Governors
James Douglas and Richard Moody
Douglas: Governor of Vancouver Island
Moody: Governor of British Columbia
Fort Langley or New Westminster?
Capital remain at south side of Fraser River – Fort Langley
Moody believed it should be on the North side – New Westminster
Douglas accepts north side
New Westminster is the capital
City Plans = $$$
Moody had drawn up impeccable sketches of what the town would look like
Douglas believed they should establish themselves first before being extravagant.
Moody spent too much money on the plans
Capital city was not built to Moody’s standard
Victoria vs New West
Gold rush brought prosperity to New Westminster
But mainlanders were upset that Douglas and senior officials live on the Island
Victoria free port – no custom duties
Commercial rivalry between these two places
Responsible Government
Vancouver Island had an elected Assembly
Right to vote was limited to property owners
Mainland rested on what Douglas and his Legislative Council did.
Reform group was formed on the mainland
Changes
Mainland people wanted an Elected Assembly with responsible government
In 3 years Douglas had raised the taxes 3 times
But reformers found little support from miners
Miners are benefiting from the taxes
Vancouver Island also forms a reform movement
De cosmos – strongly disagreed with the “family compact”
They too demanded responsible government
1863 – BC Act
British Columbia Act was up for review
Colonial office had ignored the reformers request for responsible government
Pressure causes Douglas to cave slightly
Douglas retired in 1863
Union of Two Colonies
two governors after Douglas
Arthur Kennedy – Vancouver Island
Frederick Seymour – British Columbia
Both find their colonies in economic trouble
Kennedy appealed to Colonial Office for assistance
Kennedy proposed taxes on real estate and income
Colonial secretary now considered joining the two colonies
United Colonies
Became known as British Columbia
Seymour was made governor of British Columbia
Assembly members in Victoria thought the Island city should be the capital
1868, Victoria proclaimed the capital