Collections Canada provides the following explanation of Responsible Government:
Responsible Government meant that the Executive Council had to obtain and maintain the support of a majority of members of the House of Assembly in order to be able to govern the province. The Executive Council would be governed by the leader of the political party that held an elected majority in the Legislative Assembly. That same leader would also appoint the members of the Executive Council. The governor would therefore be forced to accept these "ministers", and if the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly voted against them, they would have to resign. The governor would also be obliged to ratify laws concerning the internal affairs of the colony once these laws had been passed to the Legislative Assembly.
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| Governor General Lord Elgin |
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| Baldwin-Lafontaine |
Canada Post issued a 4 cent stamp on October 1, 1948, to commemorate the centenary of responsible government.
From the National Archives of Canada
First Day Covers
Usages
Domestic
Montreal to Tillsonburg, November 19, 1948
4 cents forward letter rate
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| Montreal to Tillsonburg, November 19, 1948 4 cents forward letter rate |
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| Ottawa to Roblin, Man., December 10, 1948 4 cents forward letter rate + 10 cents registration fee |
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| Toronto to London, October 25, 1948 4 cents forward letter rate + 10 cents Special Delivery fee |
International
Surface Letter
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| Kitchener to Copehnagen Denmark, December 11, 1948 5 cents UPU surface letter rate |
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| Toronto to Zurich, Switzerland, December 4, 1948 5 cents UPU surface letter rate Shortpaid 1 cent-Canadian Tax 6 gold centimes-Swiss charge 20 centimes |
Air Mail Letter
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| Blue River, B.C., to Lithuania Displaced Persons Camp, Kempsten, Germany, December 5, 1948 15 cents one-quarter ounce letter rate to Europe |
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| Quebec to Isleworth, England, April 11, 1949 15 cents one-quarter ounce letter rate to Europe |
