Newfoundland refuses to join Canada in 1949

If Nfld refuses to join Canada in 1949, can she continue on as a crown colony? If so, what happens when its vast ocean oil reserves are discovered? What happens to Labrador and Quebec's claims?
 
It would be an economic basket case independently for a while. Bailout would be needed, and maybe another referendum where they accept the obvious need for union. King's initial attitude was that 52% wasn't enough, Pickersgill convinced him otherwise. If there's a NO vote, King will say screw it. St. Laurent might take a different attitude if they come begging a few years later.
 

TinyTartar

Banned
There was actually talk of Newfoundland joining the United States, if not as a state, than merely as a territory, around this time period. The US military base on the island was a big factor in this, as was the debate over fishing rights going on at the time.

I see it as unlikely, but possible, as Newfoundland being totally independent would be an economic disaster, and the British Crown was shedding colonies and quickly; they would have no desire to keep another one.


Whether the US wanted the Newfies or not is another question entirely; I doubt Truman wanted to piss anyone off at the time when NATO was being organized and the west was not so united as of yet.
 
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What happens to Labrador if Newfoundland remains independent?

I assume that most of the people in this thread actually mean "Newfoundland and Labrador" when they say Newfoundland - it's hard to imagine it, I dunno, getting annexed by Quebec or something. And it's certainly not viable as an independent territory.
 
I assume that most of the people in this thread actually mean "Newfoundland and Labrador" when they say Newfoundland - it's hard to imagine it, I dunno, getting annexed by Quebec or something. And it's certainly not viable as an independent territory.

Well, its fate would have an eventual impact on what happens I imagine. Did one half of Newfoundland and Labrador support one cause more than the other?
 
Well, its fate would have an eventual impact on what happens I imagine. Did one half of Newfoundland and Labrador support one cause more than the other?

No one lived in Labrador.

I mean, not no one, but...over 90% of the population has always lived on Newfoundland, with much/most of the Labrador population being natives.
 
No one lived in Labrador.

I mean, not no one, but...over 90% of the population has always lived on Newfoundland, with much/most of the Labrador population being natives.

Would they go with Newfoundland, or would they remain with Canada, perhaps merging with Ungava for another Native province?
 
Forming a province or territories for the aboriginal people (in this case, mostly Inuit) was just not going to happen in the 40s and 50s. Adding Labrador to Quebec is the only possible alternative I see if Newfoundland remain outside Confederation.
 
Adding Labrador to Quebec is the only possible alternative I see if Newfoundland remain outside Confederation.
Err, why? As I understood it the Dominion of Newfoundland included Labrador even if it wasn't in the name, why would it be 'the only possible alternative' to automatically seize and attached to Quebec rather than it just staying with Newfoundland as it already was?
 
Err, why? As I understood it the Dominion of Newfoundland included Labrador even if it wasn't in the name, why would it be 'the only possible alternative' to automatically seize and attached to Quebec rather than it just staying with Newfoundland as it already was?

I said that because I totally goofed and forgot Labrador was part of Newfoundland before 1949.

I shall go eat some humble pie now.
 
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