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Royal Mounted Police

Royal mounted police

right The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP or Mounties; French, Gendarmerie royale du Canada, GRC) is both the federal police force and the national police of Canada. The RCMP acts as the federal (national) police for all of Canada, enforcing certain federal laws. It also has contracts with Canada's three territories and eight of its provinces to serve as their provincial/territorial police force. Most of Canada's provinces, while constitutionally responsible for law and order, prefer to sub-contract policing to this professional national force that consequently operates under their direction in regard to provincial and municipal law enforcement. The exceptions are Ontario, Quebec, and parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, which have their own provincial police forces. Additionally, many towns and cities throughout Canada also contract the RCMP to serve as their municipal police force. The RCMP is the largest police force in Canada; as of April 2005, the RCMP had an on-strength establishment of 22,557 personnel. The RCMP was created as the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) in 1873, given the "Royal" title in 1904, becoming the Royal North West Mounted Police (RNWMP), and renamed to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Force in 1920 when the RNWMP was merged with the Dominion Police. Among themselves, the Mounties universally refer to their organization as "The Force" and members of the force are referred to as "Members." It has been theorized that the international popularity of the force lies in it being representative of a symbol of the balance of civilization and the frontier. That is, the RCMP is a police force that operates in the seemingly wild frontier, but operates under the behest of a central, if somewhat removed, bureaucratic authority back in the settled regions. In addition, the existence of the RCMP in Canada and the complete lack of any analogous organization in the Western United States during the frontier period has often been cited as both a cause and effect of cultural differences between Canada and the United States.

History

United States The RCMP was created as the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) on May 23, 1873 by Sir John A. Macdonald, the first prime minister of Canada, with the intent of bringing law and order to (and asserting Canadian sovereignty over) the North-West Territories (which then included modern day Alberta, Nunavut and Saskatchewan). This need was particularly urgent with reports of American whisky traders, in particular those of Fort Whoop-Up, causing trouble in the region, culminating in the Cypress Hills Massacre. The force was initially to be called the North West Mounted Rifles, but that was rejected as too military in nature, Macdonald fearing that this could antagonize both the First Nations and the Americans. Acting on a suggestion in his cabinet, Macdonald had the force wear red uniforms. The force was organized like a British cavalry regiment and still maintains some of the traditions of those units, like the well known, Canadian Musical Ride, to this day.

Initial Activities

The initial force, commanded by Colonel George Arthur French, set out from Fort Dufferin Manitoba on July 8th 1874 on a march to what is now Alberta. The group comprised of 22 officers, 287 men-called Constables and Sub-Constables - 310 horses, 67 wagons, 114 ox-carts, 18 yoke of oxen, 50 cows and 40 calves. An account of the journey was recorded in diary of Henri Julien, an artist from the Canadian Illustrated News, who accompanied the expedition . Modern historians have theorized that the failure of the 1874 "March West" would not have ended the Canadian federal government's vision of settling the country's western plains, but would have delayed it for many years. In particular, a failure would have encouraged the Canadian Pacific Railway to seek a route for its transcontinental railway that went through the well-mapped and partially settled valley of the North Saskatchewan River, touching on Prince Albert, Battleford and Edmonton. There would have been no economic reason for the creation of cities like Brandon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Medicine Hat and Calgary. That, in turn, would have tempted American expansionists to make a play for the Canadian prairies' flat, empty southern regions. In effect, the history of Canada would have been radically different had French and his men failed. The NWMP's early activities included containing the whisky trade and enforcing agreements with the First Nations peoples. To that end, the commanding officer of the force arranged to be sworn in as a justice of the peace, which allowed for magisterial authority in the Mounties' jurisdiction. In the early years, the force's dedication to enforcing the law on the First Nations peoples' behalf impressed them enough to encourage good relations. In the Summer of 1876 Sitting Bull and thousands of Sioux were fleeing the US Military to southern Saskatchewan, and James Morrow Walsh of the NWMP was charged with maintaining control in the large Sioux settlement at Wood Mountain. Walsh and Sitting Bull became good friends, and the peace at Wood Mountain was maintained. In 1885, the NWMP helped to quell the North-West Rebellion led by Louis Riel.

Klondike Gold Rush and after

Louis Riel In 1894, concerned about the influx of American miners and the liquor trade, the Canadian government sent inspector Charles Constantine to report on conditions in the Yukon. Constantine correctly forecast a coming gold rush and urgently recommended sending of a force to enforce Canadian sovereignty and collect customs duties. He returned the following year with a force of 20 men. The force distinguished itself during the Klondike gold rush (started in 1896) under the command of Constantine and his successor in 1898, the more famous Sam Steele. The NWMP made the Klondike gold rush one of the most peaceful and orderly such affairs in history. The NWMP not only enforced criminal law, but also collected customs duties, established a number of rules such as the "ton of goods" requirement for prospectors to enter the Yukon to avoid another famine, mandatory boat inspections for those wanting to travel the Yukon River, and created the "Blue ticket" used to expel undesirables from the Klondike. The Mounties did tolerate certain illegal activities such as gambling and prostitution, which they would have been unable to control in any case. Also, the force did not succeed in its attempt to establish order and Canadian sovereignty in Skagway, Alaska at the head of the Lynn Canal, and instead created the customs post at the summit of the Chilkoot Pass. Ironically, the force's dissolution was being discussed around that time in Parliament, but the Mounties' conduct so impressed the prospectors during the gold rush that the force became famous around the world and its survival was ensured. In 1903 jurisdiction was extended to the Arctic coast, Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905, and in 1912 to northern Manitoba. During the Boer War, the force raised the Canadian Mounted Rifles, mostly from NWMP members, for service in South Africa. For the CMR's distinguished service there, Edward VII honoured the NWMP by changing the name to the Royal North West Mounted Police (RNWMP) on June 24, 1904. In 1919 the RNWMP was used to repress the Winnipeg General Strike, when officers fired into a crowd of strikers, killing two and causing injuries to thirty others.

Creation of the RCMP

Winnipeg General Strike On February 1, 1920 the RNWMP was merged with the Dominion Police and was renamed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with responsibility for federal law enforcement in all provinces and territories. In 1935 the RCMP, collaborating with the Regina city police, crushed the On-to-Ottawa Trek, which had been organized to call attention to the need for decent treatment of the unemployed men in the relief camps.

Evolving responsibilities

In the 1920s, the RCMP assumed responsibility for national counter-intelligence, which they retained for decades. However, by the late 1970s, it was discovered the force had in the course of their intelligence duties engaged in crimes such as burning a barn and stealing documents from the separatist Parti Québécois, among other abuses. This led to the [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0004009 McDonald Commission - Royal Commission of Inquiry into Certain Activities of the RCMP], better known as the "McDonald Commission", named after the presiding judge, Mr Justice David Cargill McDonald (died 1996). The Commission recommended that the force's intelligences duties be removed in favour of the creation of a separate intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). In 1932 men and vessels of the Preventive Service, National Revenue, are absorbed , creating the RCMP Marine Section The acquisition of the RCMP schooner St. Roch facilitated the first effective patrol of Canada's Arctic territory. It was the first vessel to navigate the Northwest Passage from west to east (1940-1942), the first to navigate the Passage in one season (1944), and the first to circumnavigate North America (1950). In 1993 the RCMP's counter-terrorism duties, performed by the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT), were transferred to the Canadian Armed Forces, creating a new unit called Joint Task Force Two (JTF2). JTF2 inherited some equipment and SERT's former training base near Ottawa.

