Canada's Founding Debates is about Confederation—about the process that brought together six out of the seven territories of British North America in the years 1864-73 to form a country called Canada. It presents excerpts from the debates on Confederation in all of the colonial parliaments from Newfoundland to British Columbia and in the constituent assembly of the Red River Colony. The voices of the powerful and those of lesser note mingle in impassioned debate on the pros and cons of creating or joining the new country, and in defining its nature.

In short explanatory essays and provocative annotations, the editors sketch the historical context of the debates and draw out the significance of what was said. By organizing the debates thematically, they bring out the depth of the founders' concern for issues that are as vital today as they were then: the meaning of liberty, the merits of democracy, the best form of self-government, the tension between collective and individual rights, the rule of law, the requirements of political leadership, and, of course, the nature of Canadian nationality. Canada's Founding Debates offers a fresh and often surprising perspective on Canada's origins, history, and political character.

Previously published by Stoddart Publishing, 1999.

Janet Ajzenstat is professor emeritus, political science, McMaster University. Her most recent book on the Canadian constitution is The Once and Future Canadian Democracy: An Essay in Political Thought.

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Paul Romney has been writing on Canadian history for thirty years.

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Ian Gentles is Professor of History at Glendon College, York University.

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William Gairdner is a best-selling author, university professor, businessman, philanthropist, independent scholar and former track and field athlete. His most recent books include The Book of Absolutes: A Critique of Relativism and a Defence of Universals, Constitutional Crack-Up: Canada and the Coming Showdown With Quebec, The Trouble With Democracy and The War Against the Family: A Parent Speaks Out. From 1994-2000 he was Chairman, The Gairdner Foundation. Founded in 1957 by businessman and philanthropist James A. Gairdner, the foundation gives annual international awards to research scientists who have made discoveries in medical science that lead to the relief of human suffering. As of 1999, fully 254 scientists had won this award, 54 of whom subsequently won the Nobel Prize for Medicine. In 1997 he became founder and president of Civitas, a national organization of 150 prominent academics, journalists, authors, and interested citizens. Civitas was founded to promote and deepen understanding of the problems of freedom and order in modern society. In his career as an athlete, he won a silver medal in the decathlon in the 1963 Pan American Games in Brazil and placed eleventh in the decathlon in the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964.

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'The editors are to be commended for producing such a splendid book.'

Barry Cooper, <em>National Post</em>

'The debates are exciting. Their quality is high. The passion of the speakers shines through ... If you need to be reminded that constitutions, institutions, and the ideas they embody are passionately debated because they shape the way a political community lives, then you should thank Ajzenstat and her colleagues for the immense labour they put into the magnificent project that produced Canada's Founding Debates.'

Alan Cairns, <em>Canadian Journal of Political Science</em>

'[Canada's Founding Debates] should be in the library not just of every serious student of Canadian history, but of every serious citizen.'

Trevor Lautens, <em>Vancouver Sun</em>

'Canada's Founding Debates is a pretty wonderful book ... There is lots here for thoughtful Canadians to chew on.'

Christopher Moore, <em>The Beaver</em>