The Durham Report

Lord Durham, a British politician, was sent to North America in 1838 to investigate the causes of the rebellions the previous year in the colonies of Upper and Lower Canada. Durham's famous Report led to a series of reforms and changes including the union of the two Canada's into a single colony. The Report was controversial, and its recommendations were progressive for their time. Many argued that his report was racist, he believed that the English speaking would be dominant and the French Canadians would become the minority, describing them as people “without history and without literature.” He said they would gradually abandon their identity. In his report he criticized the “family compact” and chateau clique. He said they were unfit leaders and didn’t take into consideration all of the people’s needs, only caring about their own. He stated that they should separate British affairs from local Canadian affairs. If people were able to run their own affairs they would be satisfied and feel that they had some control over their own lives.

This is important to Canada as people now have a right to vote and a say in their government. Another key point in the Durham Report was that they should grant a responsible government. This means that the governor had to answer to the voters who elected the Assembly. The governor needed to accept their decisions, regardless of whether they agreed with them or not. This seems like a more fair government for everyone rather than just having wealthier people make all the decisions. Even though some of the things he said in his report weren’t necessarily fair to all the people, he helped to stop the chaos of the Rebellion.

I think the Durham Report is something for Canada not to be proud of because although it shaped the government for the future, the actual report itself was racist and inconsiderate. He did not treat everyone fairly or handle the situation how it should have been done.