Modern Era

Ottawa Ottawa On March 3, 2005, four RCMP officers were shot dead during an operation to recover stolen property and investigate a possible marijuana grow-op in Rochfort Bridge, Alberta. Shooter Jim Roszko, 46, then shot and killed himself. It was the single worst multiple killing of RCMP officers since the Northwest Rebellion. One of the four Mounties killed had been on the job for only seventeen days. The victims were:
- Const. Lionide (Leo) Nicholas Johnston, 34 - Mayerthorpe Detachment
- Const. Anthony Fitzgerald Orion Gordon, 28 - Whitecourt Town Detachment General Policing and Highway Patrol
- Const. Brock Warren Myrol, 29 - Mayerthorpe Detachment
- Const. Peter Christopher Schiemann, 25 - Mayerthorpe Detachment General Policing and Highway Patrol See [http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/03/04/myrol-rcmp050304.html CBC].

The RCMP in wartime

The Boer War

During the Boer War, members of the North West Mounted Police were given leaves of absence to fight with the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles and the Lord Strathcona's Horse.

World War I

During the First World War the Royal North West Mounted Police (RNWMP) conducted border patrols, surveillance of enemy aliens, and enforcement of national security regulations within Canada. However, RNWMP officers also served overseas. On 6 August, 1914, a squadron of volunteers from the RNWMP was formed to serve with the Canadian Light Horse in France. In 1918, two more squadrons were raised, A Squadron for service in France and Flanders and B Squadron for service in Siberia

World War II

In 1939, No. 1 Provost Company (RCMP), Canadian Provost Corps, was raised for service in Europe. The unit served with distinction throughout the Second World War.

Honours

Second World War Although it is a police force, the RCMP has the status of a regiment of dragoons, and as such is entitled to wear battle honours for its war service as well as carry a guidon. It was awarded this status in 1921, with its first guidon presented in 1935. As a regiment, the RCMP mounted the King's Life Guard at Horse Guards Parade in 1937 leading up to the coronation of King George VI.
- Battle Honours
- Early Honours: Northwest Canada 1885, South Africa 1900-02
- The Great War: France and Flanders 1918, Siberia 1918-19
- The Second World War: Europe, 1939-45
- Honorary Distinction
- The badge of the Canadian Provost Corps¹ 1. Presented 21 Sep. 1957 at a Parliament Hill ceremony for contributions to the Corps during the Second World War.

History of the Uniform

The RCMP are famous for their distinctive Red Serge, a scarlet ceremonial uniform with a stetson hat with a wide flat brim which is worn on special occasions, and the Musical Ride (a ceremony in which officers showcase their horse riding skills and uniform in the execution of a variety of intricate figures and cavalry drills with music). On normal duties, the RCMP uses standard police methods, equipment, and uniforms. Horses are no longer used operationally by any unit. drill The Red Serge tunic that identified initially the NWMP, and later the RNWMP and RCMP, is of the standard British military pattern. The NWMP was originally kitted out from militia stores, resulting initially in several different styles of tunic, although the style later became standardized. This style was used to both to emphasize the British nature of the force and to differentiate it from the blue American military uniforms. The blue shoulder epaulets were added in the 1920's after it was granted its "Royal" status from the British Soverign for its service in World War I, replacing gold-trimmed scarlet straps from the earlier uniforms. Currently, RCMP personnel under the rank of Inspector wear blue "gorget" patches on the collar, while officers from Inspector to Commissioner have solid blue collars, along with blue pointed sleeve cuffs. Initially the NWMP wore buff trousers. Later dark blue trousers with yellow-gold strapping (stripes) were adopted. Members of the NWMP were known to exchange kit with US cavalry units along the border and it is suggested that this was the initial source for the trousers; however, blue trousers were considered early on, although with a white strap. Dark blue with yellow-gold strapping is another British cavalry tradition, and Canadian city police forces frequently wear dark blue trousers with a narrow red strap of infantry tradition. The wide flat brim stetson hat was not adopted officially until about 1904. Although the NWMP contingent at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee wore the stetson, it was an unofficial item of dress. The primary official head dress at the time was the white British foreign service helmet, also known as a pith helmet. This was not particularly practical as headdress in the Canadian west, and members wore a stetson type hat on patrol and around camp. Sam Steele is often credited with introducing the stetson-type hat, and when he left the force to command Lord Strathcona's Horse and took the regiment to South Africa he also adopted the stetson for this unit. Black riding boots were later changed to the modern brown style. The original crossbelts were later changed to the brown Sam Browne type currently worn. The brown colour of the boots and belt worn with the Red Serge come from the individual member applying numerous coats of polish, often during their time in training at Depot Division. Sidearms are standard now, but were often not worn in the early years. The everyday uniform consists of a grey shirt with dark blue tie, dark blue trousers with gold strapping, regular patrol boots called "ankle boots", regular duty equipment, and a regular policeman's style cap. A blue "Gore-Tex" open-collar jacket is worn by Constables, Corporals, Sergeants, and Staff Sergeants while a dark blue jacket, with a white shirt in place of the grey shirt, is worn by Sergeants Major, certain Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) usually involved in aspects of recruit training or media relations, and all officers from Inspector to Commissioner. Short sleeved shirts are worn in the summer by all members with Constables and NCOs not wearing the tie, and Officers wearing the tie year round. Winter dress consists of a long-sleeved shirt and tie for all members and, depending on the climate of the detachment area, heavier boots, jackets and a fur cap are worn.

Organization

The RCMP divides the country into divisions for command purposes. In general, each division is coterminous with a province (e.g. C Division is Quebec). The province of Ontario, however, is divided into two divisions, A Division (Ottawa) and O Division (rest of the province). There is one additional division - Depot Division, which is the RCMP Training Academy. The RCMP headquarters are located in Ottawa, Ontario. During 1960s and 1970s, the RCMP had Special Constables in its ranks. Unlike regular members, their duties were to police the airports and, in certain Canadian provinces, the court houses. This program was abolished in the 1980s or 1990s. In the early years of policing in Northern Canada, and well into the 1950's, local native people were hired by the RCMP as Special Constables and were employed as guides and to source and care for sled dog teams. Many of these former Special Constables still reside in the North to this day and were are still involved in regimental funtions of the RCMP, especially with Canada's declaration that 2005 be recognized as the "Year of the Veteran".

Ranks

The rank system of the RCMP illustrates their origin as a paramilitary force. The insigina was based upon the Canadian army of the time, which is almost identical to that of the current British Army. Higher ranks have been increased over the years since the formation of the force, whereas the rank of inspector, which was initally a subaltern, is now a field officer level, the lower officer ranks having been dropped. With the military introducing the warrant officer, the RCMP non-commissioned officers were maintained using the older military style. The ranks of the RCMP, in English and French with their insignia, are:

Name of rank in English / French	Insignia
Commissioner / commissaire (1)	Image:Rcmp-commissioner.jpg
Deputy Commissioner / sous-commissaire (7)	Image:Rcmp-depcommissioner.jpg
Assistant Commissioner / commissaire adjoint (24)	Image:Rcmp-asstcommissioner.jpg
Chief Superintendent / surintendant principal (52)	Image:Rcmp-chiefsuperintendent.jpg
Superintendent / surintendant (143)	Image:Rcmp-superintendent.jpg
Inspector / inspecteur (346)	Image:Rcmp-inspector.jpg
Corps Sergeant-Major / sergent-major du corps (1)	Image:Rcmp-corpssergeantmajor.jpg
Sergeant-Major / sergent-major (6)	Image:Rcmp-sergeantmajor.jpg
Staff Sergeant-Major / sergent-major d'état major (1)	Image:Rcmp-staffsergeantmajor.jpg
Staff Sergeant / sergent d'état-major (742)	Image:Rcmp-staffsergeant.jpg
Sergeant / sergent (1,616)	Image:Rcmp-sergeant.jpg
Corporal / caporal (2,928)	Image:Rcmp-corporal.jpg
Constable / gendarme (10,136)

