After 26 years of being a proud Dominion – like Canada – within the British Empire, Newfoundland’s government dissolved itself on this date in 1933. After almost 80 years of responsible government, the future Canadian province became a Crown colony once again. Newfoundland was once again governed directly from London.
Newfoundland’s economy had been crushed by the Great Depression and the situation was so bleak that malnutrition had reared its ugly head. Many people were unable to find work and food.
The Commission of Government came into being in early 1934 with its seven Commissions, all appointed by the British. For the next 15 years, there were no elections on the island colony. The tide, however, would turn for Newfoundland during the years of the Second World War. The presence of Allied bases and the involvement of ordinary Newfoundlanders in the war effort bolstered the economy and the colony even gave interest-free loans to the British.
The stage was set for Newfoundland’s march towards Confederation.[caption id="attachment_1577215" align="alignleft" width="318"]
Dominion of Newfoundland flag[/caption]
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.