Canada was Built on Booze

I have always held that Booze was the founding principle of Canada. I have good reason too. I can equate every crucial moment of Canada’s evolution to some form of Alcohol. Most people are now saying I am nuts but over the next few months I will prove it. I am going to begin with Confederation. Arguably the biggest event that lead to confederation was the Maritime Union conference. In 1864 Arthur Hamilton Gordon the prime mover in the movement to unite the Maritime provinces convinced the legislatures of the three colonies to hold a conference to discuss the idea, but they could not agree on a place. When the Province of Canada asked for an invitation to the proposed conference a meeting was hurriedly organized for September 1 at Charlottetown. In the then Province of Canada a sly and well oiled gentleman had been looking at these pious and proud Maritimers thinking how could he get them to join his vision of Canada. This man Sir John A MacDonald was used to dealing with the rough and course men of the then west (Ontario was the beginning of the west at the time) the merchants and traders and bankers. These men made deals over Whiskey and Gin. Parliamentarians would drink over lunch and come back to yell at each other in the house. Sir John A would mix words and often slur his words in the afternoon. This was Sir John A’s Canada. How could he convince these folks to agree to join Canada if he could not meet them in a bar? Well if you can’t bring them to the bar then he thought let’s bring the Bar to them. In an attempt to hijack the conference he loaded a steamer full of booze and finery and headed to Charlottetown. The Canadians finally arrived on the morning of September 1, 1864. While arguably most of the details of confederation were discussed at the conference Sir John A, had other plans he organized what was the famous oyster and champagne lunch aboard the Canadians’ ship. George Brown in a letter to his wife wrote “Cartier and I made eloquent speeches — of course — and whether as the result of our eloquence or of the goodness of our champagne, the ice became completely broken.” This was what Sir John A wanted. A few ounces of champagne and these sober Maritimers were toast. The hook having been set and the booze applied now Sir John A, said hey you think this is a great party join me in Ottawa…… and the rest was history.