The ranks of Inspector and higher are commissioned ranks and are appointed by the House of Commons. Depending on the dress, badges are worn on the shoulder as slip-ons, on shoulder boards, or directly on the epaulettes. The lower ranks are non-commissioned officers and the insignia continues to be based on British army patterns. Since 1990, the non-commissioned officers’ rank insignia has been embroidered on the epaulette slip-ons. Non-commissioned rank badges are worn on the right sleeve of the scarlet/blue tunic and blue jacket. The Constables wear no rank insignia. There are also Special Constables, Auxiliary Constables, and Students who wear identifying insignia. The current number in each rank is identified in brackets. Several provinces have indicated increasing the numbers. Number of others are listed below:
- Special Constables 82
- Civilian Members 2,605
- Public Servants 3,867
- Total 22,557

The RCMP in popular culture

1990, Canada Day 1999.]] The Mounties have been immortalized as symbols of Canadian culture in numerous Hollywood movies, which often feature the image of the Mountie as square-jawed, stoic, and polite, and with the motto that the Mountie "always gets his man." (In actual fact, the RCMP's motto is Maintiens le droit, French for "Maintain the Right". The Hollywood motto dervies from a comment by the Montana newspaper, the Fort Benton Record: "They fetch their man every time." .) A famous example is the radio and television series, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. Dudley Do-Right (of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show) is a 1960s example of the comic aspect of the Mountie myth. The Broadway musical and Hollywood movie Rose Marie is a 1930s example of its romantic side. Canadians also poke fun at the RCMP with Sergeant Renfrew and his faithful dog Cuddles in various sketches produced by the Royal Canadian Air Farce comedy troupe. The British have also exploited the myth: the BBC television series Monty Python's Flying Circus featured a group of mounties singing the chorus in The Lumberjack Song in the famous lumberjack sketch. Ren and Stimpy also parodied the Mounties in the episode Royal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen. More recently, the 1994-98 TV series Due South paired a Mountie with a streetwise American detective cleaning up the streets of Chicago, Illinois, mainly deriving its entertainment from the perceived differences in attitude between these two countries' police forces.

External links

- [http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca The official website of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police]
- [http://www.rcmpmuseum.com RCMP Museum]

References

- [http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/html/organi_e.htm Organization of the RCMP]
- [http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/history/marchwest_e.htm Diary of Commissioner George Arthur French] August 20, 2005
- [http://www.ourheritage.net/julien_pages/Julien1.html The Diary of Henri Julien]
- [http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1109976610322&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX The Toronto Star] March 5, 2005 "Force's legacy endures". Category:Law enforcement agencies of Canada Category:Canadian intelligence agencies Category:Cavalry
- Category:Canadian federal departments and agencies Category:Canadian regiments Category:History of Canada ja:王立カナダ騎馬警察

Gendarmerie

A gendarmerie (French) is a military body charged with general police duties. The members of such a body are gendarmes. Many countries that were once under Napoleonic influence have a gendarmerie (or used to have one: both the Belgian and the Austrian gendarmerie have merged with the police in 2001 and 2005, respectively). It is also used as a generic term for any similar force. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is named in French Gendarmerie royale du Canada (GRC). The usual gendarmerie symbol is a flaming grenade.

List of Gendarmerie and similar forces

- Argentine Gendarmería Nacional
- Austrian Bundesgendarmerie (merged with federal police in 2005)
- Belgian Gendarmerie/Rijkswacht (civilian status from 1991; merged with federal police in 2001)
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (civilian status)
- Chilean Carabineros
- Cretan Gendarmerie
- Dutch Koninklijke Marechaussee (Royal Constabulary)
- European Gendarmerie Force
- French Gendarmerie
- Germany Bundespolizei (formerly Bundesgrenzschutz; civilian force)
- Italian Carabinieri
- Moroccan Gendarmerie Royale
- Polish Żandarmeria Wojskowa
- Portuguese Guarda Nacional Republicana
- Romanian Jandarmeria
- Russian Special Corps of Gendarmes (1836-1917)
- Serb Žandarmerija (2001)
- Spanish Guardia Civil
- Turkish Jandarma

National police

National police are the primary source of law enforcement activities in some countries, such as Italy, France and Japan, and are organised on a national basis. They provide all manner of law enforcement such as patrol and prevention, crime investigation, and counter-intelligence.

Territories of Canada

Canada is a federation of ten provinces which, together with three territories, comprise the world's second largest country. The major difference between a Canadian province and a territory is that a province receives powers directly from the Constitution Act, 1867, while a territory is delegated powers by the federal government. Thus, the federal government has more direct control over the territories, while provincial governments have many more competences and rights. (See also Canadian federalism) __TOC__

Overview

Provinces have a great deal of power relative to the federal government, with jurisdiction over health care, education, welfare, transportation (intra-provincial), and the like. They receive "transfer payments" from the federal government to pay for these, as well as exacting their own taxes. The federal government, with its greater powers to tax and spend, can use these transfer payments to influence these provincial areas. For instance in order to receive health care funding under medicare, provinces must agree to meet certain federal mandates, such as universal access to required medical treatment. Provincial and territorial legislatures are unicameral, having no second chamber equivalent to the Canadian Senate. Originally a few provinces did have such bodies, known as legislative councils, but these were subsequently abolished, Quebec's being the last in 1968. In most provinces, the single house of the legislature is known as the Legislative Assembly except in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, where it is called the House of Assembly, and Quebec where it is called the National Assembly. Ontario has a Legislative Assembly but its members are called Members of the Provincial Parliament or MPPs. The legislative assemblies use a procedure similar to that of the Canadian House of Commons. The head of government of each province, called the premier, is generally the head of the party with the most seats. This is also the case in Yukon, but the Northwest Territories and Nunavut have no political parties at the territorial level. The Queen's representative to each province is the Lieutenant-Governor (or Lieutenant Governor). Each of the territories has a Commissioner that is analogous to a provincial lieutenant-governor. These terminological differences are summarized below. territories

Federal, provincial, and territorial terminology compared

Provinces of Canada

The following table is listed in the order of precedence (i.e. when a province entered into Confederation). Population figures are from 2004. Notes: # Immediately prior to Confederation, Ontario and Quebec were part of the Province of Canada. # Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island were separate colonies at the time of joining Canada. Newfoundland was a Dominion within the British Commonwealth. # Manitoba was established simultaneously with the Northwest Territories. # Saskatchewan and Alberta were created out of land that had been part of the Northwest Territories.

Territories of Canada

There are three territories in Canada. They include all of mainland Canada north of latitude 60° north and west of Hudson Bay, as well as essentially all islands north of the Canadian mainland (from those in James Bay to the Arctic Archipelago) that are not politically part of Greenland. The following table lists the territories in order of precedence (territories take precedence after provinces regardless of the date of their creation). Note: Canada did not acquire any new land to create Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Nunavut. All of these originally formed part of the Northwest Territories. British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island were separate colonies before joining Canada. Ontario and Quebec were united before Confederation as the Province of Canada. Manitoba and the Northwest Territories were created in 1870 from Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory. The land of the Northwest Territories at that time was all of current western Canada, except British Columbia and southern Manitoba, and the northern three-quarters of Ontario and Quebec. In 1999, Nunavut was created from the eastern portion of the Northwest Territories. Yukon Territory lies in the western portion of The North, while Nunavut is in the east. Nunavut's population is about 85% Inuit, while the population of the Northwest Territories is about 10% Inuit, 40% First Nations and Métis, and 50% non-Aboriginal. All three territories combined are the most sparsely populated region in Canada with about 100,000 people spread across a huge area. They are often referred to as a single region, The North, for organizational purposes. In late 2004, Prime Minister Paul Martin surprised some observers by expressing his personal support for all three territories gaining provincial status "eventually". He cited their importance to the country as a whole and the ongoing need to assert sovereignty in the Arctic, particularly as global warming could make that region more open to exploitation. [http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/11/22/provinces041122.html]

Other

The District of Keewatin was created as a separate territory from 1876 to 1905, after which it became a Northwest Territories administration district. There is also active interest within both Canada and the Turks and Caicos Islands, an overseas UK territory in the Caribbean, for the latter to enter into Confederation in some capacity. While no official negotiations are yet underway, the two have a long-standing relationship and formal committees of both governments are actively exploring the circumstances under which this could be achieved. [http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/turksandcaicos/]

Ontario

:This article describes the Canadian province. For other usages, see Ontario (disambiguation). Ontario is the most populous and second-largest in area of Canada's ten provinces. It is found in east-central Canada. Its capital is Toronto. Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is also located in Ontario. Ontario has a population (July 1, 2005) of 12,541,410, representing approximately 37.9% of the total Canadian population (Ontarians) and an area of 1,076,395km² (415,598 sq. mi.).

