Labrador StraitsThe Quebec-Labrador Boundary Dispute
The original dispute, which seems to have started in 1902, was between Newfoundland -- then a self-governing British colony -- and the Dominion of Canada. The Newfoundland Labrador was accepted to include the Labrador "coast and islands" west of Blanc Sablon. The grey area was the interior -- where did "coast" stop and "interior" begin? This was especially a question with respect to the large Hamilton River and Hamilton Inlet area. The catalyst for the dispute was an increasing interest -- by the Province of Quebec -- in the forest resources.
In 1903 the Newfoundland governor rejected any Canadian/Quebec claim and suggested a legal decision was needed. In 1904 Canada and Britain agreed that the matter was to be put to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (of England).
Seems that not much happened until 1907, when Newfoundland officially submitted the question of the Labrador boundary to the Privy Council for consideration. Matters again dragged, Quebec became impatient and brought pressure to have the matter resolved. Then there began a long battle over the precise wording of the question to be submitted to the Privy Council.
In 1919, as this battle continued, another kind of discussion started between Newfoundland and Quebec: the possible sale/purchase of Labrador. Newfoundland was of course broke; the possibility of selling Labrador to Quebec would bring ready cash and avoid the legal expenses of the dispute. Newfoundland stipulated that it retain the exclusive use of a "three-mile reservation inland from high water mark" for Newfoundland fishermen, to which Quebec seems to have agreed. The sticking point was, of course, price. In February 1925 the Nfld Prime Minister proposed a price of $30 million to Quebec; in March 1925 he dropped the price to $15 million. The Premier of Quebec found this "excessive", and the possible sale/purchase of Labrador was dropped.
Meanwhile, the arrangements for the Privy Council hearing were interrupted by World War I and did not get moving again until 1920, when an agreement regarding the submission to the Council was signed by Canada and Newfoundland. The hearing itself did not occur until 1926. The decision of the Judicial Committee, given on March 1, 1927, was, as we know, in Newfoundland's favour.
----
As originally written in response to an email enquiry
Doug Robbins
January 1999
In 1903 the Newfoundland governor rejected any Canadian/Quebec claim and suggested a legal decision was needed. In 1904 Canada and Britain agreed that the matter was to be put to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (of England).
Seems that not much happened until 1907, when Newfoundland officially submitted the question of the Labrador boundary to the Privy Council for consideration. Matters again dragged, Quebec became impatient and brought pressure to have the matter resolved. Then there began a long battle over the precise wording of the question to be submitted to the Privy Council.
In 1919, as this battle continued, another kind of discussion started between Newfoundland and Quebec: the possible sale/purchase of Labrador. Newfoundland was of course broke; the possibility of selling Labrador to Quebec would bring ready cash and avoid the legal expenses of the dispute. Newfoundland stipulated that it retain the exclusive use of a "three-mile reservation inland from high water mark" for Newfoundland fishermen, to which Quebec seems to have agreed. The sticking point was, of course, price. In February 1925 the Nfld Prime Minister proposed a price of $30 million to Quebec; in March 1925 he dropped the price to $15 million. The Premier of Quebec found this "excessive", and the possible sale/purchase of Labrador was dropped.
Meanwhile, the arrangements for the Privy Council hearing were interrupted by World War I and did not get moving again until 1920, when an agreement regarding the submission to the Council was signed by Canada and Newfoundland. The hearing itself did not occur until 1926. The decision of the Judicial Committee, given on March 1, 1927, was, as we know, in Newfoundland's favour.
----
As originally written in response to an email enquiry
Doug Robbins
January 1999