Editing Labrador (section)

===20th century===
{{Further|Newfoundland National Convention|1948 Newfoundland referendums|Canadian Confederation#Joining Confederation|selfref=|label1=|label3=}}
[[Image:Innu making canoes near Sheshatshiu, ca. 1920.jpg|thumb|Innu<ref name="Impacts of Non-Indigenous Activities on the Innu">{{cite web |author1=Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Web Site |title=Impacts of Non-Indigenous Activities on the Innu |url=https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/indigenous/innu-impacts.php#canoes |access-date=31 August 2024 |date=2008 |quote=To safeguard their rights, resources, and culture against outside threats, the Innu people of Labrador formed the Naskapi Montagnais Innu Association (NMIA) in 1976}}</ref> near [[Sheshatshiu]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador]], c.1920]]

As part of [[Newfoundland]] since 1809, Labrador was still being disputed by [[Quebec]] until the British [[Newfoundland and Labrador–Quebec border|Privy Council resolved their border in 1927]]. In 1949, [[Dominion of Newfoundland|Newfoundland]] [[1948 Newfoundland referendums|entered into confederation]], becoming part of Canada (see above articles for full information).

Labrador played strategic roles during both [[World War II]] and the [[Cold War]]. In October 1943, a German [[U-boat]] crew installed an automated weather station on the northern tip of Labrador near Cape Chidley, code-named [[Weather Station Kurt]]; the installation of the equipment was the only-known armed German military operation on the North American mainland during the war. The station broadcast weather observations to the German navy for only a few days, but was not discovered until 1977 when a historian, working with the [[Canadian Coast Guard]], identified its location and mounted an expedition to recover it. The station is now exhibited in the [[Canadian War Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uboat.net/ops/weather_stations.htm |title=Weather station Kurt erected in Labrador in 1943 |access-date=2010-02-18 |archive-date=2022-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522115617/https://uboat.net/ops/weather_stations.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Canadian government built a major air force base at [[Goose Bay (Newfoundland and Labrador)|Goose Bay]], at the head of [[Lake Melville]] during the Second World War, a site selected because of its topography, access to the sea, defensible location, and minimal fog. During the Second World War and the Cold War, the base was also home to American, British, and later German, Dutch, and Italian detachments. Today, Serco, the company contracted to operate [[CFB Goose Bay]] is one of the largest employers for the community of [[Happy Valley-Goose Bay]].

Additionally, both the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] and [[United States Air Force]] built and operated a number of radar stations along coastal Labrador as part of the [[Pinetree Line]], [[Mid-Canada Line]] and [[Distant Early Warning Line|DEW Line]] systems. Today, the remaining stations are automated as part of the [[North Warning System]]; however, the military settlements during the early part of the Cold War surrounding these stations have largely continued as local Innu and Inuit populations have clustered near their port and airfield facilities.

During the first half of the 20th century, some of the largest [[iron ore]] deposits in the world were discovered in the western part of Labrador and adjacent areas of Quebec. Deposits at [[Mont Wright (Quebec)|Mont Wright]], [[Schefferville, Quebec|Schefferville]], Labrador City, and Wabush drove industrial development and human settlement in the area during the second half of the 20th century.

The present community of [[Labrador West]] is entirely a result of the iron ore mining activities in the region. The Iron Ore Company of Canada operates the [[Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway]] to transport ore concentrate {{cvt|578|km}} south to the port of [[Sept-Îles, Quebec]], for shipment to steel mills in North America and elsewhere.