Geography

Ontario is bounded on the north by Hudson Bay and James Bay, on the east by Quebec, on the west by Manitoba, and on the south by the American states of Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. Ontario's long American border is formed almost entirely by lakes and rivers, starting in Lake of the Woods and continuing to the Saint Lawrence River near Cornwall; it passes through the four Great Lakes on which Ontario has coastline, namely Lakes Superior, Huron (which includes Georgian Bay), Erie, and Ontario (for which the province is named; Ontario itself is an Iroquois word meaning "beautiful lake" or "beautiful water"). There are approximately 250,000 lakes and over 100,000 kilometres of rivers in the province. The province consists of three main geographical regions:
- the thinly populated Canadian Shield in the northwestern and central portions, a mainly infertile area rich in minerals and studded with lakes and rivers; sub-regions are Northwestern Ontario and Northeastern Ontario.
- the mostly unpopulated Hudson Bay Lowlands in the extreme north and northeast, mainly swampy and sparsely forested; and
- the temperate, and therefore most populous region, the fertile Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence Valley in the south where agriculture and industry are concentrated. Southern Ontario is further sub-divided into four regions; Western Ontario (sometimes called Southwestern Ontario), Golden Horseshore, Central Ontario and Eastern Ontario. The Carolinian forest zone covers most of the southwestern section, its northern extent is parts of the Greater Toronto Area at the western end of Lake Ontario. The Saint Lawrence Seaway allows navigation to and from the Atlantic Ocean as far inland as Thunder Bay in Northwestern Ontario. Northern Ontario occupies 90 per cent of the surface area of the province; conversely Southern Ontario contains 94 per cent of the population (see article Geography of Canada). Point Pelee National Park is a peninsula in southwestern Ontario (near Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan) that extends into Lake Erie and is the part of Canada's mainland furthest south. Pelee Island in Lake Erie is even further south. Both are south of 42°N slighty further south than the northern border of California.

Demographics

The major racial/ethnic groups in Ontario are:
- European: 80.9% (Major groups: English, Irish, Scottish, French, German, Italian)
- South Asian: 4.9%
- Chinese: 3.7%
- Black: 3.6%
- Aboriginal: 1.7%
- Filipino: 1.3%
- Latin-American: 0.9%
- Other: 3.0% Increasing immigration from all parts of the world, especially to Toronto and its environs, is rapidly diversifying the province's ethnic makeup. About five per cent of the population of Ontario is Franco-Ontarian. 10 largest municipalities by population

Weather

Franco-Ontarian The weather in Ontario is very diverse. The south, including Greater Toronto Area receives very hot, humid weather in the summer, as the stronger the Bermuda high pressure over the Atlantic Ocean, the more warm, humid air is transported northward from the the Gulf of Mexico. Severe thunderstorms peak in frequency in June and July, most notably in Southwestern and Central Ontario. Northwestern Ontario also receives short periods of hot weather and severe storms. In the winter, lake effect snow squalls affect three primary areas in Ontario known as the "snow belts", the Algoma District in Northeastern Ontario on the east end of Lake Superior; much of the Georgian Bay shoreline including Killarney, Parry Sound District, Muskoka and Simcoe County; the Lake Huron shore from east of Sarnia northward to the Bruce Peninsula. Wind whipped snowsqualls or lake effect snow can affect areas much further inland, as far as 100km or greater from the shore but the heaviest snows usually occur within 20km from the shoreline. At other times, all regions of the province may encounter snow squalls.

Economy

Ontario's rivers, particularly its share of the Niagara River, make it rich in hydroelectric energy. This competitive advantage, as well as excellent transportation links to the American heartland, has contributed to making manufacturing the principal industry, found mainly in the Golden Horseshoe region, the most industrialized area in Canada. Important products include motor vehicles, iron, steel, food, electrical appliances, machinery, chemicals, and paper. Ontario surpassed the American state of Michigan in car production, assembling 2.696 million vehicles in 2004 (see Canada-United States Automotive Agreement). Some economists believe that the North American Free Trade Agreement has led to a decline in manufacturing in part of North America's manufacturing "Rust Belt" that includes a portion of Southern Ontario from roughly Windsor through to St. Catharines (south of Toronto). This area and the Greater Toronto region contain the bulk of the auto sector in the province. As a result of steeply delcining sales, on November 21, 2005 General Motors announced massive layoffs at production facilities across North America including two large GM plants in Oshawa and a drive train facility in St. Catharines by 2008 resulting in 8,000 job losses in Ontario alone. Uncertainty also looms for money losing Ford Motor Co. and an announcement on cutbacks is likely in the coming weeks. Toronto is the centre of Canada's financial services and banking industry. Surburban cities Brampton and Mississauga are large product distribution centres, in addition to having automobile related industries. The information technology sector is also important, especially around Markham, Waterloo and Ottawa. Mining and the forest products industry, notably pulp and paper, are important to the economy of the Canadian Shield of Northern Ontario. Nominal Gross Domestic Product in 2003 was an estimated C$494.229 billion (40.6% of the Canadian total), larger than the GDP of Austria, Belgium or Sweden. Broken down by sector, the primary sector is 1.8% of total GDP, secondary sector 28.5%, and service sector 69.7%. Further economic information on provincial GDP etc. at [http://www.2ontario.com/welcome/oo_000.asp Ontario Facts]

Agriculture

Gross Domestic Product] Once the dominant industry, agriculture occupies a small percentage of the population. The number of farms has decreased from 68,633 in 1991 to 59,728 in 2001, but farms have increased in average size. Cattle, small grains and dairy were the common types of farms in the 2001 census. The fruit, grape and vegetable growing industry is located primarily on the Niagara Peninsula and along Lake Erie. The Ontario origins of Massey-Ferguson Ltd., once one of the largest farm implement manufacturers in the world, indicate the importance agriculture once had to the Ontario economy (see Geography of Canada for more detail).

History

Pre-1867

Before the arrival of the Europeans, the region was inhabited both by Algonquian (Ojibwa, Cree and Algonquin) and Iroquoian (Iroquois and Huron) tribes. The French explorer Étienne Brûlé explored part of the area in 1610-12. The English explorer Henry Hudson sailed into Hudson Bay in 1611 and claimed the area for England, but Samuel de Champlain reached Lake Huron in 1615 and French missionaries began to establish posts along the Great Lakes. French settlement was hampered by their hostilities with the Iroquois, who would ally themselves with the British.

