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The Clarity Act, passed in 2000 by the Canadian parliament, was another step in the long-running effort of the Canadian government to clarify the nature of the nation’s constitution. It arose, specifically, from the failure, in 1995, of a popular referendum in the province of Quebec. The referendum was introduced in order to make Quebec a sovereign nation, independent of Canada, the country of which it had been a part for more than two hundred years.

Newfoundland had been governed since 1934 by a commission of six members, three from Newfoundland and three from Great Britain. However, Newfoundland’s significant role in World War II as the site of American military forces did much to alter Canadians’ image of the area. Even so, strong opposition to confederation was not quickly eliminated. In July, 1941, the Canadian government appointed its first high commissioner for Newfoundland, C. J. Burchell, an expert in maritime affairs and in admiralty and shipping law. Burchell carefully monitored the feelings of Newfoundland residents about confederation, which were generally negative. Despite these attitudes, in June, 1943, British prime minister Clement Attlee dispatched three members of the House of Commons to Newfoundland to explore local conditions and sentiments.

Located off the eastern coast of Canada and often referred to as England’s first overseas colony, Newfoundland was the tenth and last province to enter the Canadian confederation. This event took place on March 31, 1949, and was the result of a long and often contentious historical process.