PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS
include the United Provinces of Canada. Prime Minister MacDonald carried the day, and during the meetings in Charlottetown agreement in principle was reached for Canadian union. Province House in
Charlottetown is recognized as the “Birthplace of Canadian Confederation”, an event of national significance and given Canada’s role on the international stage in peacetime and in wartime, the meetings and place where they were held is of universal significance. This significance is shared with
Independence Hall in Philadelphia for the same reason. Independence Hall is the only legislative building in the United States to have been designated as a World Heritage Site. As a measure of the culture and
values expressed in the two buildings, the celebrated English novelist Charles Dickens, during a visit to Province House in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1842, commented that “watching the proceedings (a state opening of the legislature) was like watching the same ceremony at the Palace of Westminster, except through the wrong end of a telescope”. Dickens described how the state opening proceeded during his visit: “The military band outside the
building struck up ‘God Save the Queen’ with great vigour before His Excellency had quite finished; the people shouted; the ins rubbed their hands; the outs shook their heads; the government party said there never was such a good speech; the Opposition declared there never was such a bad one; the Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly withdrew from the bar to say a great deal among themselves and do a little; and in short everything went on and promised to go on just as it does at home [in the Palace of Westminster] upon the like occasions.” Dickens referred to the building as “a gem of Georgian
architecture.” The Legislatures of both Nova
Scotia and Prince Edward Island have expressed their support for the UNESCO World Heritage Site designations in resolutions of their Legislatures in language similar to the following drafted by the author of this article for the legislature of the Province of Nova Scotia: ‘Whereas the Legislature of
Nova Scotia, established in 1758, has been in continuous service to its electorate for more than 250 years, is recognized as the oldest Legislature in the Westminster System of Government outside Great Britain, and has conducted its business in Province House since 1819; ‘Whereas Province House was
constructed in the Scottish neoclassical 18th-century architectural style created by celebrated Scottish architect Robert Adam and is acknowledged to be the finest example of that style in North America; and whereas Province House has been the setting for numerous legal, cultural and political events having international significance including the establishment of freedom of the press in the British common law, the swearing in of numerous Governors General of Canada, the second meeting of the Fathers of Confederation which ultimately led to the creation of Canada as an independent country; and numerous events of significance in the military and political life and defence of its allies in World War I and World War II; ‘Be it resolved that the
Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia believes its seat, Province House, is deserving of designation as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and believes it meets various of the criteria prescribed by UNESCO for the designation, and for those reasons hereby requests the designation by UNESCO, which the Legislature of Nova Scotia would deem an honour.’
Prince Edward Island Motion
Support for the designation of Province House as a World Heritage Site A Motion Tabled in the Prince Edward Island Legisla- tive Assembly, 24 April 2012
Whereas the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Is- land, which first met on 7 July 1773, and has served the people of this Island for almost 279 years, has conducted its business in Province House since 26 Jan- uary 1847. And whereas Province House was locally designed, built and furnished, reflecting the dedication, skill and accomplishment of Island craftspersons of the mid- nineteenth century. And whereas the Royal Gazette in January 1847 de- scribed the new building with its noble entrance, ca- pacious public offices, large and convenient Court of Justice and, above all, noble Halls of Legislation, as an honour to the Island, commanding a feeling of pride and satisfaction in all who entered. And whereas today Province House is widely recog- nized as one of the finest parliamentary buildings in the Commonwealth, and continues to have a special place in the hearts and minds of the people of Prince Edward Island as a living symbol of our democracy. And whereas over the past 165 years, Province House has been the location for many important legal, cul- tural and political events having local, regional, na- tional and international significance, including the first meeting of the Fathers of Confederation in 1864 which ultimately led to Canadian Confederation in 1867. And whereas Province House was designated as a Na- tional Historic Site in 1966 as the site of the Charlotte- town Conference in 1864; as a fine example of the neoclassical architectural style; and as representative of the judicial institution of Prince Edward Island. Therefore be it resolved that Province House, seat of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, is deserving of recognition by the United Nations Educa- tional, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Site. Therefore be it further resolved that the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island requests the Gov- ernment of Canada to nominate Province House for in- scription on the World Heritage List, which it would deem an honour to the people of Prince Edward Is- land.
Mr Sonny Gallant, MLA, Government House Leader Mr Steven Myers, MLA, Opposition House Leader
HISTORIC
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