Image:Ontario.jpg
Map of Ontario, showing CMA's and CA's

The British established trading posts on Hudson Bay in the late 17th century and began a struggle for domination of Ontario. The 1763 Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years War by awarding nearly all of France's North American possessions (New France) to Britain. The region was annexed to Quebec in 1774. From 1783 to 1796, the United Kingdom granted United Empire Loyalists leaving the United States following the American Revolution 200 acres (0.8 km²) of land and other items with which to rebuild their lives. This measure substantially increased the population of Canada west of the Ottawa River during this period, a fact recognized by the Constitutional Act of 1791, which split Quebec into The Canadas: Upper Canada west of the Ottawa River, and Lower Canada east of it. John Graves Simcoe was appointed Upper Canada's first Lieutenant-Governor in 1793. American troops in the War of 1812 invaded Upper Canada across the Niagara River and the Detroit River but were successfully pushed back by British and Native American forces. The Americans gained control of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, however, and during the Battle of York occupied the Town of York (later named Toronto) in 1813. Not able to hold the town, the departing soldiers burned it to the ground. After the War of 1812, many settlers from the British Isles immigrated to Upper Canada, and began to chafe against the aristocratic Family Compact that governed the region, much as the Château Clique ruled Lower Canada. Accordingly, rebellion in favour of responsible government rose in both regions; Louis-Joseph Papineau led the Lower Canada Rebellion and William Lyon Mackenzie led the Upper Canada Rebellion. For more on the rebellions of 1837, see History of Canada. Although both rebellions were crushed, the British government sent Lord Durham to investigate the causes of the unrest. He recommended that self-government be granted and that Lower and Upper Canada be re-joined in an attempt to assimilate the Québécois. Accordingly, the two colonies were merged into the Province of Canada by the Act of Union (1840), with Ontario becoming known as Canada West. Parliamentary self-government was granted in 1848. Due to heavy immigration the population of Canada West more than doubled by 1851 over the previous decade, and as a result for the first time the English-speaking population of Canada West surpassed the French-speaking population of Canada East. A political stalemate between the French- and English-speaking legislators, as well as fear of aggression from the United States during the American Civil War, led the political elite to hold a series of conferences in the 1860s to effect a broader federal union of all British North American colonies. The British North America Act took effect on July 1, 1867, establishing the Dominion of Canada, initially with four provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. The Province of Canada was divided at this point into Ontario and Quebec so that each linguistic group would have its own province. Both Quebec and Ontario were required by section 93 of the BNA Act to safeguard existing educational rights and privileges of the Protestant and Catholic minorities. Neither province had a constitutional requirement to protect its French- or English-speaking minority. Toronto was formally established as Ontario's provincial capital at this time.

From 1867 to 1896

Once constituted as a province, Ontario proceeded to assert its economic and legislative power. In 1872, the lawyer Oliver Mowat became premier, and remained as premier until 1896. He fought for provincial rights, weakening the power of the federal government in provincial matters, usually through well-argued appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. His battles with the federal government greatly decentralized Canada, giving the provinces far more power than John A. Macdonald had intended. He consolidated and expanded Ontario's educational and provincial institutions, created districts in Northern Ontario, and fought tenaciously to ensure that those parts of Northwestern Ontario not historically part of Upper Canada (the vast areas north and west of the Lake Superior-Hudson Bay watershed, known as the District of Keewatin) would become part of Ontario, a victory embodied in the Canada (Ontario Boundary) Act, 1889. He also presided over the emergence of the province into the economic powerhouse of Canada. Mowat was the creator of what is often called Empire Ontario. Beginning with Sir John A. Macdonald's the National Policy (1879) and the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (1875-1885) through Northern Ontario and the Prairies to British Columbia, Ontario manufacturing and industry flourished.

From 1896 to the present

Mineral exploitation began in the late 19th century, leading to the rise of important mining centres like Sudbury, Cobalt and Timmins. The province harnessed its water power to generate hydro-electric power, and created the state-controlled Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, later Ontario Hydro. The availability of cheap electric power further facilitated the development of industry. In 1904, the Canadian automobile industry was launched in what is now Windsor, Ontario with the establishment of the Ford Motor Company of Canada. General Motors of Canada Ltd. was formed in 1918. The motor vehicle industry would become the major industrial component of the Ontario economy. In July 1912, the Conservative government of Sir James P. Whitney issued Regulation 17 which severely limited the availability of French-language schooling to the province's French-speaking minority. French-Canadians reacted with outrage, journalist Henri Bourassa denouncing the "Prussians of Ontario". It was eventually repealed in 1927. Influenced by events in the United States, the government of Sir William Hearst introduced prohibition of alcoholic drinks in 1916 with the passing of the Ontario Temperance Act. Prohibition came to an end in 1927 with the establishment of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario by the government of George Howard Ferguson. The sale of liquor and beer is still tightly-controlled by the state to ensure that the maximum revenues go to the provincial treasury. The post-World War II period was one of exceptional prosperity and growth. Ontario, and the Greater Toronto Area in particular, have been the recipients of most immigration to Canada. Changes in federal immigration law have led to a massive influx of non-Europeans since the 1980s. From a largely ethnically British province, Ontario has now become very culturally diverse. The nationalist movement in Quebec, particularly after the election of the Parti Québécois in 1976, contributed to driving many businesses out of Quebec to Ontario, and Toronto surpassed Montreal as the largest city and economic centre of Canada. According to the provincial government website, English is Ontario's official language, although French language rights have been extended to the legal and educational systems under the French Language Services Act of 1990.

Government

1990 The British North America Act 1867 section 69 stipulated "There shall be a Legislature for Ontario consisting of the Lieutenant Governor and of One House, styled the Legislative Assembly of Ontario". The assembly has 103 seats representing ridings elected in a first-past-the-post system across the province. The legislative buildings at Queen's Park in Toronto are the seat of government. Following the Westminster system, the leader of the party currently holding the most seats in the assembly is known as the "Premier and President of the Council" (Executive Council Act R.S.O. 1990). The Premier chooses the cabinet or Executive Council whose members are deemed "ministers of the Crown". Although the Legislative Assembly Act (R.S.O. 1990) refers to members of the assembly, the legislators are now called MPPs (Members of the Provincial Parliament) in English and députés de l'Assemblée législative in French, but they have also been called MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly), and both are acceptable. The title of Prime Minister of Ontario, while permissible in English and correct in French (le Premier ministre), is generally avoided in favour of "Premier" to avoid confusion with the Prime Minister of Canada.

Politics

Territorial evolution 1788-1899

Executive Council in Northwestern Ontario.]] Land was not legally subdivided into administrative units until a treaty had been concluded with the native peoples ceding the land (see Royal Proclamation of 1763). In 1788, while part of the Province of Quebec (1763-1791), southern Ontario was divided into four districts: Hesse, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, and Nassau. In 1792, the four districts were renamed: Hesse became the Western District, Lunenburg became the Eastern District, Mecklenburg became the Midland District, and Nassau became the Home District. Counties were created within the districts. By 1798, there were eight districts: Eastern, Home, Johnstown, London, Midland, Newcastle, Niagara and Western. By 1826, there were eleven districts: Bathurst, Eastern, Gore, Home, Johnstown, London, Midland, Newcastle, Niagara, Ottawa, and Western. By 1838, there were twenty districts: Bathurst, Brock, Colbourne, Dalhousie, Eastern, Gore, Home, Huron, Johnstown, London, Midland, Newcastle, Niagara, Ottawa, Prince Edward, Simcoe, Talbot, Victoria, Wellington and Western. In 1849, the districts of southern Ontario were abolished by the Province of Canada and county governments took over certain municipal responsibilities. The Province of Canada also began creating districts in sparsely populated Northern Ontario with the establishment of Algoma District and Nipissing District in 1858. The northern and western boundaries of Ontario were in dispute after Confederation. Ontario's right to Northwestern Ontario was determined by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1884 and confirmed by the Canada (Ontario Boundary) Act, 1889 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. By 1899, there were seven northern districts: Algoma, Manitoulin, Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, and Thunder Bay. Four more northern districts were created between 1907 and 1912: Cochrane, Kenora, Sudbury and Temiskaming.
- [http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/maps/districts.htm Early Districts and Counties 1788-1899]

External links

- [http://www.gov.on.ca/ Government of Ontario]
- [http://atlas.gc.ca/rasterimages/english/maps/reference/provincesterritories/ont_new.pdf Map]
- [http://www.ontariotenants.ca/government/mpp.phtml Ontario MPP Contact Information]
- [http://www.ontarioghosttowns.com/ Ontario Ghost Towns and Abandoned Places]
- [http://www.historicbridges.org/b_s_ont.htm Learn about and see photos of historic bridges in southwestern Ontario]
- zh-min-nan:Ontario ko:온타리오 주 ja:オンタリオ州 simple:Ontario

