ATLANTIC PROVINCES UNION SUGGESTED.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000800210008-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 27, 2012
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: April 5, 1966
• Content Type: CABLE

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FROM 1J.S.ConSulate General, Halifax DATE: April 5, 1966.
SUBJECT :Atlantic Provinces Union Suggested.
REF
Suggesting that the time is "opportune" for some form of7
political union of Canada's Atlantic Provinces into the single
province of "Atlanta," Edward G. Byrne, Q.C., the Bathurst
lawyer who chaired New Brunswick's controversial Byrne
commission report on municipal reforms, told Dartmouth's
chamber of commerce such union would be essential with evolve-
ment of a strong federal government in Canada.
He said the far-reaching recommendations of the Byrne
report, with particular reference to the proposals aimed at
creating fiscal equity through standardized assessment and tax-
ation on a provincial basis would "well warrant study" for
application to such an Atlantic Provinces merger on an overall
basis although the report was aimed only at New. Brunswick's
problems and was not framed with the total area in mind.
Mr. Byrne said Canada's minority government situation
was conducive to the evolvement of co-operative federalism now
growing in Canada. He contended, however, that instead, the
provinces of Canada should be becoming "more subservient" to a
strong central government--and that in view of this need
Canadians should be asking themselves which should come first
"provincial rights or Canadian rights."
He said the leadership existed in both Nova Scotia
(Premier Stanfield) and in New Brunswick (Premier Robichaud)
which could provide the strong national governments required.
FORM
4-62 DS-323
Con,t
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April 5, 1966
Contents and Classification Approved-by:
F R DEPT. US ONLY
In Ont
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/27: CIA-RDP08001297R000800210008-5
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/27: CIA-RDP08001297R000800210008-5
UNCLASSIFIED
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When sUch federal strength becomes evident--the needs for
Atlantic union would increase accordingly, he said.
Comment:
As reported previously, possibility of a union first came
from Premier Robichaud of New Brunswick, who a year ago proposed
a study be made "on possible political union of the Maritime
provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I.)." Maritime -
not Atlantic provinces were specified since Premier Smallwood of
Newfoundland had indicated no interest in joining such a union,
if ever formed. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick each approved
legislation a year ago to establish committees to study the
advantages and disadvantages. A Joint investigating committee
was set up but, so far as is known, has not met. Furthermore, a
committee chairman has not been named. About the chairman: Premier
Robichaud was recently quoted in the press as saying, "We are
looking for a prominent man from outside the Maritimes, one who
is not biased. That is a rare bird indeed."
--7
LaL-1/,
Robert S. Black,
United States Consul Genera
CC: U.S.Embassy, Ottawa (2)
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/27: CIA-RDP08001297R000800210008-5