When did Newfoundland join Confederation?

Newfoundland joined Confederation on March 31, 1949 as Canada's 10th province. The province became part of Canada through the Newfoundland Act passed by the British Parliament on March 23, 1949 and the Order in Council of March 31, 1949. Newfoundland's entry completed the Canadian provincial union (Newfoundland was the last territory to join Canada except for the later creation of Nunavut as a territory in 1999). Newfoundland's entry was the result of two close referendums in June and July 1948 after Newfoundlanders rejected continued Commission of Government rule.

Newfoundland had been a separate self-governing Dominion of the British Empire from 1907 to 1934. The Great Depression had devastated the Newfoundland economy (which depended heavily on fishing exports), and the colony defaulted on its debt in early 1933. The British-Newfoundland Royal Commission (Amulree Commission) of 1933 recommended suspending responsible government and replacing it with a Commission of Government of British and Newfoundland appointees. The Commission of Government took office on February 16, 1934 and ruled Newfoundland until 1949.

By 1945 the Second World War had restored the Newfoundland economy through wartime spending (particularly American base construction at Argentia, Stephenville, Goose Bay, and Gander) and rising fish prices. Newfoundlanders wanted self-government restored. The British government called a National Convention to decide the future. The 45-member elected Convention met from 1946 to 1948. After extensive debate and missions to London and Ottawa, the Convention recommended placing two options on the referendum ballot: continued Commission of Government or restored responsible government as a separate Dominion. The British government added a third option: Confederation with Canada (despite Convention majority opposition).

The June 3, 1948 first referendum produced no majority: responsible government 44.6 per cent, Confederation with Canada 41.1 per cent, Commission of Government 14.3 per cent. The July 22, 1948 runoff between the top two produced a narrow Confederation victory: Confederation 52.3 per cent (78,323 votes), responsible government 47.7 per cent (71,334 votes). The Confederation campaign was led by Joseph 'Joey' Smallwood, a former radio broadcaster and Newfoundland Confederate Association leader who became Newfoundland's first provincial Premier (April 1, 1949 to January 17, 1972, longest-serving Newfoundland Premier). The new province retained denominational schools (Catholic, Anglican, United Church, and Pentecostal), bilingualism in the federal Parliament, and special transitional fiscal arrangements. The province was renamed Newfoundland and Labrador by constitutional amendment effective December 6, 2001 to recognise Labrador's distinct status.