Newfoundland and Labrador

This is about the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. For information on the Island, see Newfoundland and for information on the mainland portion of the province, see Labrador. For other meanings of Newfoundland, see Newfoundland (disambiguation). Newfoundland and Labrador (French, Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador, Irish: Talamh an Éisc agus Labradóir, Latin: Terra Nova) is the tenth province to join the Canadian confederation. Geographically, the province consists of the island of Newfoundland and the mainland Labrador, on Canada's Atlantic coast. On entry into Canada in 1949, the entire province was known as Newfoundland. But since 1964, the province's government has referred to itself as the "Government of Newfoundland and Labrador", and on December 6, 2001, an amendment was made to the Constitution of Canada to change the province's official name to "Newfoundland and Labrador". In general day-to-day conversation, however, Canadians still refer to the province as a whole by the shorter name Newfoundland, while the Labrador region of the province is usually referred to as simply Labrador. The province's population is 533,800. People from Newfoundland are called "Newfoundlanders" (and at times "Newfies", though this is usually seen as a derogatory or even racist term) while people from Labrador are called "Labradorians". Newfoundland has its own dialect of English, its own dialect of French and its own dialect of the Irish language.

History

The Colony of Newfoundland

Newfoundland has a number of historical firsts. The oldest known settlement anywhere in The Americas built by Europeans is located at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. It was founded circa 1000 A.D. by Leif Ericson's Vikings. Remnants and artifacts of the occupation can still be seen at L'Anse aux Meadows, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island was later inhabited by the Mi'kmaq and the Beothuks. In 1497, John Cabot became the first European since the Vikings to discover Newfoundland, landing at Bonavista on June 24. On August 5, 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert formally claimed Newfoundland as England's first overseas colony under Royal Prerogative of Queen Elizabeth I. From 1610 to 1728, Proprietary Governors were appointed to establish colonial settlements on the island. John Guy was governor of the first settlement at Cuper's Cove. Other settlements were Bristol's Hope, Renews, South Falkland and Avalon which became a province in 1623. The first governor given jurisdiction over all of Newfoundland was Sir David Kirke in 1638. The island of Newfoundland was nearly conquered by New France explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville in the 1690s. Newfoundland received a colonial assembly in 1832, which was and still is referred to as the House of Assembly, after a fight led by reformers William Carson, Patrick Morris and John Kent. The new government was unstable and divided along sectarian lines between the Catholic and Protestant populations of the colony. In 1842, the elected House of Assembly was amalgamated with the appointed Legislative Council. This was changed back in 1848 to two separate chambers. After this, a movement for responsible government began.

The Dominion of Newfoundland

responsible government In 1854, Newfoundland was granted responsible government by the British government. In 1855, Philip Francis Little, a native of Prince Edward Island, won a majority over Sir Hugh Hoyles and the Conservatives. Little formed the first administration from 1855 to 1858. Newfoundland rejected confederation with Canada in the 1869 general election.
It remained as a colony until acquiring dominion status on September 26, 1907 along with New Zealand. It successfully negotiated a trade agreement with the United States but the British government blocked it after objections from Canada. The Dominion of Newfoundland reached its golden age under Prime Minister Sir Robert Bond of the Liberal Party. Newfoundland produced its own regiment to fight in the First World War. On July 1, 1916, most of that regiment was wiped out at Beaumont Hamel on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The war debt sustained because of the regiment led to increased borrowing in the post-war era. In the 1920s, political scandals wracked the dominion. In 1923, Prime Minister Sir Richard Squires was arrested on charges of corruption. He was released soon after on bail, but the scandal was reviewed by the British-led Hollis Walker commission. Soon after, the Squires government fell. Squires returned to power in 1928 due to the unpopularity of his predecessors, the pro-business Walter Stanley Monroe and (briefly) Frederick C. Alderdice (Monroe's cousin), but found himself governing a country suffering from the Great Depression. Newfoundland's long-standing Labrador boundary dispute with Canada was resolved to the satisfaction of Newfoundland and Canada (but not Quebec, the province that bordered Labrador) with the ruling, on April 1, 1927 by the Imperial Privy Council. Prior to 1867, the Quebec North Shore portion of the "Labrador coast" had been shuttled back and forth between the colonies of Lower Canada and Newfoundland. Maps up to 1927 showed the coastal region as part of Newfoundland, with an undefined boundary. The Privy Council ruling established a boundary along the drainage divide separating waters that flowed through the territory to the Labrador coast, although following two straight lines from the Romaine River along the 52nd Parallel, then south near 57 degrees west longitude to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Quebec has long rejected the settlement on the grounds it was not a party to the agreement, and provincially-issued maps do not mark the boundary the same way as boundaries with Ontario and New Brunswick. On April 5, 1932, a mob of 10,000 people marched on the Colonial building (seat of the House of Assembly) and forced Squires to flee. Squires lost the election that was held subsequently. The next government, led once more by Alderdice, called upon the British government to take direct control until Newfoundland could be self-sustaining. The United Kingdom, concerned over Newfoundland's likelihood of defaulting on its debt payments, established the Newfoundland Royal Commission, headed by a Scottish peer, Baron Amulree. Its report, released in 1933, assessed Newfoundland's political culture as intrinsically corrupt and its economic prospects bleak, and advocated the abolition of responsible government on the island, to be replaced by a Commission of the British Government. Acting on the report's recommendations, Alderdice's government voted itself out of existence in December 1933. In 1934, the Dominion gave up its self-governing status as the Commission of Government took its place. In all but name, it was a colony again. Following World War II, the Commission held elections for the Newfoundland National Convention which debated the colony's future in 1946 and 1947. Two referenda resulted in which Newfoundlanders, decided end the [http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/3330/constitution/1934lp.htm commission], and joined the Canadian Confederation in 1949.
Canadian Confederation

The Province of Newfoundland (and Labrador)

