Joseph Howe - Political career, Confederation Debate, Railway Promotion, Trivia

Canadian statesman, born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, SE Canada. Proprietor and editor of the Halifax Nova Scotian, he became chief commissioner of railways for Nova Scotia (1854), then premier of the province (1863–1870). After federation he entered the first Canadian government at Ottawa as President of the Council, then as secretary of state.

Joseph Howe, PC (December 13, 1804 – June 1, 1873) was born the son of John Howe and Mary Edes at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Political career

Eventually, he decided to run for office in order to effect the changes he called for in his newspaper. Howe initially proposed only an elected legislative council but he was quick to agree with the concept of a fully representative government.

The coalition collapsed under various political conflicts, leading to Howe's resignation from the Council in 1843. While James Uniacke was officially the Premier, many regarded it as Joseph Howe's ministry. Howe assumed the post of Provincial Secretary, adapting existing institutions to the new system of government. He also began a campaign of railway construction, resigning as Provincial Secretary in 1853 to become Nova Scotia's first Chief Commissioner of Railways; as Commissioner he oversaw the initial construction of the Nova Scotia Railway. In addition, Howe was involved with recruiting American troops for the Crimean War. This election also led to conflict with Catholic members of the Liberal party because Howe had ridiculed their religious doctrine. The Liberals did not return to power until 1860 at which time Howe became provincial secretary. When the Premier, William Young, was appointed as a judge later that year, Joseph Howe assumed the leadership of the party and therefore became Premier.

Confederation Debate

Howe's duties as Commissioner prevented his attendance at the Charlottetown Conference. By the time he returned to Nova Scotia in November of 1864, the Québec Conference had taken place, and the Québec Resolutions widely disseminated. He led Nova Scotia's anti-Confederation movement believing the Québec Resolutions to be bad for the Province. When he failed to prevent passage of the resolution Howe began a vigorous campaign for repeal by delegations to London and a publishing a variety of anti-Confederation papers and pamphlets. Joseph Howe led the anti-Confederates in the Canadian House of Commons where he made a speech about his opposition to Confederation.

Having failed to win repeal of Confederation in 1868 Howe recognized the futility of further protests. In 1869 he was persuaded to join the Canadian Cabinet as President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada after receiving a promise of "better terms" for Nova Scotia. In November of 1869, he became secretary of state for the provinces in which post he played a role in Manitoba's entry into Confederation. He resigned his Cabinet post to become lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia in 1873.

Railway Promotion

In 1854, he resigned as the provincial secretary in order to head a bi-partisan railway commission.

Trivia

A major road, an elementary school, and a government office building in Halifax are all named after Joseph Howe. Though Howe supported the Temperance movement, his former Halifax home is ironically now The Old Triangle, a popular pub.