Responsible Government

Related:  Connecting With Historical Concepts Lab on Democracy
Sometimes a concept stems from a root concept that students need to know.  Dan Hedges (SWLSB) has shared the document "Connecting With Historical Concepts lab on Democracy" that you can use to go over some of the basic terms, and to better personalize the notion and experience of democracy.  Click here ➦

Corn Laws: An example of Free-Trade 

In the first half of the 19th Century, Great Britain's economic policy was based on mercantilism.  This policy was enacted through the Corn Laws, which were tariffs that imposed taxes on the import of grains from outside of the British Empire.  These laws protected British farmers from foreign competition and gave access to Britain for Canadian farmers to export their excess produce.

However, as industrialization grew and more people moved from the countryside to cities in order to work in factories, there grew an increased demand for cheaper food.  As well, British industrialists wanted to abolish the Corn Laws so other countries would reduce their tariffs that allow British exports to grow.  The abolishment of the Corn Laws, essentially a move toward a freer system of trade,  also meant that the British government was willing to give Canada more control over their own affairs including responsible government, which was allowed in 1848.

Rebellion Losses Bill and Responsible Government

In the election of 1848, the Reformers under Baldwin and LaFontaine won a majority of the seats in the Legislative Assembly.  However, the governor, Lord Elgin, did not call on them to form the government.  The executive council still was not responsible to the Assembly.  The Assembly passed a motion of non-confidence in the executive and Lord Elgin then called Baldwin and LaFontaine into the executive council to form the government.  This was the first time that a government was formed by the leaders of the majority party in the Province of Canada.

The most serious matter that the government had to face was the question of paying owners for the destruction of their property during the Rebellions of 1837-38.  The Reformers introduced what was known as the Rebellion Losses Bill in 1849. The Tory party were opposed to this law that they saw would benefit people who were disloyal traitors.  They did not have the votes and the law passed both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. 

Lord Elgin did not personally support the law and the Tories thought that he would veto it.  However, despite his misgiving, Elgin gave the law royal assent*, thus establishing the principle of responsible government in the Canadian government.

English Tories in the Province of Canada were incensed by Elgin's decision.  Rioting broke out in Montreal in April of 1849.  Lord Elgin's carriage was assaulted by a crowd who pelted it with rocks.  The mob rampaged for two days and burnt the Legislative Assembly to the ground.  Disorder even spread to Bytown (Ottawa) later that September, when gangs of Reformers and Tories fought first with sticks and rocks, and then it all escalated into a full gun battle in the streets of the market area!

*Royal Assent:  "Approval by the Governor General or another designated representative of the Crown is required for a bill to become law once it has been passed by both Houses in identical form." (Source)