Editing Durham Report (section)

{{Short description|1839 report regarding rebellions in Canada}}
{{about|the 1839 report on the causes of rebellions in Canada|the report on the FBI's investigation into links between Donald Trump and Russia|Durham special counsel investigation}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox manuscript
| name = Report on the Affairs of British North America
| image = Lambton - Durham report (page 3).jpg
| caption = First page of the report
| Type = Government report
| Date = February 11, 1839
| Author(s) = [[John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham]]
| Also known as = Durham Report
}}
The '''''Report on the Affairs of British North America''''',<ref name=ecodurham>[http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.32374/2?r=0&s=1 Durham, 1839: "Report on the Affairs of British North America", bound with several appendices that do not appear on this particular link]</ref> ({{langx|fr|Rapport sur les affaires de l’Amérique du Nord britannique}}, 1839) commonly known as the '''''Durham Report''''' or '''''Lord Durham's Report''''', is an important document in the history of [[Quebec]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]] and the [[British Empire]].

The notable British [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]] politician [[John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham]], was sent to [[the Canadas]] in 1838 to investigate and report on the causes of the [[Rebellions of 1837|rebellions of 1837–38]]. Durham arrived in [[Quebec City]] on 29 May.<ref name=canencycdurham>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120309010418/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/john-george-lambton-1st-earl-of-durham Canadian Encyclopedia article on Durham]</ref> He had just been appointed [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] and given special powers as high commissioner of [[British North America]].

On the first page of his report he stated that "[w]hile the present state of things is allowed to last, the actual inhabitants of these Provinces have no security for person or property—no enjoyment of what they possess—no stimulus to industry."<ref name=ecodurham/> He would return to that theme repeatedly throughout his report.

The Report was highly controversial. In [[Upper Canada]] it was rejected by the dominant [[Tory]] elite, while out-of-power reformers welcomed the ideal of responsible government. In [[Lower Canada]], anglophone Tories were supportive because it would enable them to remain in power. [[French Canadians]] were opposed to a union that called for "obliterating [their] nationality."<ref name=ecodurham/>{{rp|96}}  The "Report" led to major reforms and democratic advances. The two Canadas were subsequently merged into a single colony, the [[Province of Canada]], in the [[Act of Union 1840|1840 ''Act of Union'']]. It moved Canada slowly on the path to "[[responsible government]]" (that is, self-government), which took a decade. In the long run, it advanced democracy and played a central role in the evolution of Canada's political independence from Britain.<ref>David Mills, Richard Foot, and Andrew McIntosh, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/durham-report  "Durham Report" ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (2019)]</ref>