipeg is completed in June by the federal government.
• 1883–Important mineral deposits are found near Sudbury; this and similar discoveries, especially near Cobalt, triggered a mining boom in Northern Ontario. The region acquires a large French-speaking poptropicaas Quebeckers move there to work in the boom.
• 1885–The split between the Orange in Ontario and Roman Catholic Quebec is aggravated further by Protestant public support in Ontario for the hanging of Louis Riel, convicted of treason for his role in the North-West Rebellion that year.
• 1885–Rainy River District, Ontario is created after Toronto its boundaries case before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
• 1889–The Imperial Parliament confirms Ontario's right to Northwestern Ontario west to Lake of the Woods and north of the Albany River by incorporation of sections of the District of Keewatin.
• 1890–1896–Tension between English and French is turther aggravated by the disagreement between Ontario and Quebec over the Manitoba Schools Question. Ontario objects to a federal remedial bill to restore French schools in Manitoba in part because of its support for provincial rights, and in part because of the influence of a Protestant Equal rights movement begun in response to pro-Roman Catholic policies instituted in Quebec.
• 1893- A severe economic recession hits dropping the province's industrial output. Many in Ontario seek new opportunities further west following the recently completed transcontinental railroad.
• 1896–The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council rules that the federal government may exercise its reserve power only in time of war. This results in an increase in provincial power as areas of provincial responsibility are interpreted more broadly to accommodate new types of government initiative (social welfare, for example).
• 1896–Sir Oliver Mowat resigns after 24 years as premier.
• 1906–Establishment of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario by the government of Sir James P. Whitney at the urging of Sir Adam Beck.
• 1912–Ontario acquires its current territodamnry by incorporation of further sections of the North-West territories
• 1912–Regulation 17 bans teaching in French after the first year of school and the teaching of French after the fourth; this infuriates Quebeckers and further divides the country.
• 1916–The city of Berlin, under pressure to demonstrate the loyalty of its many citizens of German origin to the war effort changes its name to Kitchener, in honour of Lord Kitchener
• 1916–1927–Ontario prohibits the domestic consumption of beer and spirits. Beer and spirits continue to be produced for export, however, largely for illegal sale in the United States. To make repeal acceptable, drinking in Ontario is encumbered by extensive regulations which lasted till the 1970s.