In 1946, an election was held for the Newfoundland National Convention to decide the future of Newfoundland. The Convention voted to hold a referendum to decide between continuing the Commission of Government or restoring responsible government. Joseph R. Smallwood, the leader of the confederates, moved that a third option of confederation with Canada should be included. His motion was defeated by the convention. But he did not give up, instead gathered more than 5000 petitions from the people within a fortnight which he sent to London through the Governor. The United Kingdom, insisting that it would not give Newfoundland any further financial assistance, added a third option of having Newfoundland join Canada to the ballot. After much debate, an initial referendum was held on June 3, 1948 to decide between continuing with the Commission of Government, reverting to dominion status, or joining Canadian Confederation. The result was inconclusive, with 44.6% supporting the restoration of dominion status, 41.1% for confederation with Canada, and 14.3% for continuing the Commission of Government. Between the first and second referendums, rumours had it that Catholic bishops were using their religious influence to alter the outcome of the votes. The Orange Order was incensed and called on all its members to vote for confederation, as the Catholics voted for responsible government. The Protestants of Newfoundland outnumbered the Catholics at a ratio of 2:1. This was believed to have greatly influenced the outcome of the second referendum. A second referendum on July 22, 1948, which asked Newfoundlanders to choose between confederation and dominion status, was decided by a vote of 52% to 48% for confederation with Canada. Newfoundland joined Canada on March 31, 1949. Not everyone was satisfied with the results, however. Peter Cashin, an outspoken anti-Confederate, questioned the validity of the votes. He claimed that it was the 'unholy union between London and Ottawa' that brought about confederation. In 1959, a local controversy arose when the provincial government pressured the Moravian Church to abandon its mission station at Hebron, Labrador, resulting in the relocation southward of the area's Inuit population, who had lived there since the mission was established in 1831. 1831 1831 In the 1960s, Newfoundland developed the Churchill Falls hydro-electric facility in order to sell electricity to the United States. An agreement with Quebec was required to secure permission to transport the electricity across Quebec territory. Quebec drove a hard bargain with Newfoundland, resulting in a 75-year deal that Newfoundlanders now believe to be unfair to the province because of the low and unchangeable rate that Newfoundland and Labrador receives for the electricity. Politics of the province were dominated by the Liberal Party, led by Joseph R. Smallwood, from confederation until 1972. In 1972, the Smallwood government was finally replaced by the Progressive Conservative administration of Frank Moores. In 1979, Brian Peckford, another Progressive Conservative, became Premier. During this time, Newfoundland was involved in a dispute with the federal government for control of offshore oil resources. In the end, the dispute was decided by compromise. In 1989, Clyde Wells and the Liberal Party came to power ending seventeen years of Conservative government. In 1992, the federal government declared a moratorium on the Atlantic cod fishery, because of severely declining catches in the late 1980s. The consequences of this decision reverberated throughout the provincial economy of Newfoundland in the 1990s, particularly as once-vibrant rural communities faced a sudden exodus. The economic impact of the closure of the Atlantic cod fishery on Newfoundland has been compared to the effect of closing every manufacturing plant in Ontario. The cod fishery which had provided Newfoundlanders on the south and east coasts with a livelihood for over 200 years was gone, although the federal government helped fishermen and fish plant workers make the adjustment with a multi-billion dollar program named "The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy" (TAGS). In the late 1980s, the federal government, along with its Crown corporation Petro Canada and other private sector petroleum exploration companies, committed to developing the oil and gas resources of the Hibernia oil field on the northeast portion of the Grand Banks. Throughout the mid-1990s, thousands of Newfoundlanders were employed on offshore exploration platforms, as well as in the construction of the Hibernia Gravity Base Structure (GBS) and Hibernia topsides. 1990s In 1996, the former federal minister of fisheries, Brian Tobin, was successful in winning the leadership of the provincial Liberal Party following the retirement of premier Clyde Wells. Tobin rode the waves of economic good fortune as the downtrodden provincial economy was undergoing a fundamental shift, largely as a result of the oil and gas industry's financial stimulus, although the effects of this were mainly felt only in communities on the Avalon Peninsula. Good fortune also fell on Tobin following the discovery of a world class nickel deposit at Voisey's Bay, Labrador. Tobin committed to negotiating a better royalty deal for the province with private sector mining interests than previous governments had done with the Churchill Falls hydroelectric development deal in the 1970s. Following Tobin's return to federal politics in 2000, the provincial Liberal Party devolved into internal battling for the leadership, leaving its new leader, Roger Grimes, in a weakened position as premier. The pressure of the oil and gas industry to explore offshore in Atlantic Canada saw Newfoundland and Nova Scotia submit to a federal arbitration to decide on a disputed offshore boundary between the two provinces in the Laurentian Basin. The 2003 settlement rewrote an existing boundary in Newfoundland's favour, opening this area up to energy exploration. In 2003, the federal government declared a moratorium on the last remaining cod fishery in Atlantic Canada - in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. While Newfoundland was again the most directly affected province by this decision, communities on Quebec's North Shore and in other parts of Atlantic Canada also faced difficulties. Atlantic Canada Premier Grimes, facing a pending election that fall, used the Gulf cod decision and perceived federal bias against the province as a catalyst to try to rally citizens around his administration. Grimes called for a review of the Act of Union by which the province had become a part of Canada and on July 2, 2003, the findings of the Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada (which Grimes had created in 2002) were released. It noted the following stressors in the relationship between the province and Canada:
- The huge impact of the destruction of the cod stocks.
- Hydroelectricity resources in Labrador have primarily benefitted Quebec.
- Chronically high unemployment.
- Lowest per-capita income in Canada.
- The highest tax rates.
- The worst emigration. The report called for:
- more collaborative federalism;
- an action team to deal with the fishery;
- collaboration between Canada, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador on the development of the Gull Island hydro site;
- revision of the Atlantic Accord so that offshore oil and gas reserves primarily benefit the province;
- immediate and realistic negotiations on joint management of the fishery. In October 2003, the Liberals lost the provincial election to the Progressive Conservative Party, led by Danny Williams. From late October 2004 to the present, Premier Williams has argued that Prime Minister Paul Martin has not held up his promises for a new deal on the "Atlantic Accord". The issue is the royalties from oil: currently, 70 cents on each royalty dollar are sent back to the federal government through reductions in payments by the federal government with respect to its "equalization program". The province wants 100% of the royalties to allow the province to pull itself out of poverty on a long-term basis. Toward the end of 2004, Williams ordered the Canadian flag to be removed from all provincial buildings as a protest against federal policies, and asked for municipal councils to consider doing the same. The issue, dubbed the "Flag Flap" in the media, sparked debate across the province and the rest of Canada. The flags went back up in January 2005 after much controversy nationwide and Paul Martin stating that he would not negotiate with the province if the flags were not flying. At the end of January, the federal government signed a deal to allow 100% of oil revenues to go to the province, resulting in an extra $2 billion over eight years for the province. However, this agreement has led other provinces such as Ontario and Quebec to try to negotiate their own special deals as they too claim that the federal government is taking advantage of them financially. As of 2005, 4 of the 10 amendments to the Constitution of Canada have been concerned with Canada's tenth province.

Cities

The 10 largest municipalities in the province by population are:

References

- "This Marvelous Terrible Place: Images of Newfoundland and Labrador" by Momatiuk et al., Firefly Books; ISBN 1552092259; (September 1998)
- "Newfoundland & Labrador" by Lawrence Jackson, Fitzhenry & Whiteside Ltd; ISBN 1550412612; (August 1999)
- "Atlas of Newfoundland and Labrador" by Department of Geography Memorial University of Newfoundland, Breakwater Books Ltd; ISBN 1550810006; (1991)
- "Suspended State: Newfoundland Before Canada" by Gene Long, Breakwater Books Ltd; ISBN 1550811444; (April 1, 1999)
- "True Newfoundlanders: Early Homes and Families of Newfoundland and Labrador" by Margaret McBurney et al., Boston Mills Pr; ISBN 1550461990; (June 1997)
- "Biogeography and Ecology of the Island of Newfoundland: Monographiae Biologicae" by G. Robin South (Editor) Dr W Junk Pub Co; ISBN 9061931010; (April 1983)

External links

-
- [http://www.gov.nf.ca Government of Newfoundland and Labrador]
- [http://www.stats.gov.nl.ca/Statistics/Census2001/PDF/2001Origin.PDF Statistics Canada 2001 Census Information]

Newspapers

- [http://www.gfwadvertiser.ca/ The Advertiser]
- [http://www.theaurora.ca/ The Aurora]
- [http://www.ganderbeacon.ca/ The Beacon]
- [http://www.thecharter.ca/ The Charter]
- [http://www.thecoaster.ca/ The Coaster]
- [http://www.cbncompass.ca/ The Compass]
- [http://www.theexpress.ca/ The Express]
- [http://www.thegeorgian.ca/ The Georgian]
- [http://www.gulfnews.ca/ The Gulf News]
- [http://www.humberlog.ca/ The Humber Log]
- [http://www.theindependent.ca/ The Independent]
- [http://www.thelabradorian.ca/ The Labradorian]
- [http://www.northernpen.ca/ The Northern Pen]
- [http://www.thenorwester.ca/ The Norwester]
- [http://www.thepacket.ca/ The Packet]
- [http://www.lportepilot.ca/ The Pilot]
- [http://www.southerngazette.ca/ The Southern Gazette]
- [http://www.thetelegram.com/ The Telegram]
- [http://www.thewesternstar.com/ The Western Star]

