Jim Nunn

CBC journalist Jim Nunn explores the life, loves, dreams and failures of Nova Scotia’s great visionary. In the one-hour documentary, veteran actor Michael Bawtree brings Howe to life.

Joseph Howe once claimed he brought democracy to Nova Scotia without a blow struck or a pane of glass broken. But there was at least one shot fired in an attempt to kill him.

"Howe saw this not as some backwards frontier primitive part of North America, but part of a dream; a place with enormous potential if it could orchestrate its potential…if it could draw the parts together. And that's what his mission becomes as newspaperman – to make Nova Scotians aware of one another, to create a provincial personality." David Sutherland (Historian, Dalhousie University - retired)

Howe became the dominant figure of nineteenth century Nova Scotia. For he was determined to shape the country of his dreams.

Joseph Howe Portrait by Debaussey, 1851, courtesy Dartmouth Heritage Museum

He was born on December 13, 1804. Two hundred years later, his adventurous life and his extraordinary accomplishments can still inspire.

Joseph Howe was a man of letters. He wrote poetry, and essays, but put his greatest effort into his newspaper, the Novascotian. He was the first reporter to cover the Nova Scotia Legislature. He was the first reporter to travel Nova Scotia for stories. He sold subscriptions, collected debts and met the frontier people who inspired his writing. His wife Susan Ann McNabb edited the paper as he travelled.

Howe was no revolutionary. The American War of Independence filled him and most Nova Scotians with horror. But Howe could not ignore the cronyism and nepotism of those who ran Halifax. The British-appointed governor selected the magistrates, who ran the city.

Howe reported fraud and graft. The magistrates were skimming off money from the prison and the poorhouse. Howe wielded an acid pen. In 1835 he was charged with libel for publishing a letter which accused the magistrates of theft. A conviction would mean prison. There was a lot at stake. But if they hoped to silence Howe, they failed. The trial provided Howe his first platform and he discovered his gift for oratory.

• From Government of Nova Scotia - January 1, 1835 Letter
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In his own defense , Howe spoke for six hours. He defended freedom of the press. He demanded greater accountability. The judge, Chief Justice Brenton Halliburton advised the jury to convict Howe. The jury refused. He was acquitted and immediately became the hero of Nova Scotians. His exploits were the talk of the towns and countryside.

But the trial did not end the opposition to Howe's reform ideas. He was challenged to a duel. Swearing to Susan Ann that 'there would be no blood on my hands' he faced his challenger, allowing him to fire first. The man fired and missed. Howe raised his pistol, fired into the air and walked away.

"Howe did see N.S., as his country and in effect after responsible government, he achieved Nova Scotia nationhood really. Nova Scotia became in effect a self-governing entity within the empire." Philip Girard (Legal historian, Dalhousie University)

Joseph Howe was elected to the legislature, served as Speaker, helped his party of Reformers win power and bring responsible government to Nova Scotia. In fact between 1847 when responsible government began and 1867 when it joined Canada, Nova Scotia was a country.

Howe set out to build a railway. When private investors could not be found, he convinced the Nova Scotia government to fund it, a very early example of public enterprise. Howe argued for public, non-denominational schools, although it would be his political rival Charles Tupper who would fulfill that goal.

Joseph Howe was instrumental in saving the Mi'kmaq people from starvation. But his words could also lead to trouble.

He provoked a nasty debate between Irish Catholics and the largely protestant ruling class. The split along religious lines would cost Howe's party the government.

Joseph Howe opposed confederation. Nova Scotia was his country. Confederation would cost Nova Scotia its autonomy.

But in the face of the inevitable, Howe agreed to join Canada's first cabinet. And the new country benefited from his progressive ideas on public education and social welfare.

John Ralston Saul (Essayist and novelist)

"But then after it all, do you believe that Howe is a turncoat or a broken man and goes to Ottawa? No, I mean Howe goes to Ottawa and if he'd been a little younger and in better health, would have gone on for a very long time to be a major player. He's one of the most interesting ministers in the early stages of Confederation. He did a lot of the groundwork that made it possible to put in place this inclusive idea of middle class society, public education, public service and so on, many of which other people in other parts of the country built on, through their references to Howe and Howe's government."

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