Canada – Development of Provinces 1949

Canada is divided into administrative divisions, known as provinces. The provinces have their own constitutions and control their own decision making whereas, in contrast, the territories are directly ruled by the federal government. The first four provinces were formed in 1867 and were Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The number of provinces grew over time and in 1949 Newfoundland joined as the tenth province. Prior to this, Newfoundland was a separate British colony and considered a full dominion of the British Empire. The decision to join Canada was a controversial one, with many Newfoundlanders voting for self-government. Eventually, by a narrow margin, Newfoundland became part of the Canadian confederacy.