Historic Sites

- [http://parkscanada.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/spear/index_e.asp Cape Spear]
- [http://parkscanada.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/signalhill/index_e.asp Signal Hill]
- [http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/meadows/index_e.asp L'Anse Aux Meadows]
- [http://parkscanada.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/castlehill/index_e.asp Castle Hill, Placentia]
- [http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/ryan/index_e.asp Ryan Premises, Bonavista]
- [http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/portauchoix/index_e.asp Port Aux Choix]
- [http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/redbay/index_e.asp Red Bay, Labrador]
- [http://www.historictrust.com/newman.shtml Newman Wine Vaults]
- [http://www.battleharbour.com/ Battle Harbour]
- ["http://www.heritage.nf.ca/avalon/default.html Colony of Avalon]
- [http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/hawthorne/index_e.asp Hawthorne Cottage, Brigus]

History and Heritage

- [http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~melbaker/confederation1949.htm "The Tenth Province: Newfoundland joins Canada, 1949", by Melvin Baker]
- [http://www.crossroadsforcultures.ca Crossroads For Cultures]
- [http://www.heritage.nf.ca/ NF & Lab Heritage]
- [http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/rhs/home.html Heritage Structures]
- [http://www.heritagefoundation.ca/ Heritage Foundation]
- [http://www.k12.nf.ca/lakeacademy/gbheritage/grand/grand.htm Grand Bank Heritage Society]
- [http://collections.ic.gc.ca/legion/intro.htm Beaumont Hamel]
- [http://www.historictrust.com/index.shtml Nfld Historic Trust]
- [http://www.gov.nf.ca/panl/ Provincial Archives]
- [http://ngb.chebucto.org/ Nfld Genealogy]
- [http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~hrollman/ Religion, Society & Culture]
- [http://www.placentia.20m.com/ Placentia Historical Society]
- [http://www.mgl.ca/~cpike/NOFU.html Nfld Overseas Forestry Unit]
- [http://www.renewsheritage.freeservers.com/ Renews Heritage Committee]
- [http://home.ca.inter.net/~elinorr/ranger-main.html Newfoundland Rangers]
- [http://collections.ic.gc.ca/fisheries/ Newfoundland Salt Fisheries]
- [http://www.wordplay.com/tourism/communities/ten_historic_towns/ten_towns_main.html Ten Historic Towns]
- [http://www.library.mun.ca/qeii/cns/photos/ Historic photos of Nfld & Lab]

Communities

- [http://www.bayroberts.com/ Bay Roberts]
- [http://www.bellisland.net/ Bell Island]
- [http://www.bishopsfalls.com/ Bishop's Falls]
- [http://www.bonavista.net/ Bonavista]
- [http://www.brigus.net/ Brigus]
- [http://www.angelfire.com/nf/BrigusSouth/ Brigus South]
- [http://www.townofbuchans.nf.ca/ Buchans]
- [http://www.burincanada.com Burin]
- [http://www.clarenville.net/ Clarenville]
- [http://www.conceptionbaysouth.ca/ Conception Bay South]
- [http://home.thezone.net/~jdower/conche.html Conche]
- [http://www.cornerbrook.com/ Corner Brook]
- [http://www.kittiwake.nf.ca/cottlesville/index.htm Cottlesville]
- [http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/cupids.html Cupids]
- [http://www.town.deerlake.nf.ca/ Deer Lake]
- [http://www.rootcellars.com/ Elliston]
- [http://www.nfcap.nf.ca/central/Fogo/ Fogo Island]
- [http://www.k12.nf.ca/lakeacademy/fortune.html Fortune]
- [http://www.gandercanada.com/ Gander]
- [http://www.glovertown.net/ Glovertown]
- [http://www.nfcap.nf.ca/east/GrandBank/ Grand Bank]
- [http://www.grandfallswindsor.com/ Grand Falls-Windsor]
- [http://www.happyvalley-goosebay.com/index2.htm Happy Valley-Goose Bay]
- [http://www.hrgrace.ca/ Harbour Grace]
- [http://www.centralnewfoundland.com/kingspoint.php3 King's Point]
- [http://www.labradorwest.com/ Labrador West]
- [http://www.thezone.net/townlprt/ Lewisporte]
- [http://www.townofmarystown.ca/ Marystown]
- [http://www.merasheen.ca/explorer/default.htm Merasheen]
- [http://members.tripod.com/~Mobilian/ Mobile]
- [http://www.mtpearl.nf.ca/ Mount Pearl]
- [http://www3.nf.sympatico.ca/d_smith/nclc.html Norman's Cove/Long Cove]
- [http://www.norrisarm.com/ Norris Arm]
- [http://www.town.paradise.nf.ca/ Paradise]
- [http://www.town.pasadena.nf.ca/ Pasadena]
- [http://www.pettyharbour.ca/ Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove]
- [http://www.nfcap.nf.ca/east/Placentia/ Placentia]
- [http://home.thezone.net/~blandfor/ Port Blanford]
- [http://www.nfld.net/hapdg/ Port de Grave]
- [http://www.nfcap.nf.ca/west/PortSaunders/ Port Saunders]
- [http://www.portugalcove-stphilips.com/ Portugal Cove-St. Philip's]
- [http://www.geocities.com/roseblanche_nf/ Rose Blanche]
- [http://www3.nf.sympatico.ca/sandycove/about.html Sandy Cove]
- [http://www.nfcap.nf.ca/central/Springdale/profile/index.html Springdale]
- [http://www.town.stanthony.nf.ca/ St. Anthony]
- [http://www.stjohns.ca/index.jsp St. John's]
- [http://www.steadybrook.com/ Steady Brook]
- [http://www.town.stephenville.nf.ca/ Stephenville]
- [http://www.townofstephenvillecrossing.com/ Stephenville Crossing]
- [http://www.town.torbay.nf.ca/ Torbay]
- [http://www.trinitybight.com/ Trinity Bight]
- [http://www.twillingate.com/ Twillingate]
- [http://www.geocities.com/jburden78/nf.html Woody Point]

Miscellaneous

- [http://bitstop.ca BitStop - Images of Newfoundland]
- [http://forums.delphiforums.com/the_rock_NFLD/start/ The Rock]
- [http://www.karlwells.com/ Karl Wells]
- [http://www.nfld.com/ NFLD.com]
- [http://www.purity.nf.ca/ Purity Factories]
- [http://www.angelfire.com/ct/newfie4life/index2.html World Nfld]
- [http://www.yesby.com/ Yesby]
- [http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/~cpelley/homepage.htm Newfoundland Backcountry]
- [http://www.wordplay.com/ Wordplay]
- [http://www.baccalieu.com/yaffles/index.htm Yaffles & Yaffles]
- [http://www.newfoundland.com/ Newfoundland.com]
- [http://www.targanewfoundland.com/ Targa]
- [http://www.offdarock.com/ OffdaRock]
- [http://www.explorenewfoundlandandlabrador.com/ Explore Nfld & Lab]
- [http://www.newfoundlanders.net/sitemap.html Newfoundlanders.net]
- [http://www.newfoundlandersabroad.com/ Newfoundlanders Abroad]
- [http://www.experiencelabrador.com/ Experience Labrador] Category:Former British colonies zh-min-nan:Newfoundland kap Labrador ko:뉴펀들랜드 래브라도 주 ja:ニューファンドランド・ラブラドール州 simple:Newfoundland and Labrador

Dominion Police

In 1868 the Dominion Police began as a police force protecting the Parliament Buildings on Parliament Hill in Ottawa (now covered by security guards for the House of Commons) and by 1911 it served as Canada's eastern police force. It was merged with the Royal North West Mounted Police on February 1 1920 to form the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Roles of the DP included:
- bodyguards for politicians
- secret service
- security intelligence
- protecting naval dockyards
- national fingerprint bureau
- parole service
- other law enforcement duties

References

- [http://fas.org/irp/world/canada/rcmp/ Dominion Police]
- [http://www.trustmark.ca/nwmp/Popup_html/Dominion_Police.html NWMP - A Tradition in Scarlett - Dominion Police] Category:Canadian intelligence agencies Category:Law enforcement agencies of Canada Category:Canadian federal departments and agencies Category:History of Canada<