During the 1960s, the [[Churchill River (Atlantic)|Churchill River]] (Labrador name: Grand River) was diverted at [[Churchill Falls]], resulting in the flooding of an enormous area – today named the Smallwood Reservoir after [[Joey Smallwood]], the first premier of Newfoundland. The flooding of the reservoir destroyed large areas of habitat for the threatened Woodland Caribou. A hydroelectric generating station was built in Labrador as well as a transmission line to the neighbouring province of Quebec.<ref name="nfld-studies">{{cite journal |last1=Churchill |first1=Jason L. |title=Pragmatic Federalism: The Politics Behind the 1969 Churchill Falls Contract. |journal=Newfoundland and Labrador Studies |date=1999 |volume=15 |issue=2 |access-date=17 July 2019 |url=https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/NFLDS/article/view/807/1161 |archive-date=17 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717140536/https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/NFLDS/article/view/807/1161 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Construction of a large [[hydroelectric dam]] project at [[Muskrat Falls]] began in 2012 by [[Nalcor Energy]] and the Province of Newfoundland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2012/exec/1217n11.htm |publisher=Government of Newfoundland and Labrador |date=December 17, 2012 |access-date=Nov 29, 2020 |title=Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Announces Sanction of the Muskrat Falls Development |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129131543/https://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2012/exec/1217n11.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/1-5b-maritime-link-approved-by-emera-inc-1.1219556 |title=$1.5B Maritime Link approved by Emera Inc. |access-date=Nov 29, 2020 |publisher=CBC News |date=Dec 18, 2012 |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107014211/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/1-5b-maritime-link-approved-by-emera-inc-1.1219556 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/maritime-link-energy-project-approved-by-nova-scotia-s-uarb-1.2444774 |title=Maritime Link energy project approved by Nova Scotia's UARB |access-date=Nov 29, 2020 |publisher=CBC News |date=Nov 29, 2013 |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107014209/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/maritime-link-energy-project-approved-by-nova-scotia-s-uarb-1.2444774 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2013/exec/1210n06.htm |title=Speaking notes delivered December 10 by the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale |publisher=Government of Newfoundland and Labrador |date=December 17, 2012 |access-date=December 10, 2013 |archive-date=June 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601224311/http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2013/exec/1210n06.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Muskrat Falls Generating Project |url=https://muskratfalls.nalcorenergy.com/project-overview/muskrat-falls-hydroelectric-generation-facility/ |website=Nalcor Energy |access-date=2022-01-07 |archive-date=2022-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107014210/https://muskratfalls.nalcorenergy.com/project-overview/muskrat-falls-hydroelectric-generation-facility/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Muskrat Falls is 45&nbsp;km (30 miles) west of [[Happy Valley-Goose Bay]] on the Grand River (Newfoundland name: Churchill River). A transmission line began construction in October 2014 and was completed in 2016 that delivers power down to the southern tip of Labrador and underwater across the Strait of Belle Isle to the Province of Newfoundland in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://muskratfalls.nalcorenergy.com/team-work-and-dedication-brings-the-link-to-completion/ |title=Teamwork and dedication brings the Link to completion &#124; Nalcor Energy – Lower Churchill Project |access-date=2018-01-12 |archive-date=2018-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112214856/http://muskratfalls.nalcorenergy.com/team-work-and-dedication-brings-the-link-to-completion/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Labrador Road-paved&unpaved.jpg|thumb|Route of the Trans-Labrador highway]]
From the 1970s to early 2000s, the [[Trans-Labrador Highway]] was built in stages to connect various inland communities with the North American highway network at [[Mont Wright (Quebec)|Mont Wright, Quebec]] (which in turn is connected by a highway running north from [[Baie-Comeau]], Quebec). A southern extension of this highway has opened in stages during the early 2000s and is resulting in significant changes to the coastal ferry system in the Strait of Belle Isle and southeastern Labrador. These "highways" are so called only because of their importance to the region; they would be better described as roads, and were not completely paved until July 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Atter |first=Heidi |date=July 6, 2022 |title=After more than 40 years and 1,100 km, the Trans-Labrador Highway is finished |work=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/trans-labrador-highway-1.6511681 |access-date=July 13, 2022 |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714003839/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/trans-labrador-highway-1.6511681 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A study on a [[Newfoundland-Labrador fixed link|fixed link]] to Newfoundland, in 2004, recommended that a tunnel under the [[Strait of Belle Isle]], being a single railway that would carry cars, buses and trucks, was technologically the best option for such a link.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/fixed-link-feasible-williams-says-1.531244 |title=Fixed link feasible, Williams says |publisher=CBC News |date=February 28, 2005 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107011629/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/fixed-link-feasible-williams-says-1.531244 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/newfoundland-labrador-link-pegged-at-15-billion/article1126158/ |title=Newfoundland-Labrador link pegged at $1.5-billion |date=January 20, 2004 |publisher=The Globe and Mail |access-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107012001/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/newfoundland-labrador-link-pegged-at-15-billion/article1126158/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="dream">{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/newfoundlands-tunnel-dream/article1030084/ |title=Newfoundland's tunnel dream |first=Kevin |last=Cox |date=February 12, 2001 |publisher=The Globe and Mail |access-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107012003/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/newfoundlands-tunnel-dream/article1030084/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the study also concluded that a fixed link was not economically viable.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2005/exec/0228n03.htm |title=Government of Newfoundland and Labrador releases Fixed Link Pre-Feasibility Report |publisher=Government of Newfoundland and Labrador |date=February 28, 2005 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-date=October 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013024903/https://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2005/exec/0228n03.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Conceivably, if built with federal aid, the 1949 terms of union would be amended to remove ferry service from [[Nova Scotia]] to [[Channel – Port aux Basques|Port aux Basques]] across the [[Cabot Strait]].

Although a [[Trans-Labrador Highway|highway link]] has, as of December 2009,<ref>{{cite web |title=Tenders Called for More Paving on Phase I of Trans Labrador Highway |url=http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2011/tw/0223n02.htm |publisher=Transportation and Works |access-date=26 April 2011 |archive-date=22 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622083548/http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2011/tw/0223n02.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> been completed across Labrador, this route is somewhat longer than a proposed [[Quebec Route 138|Quebec North Shore highway]] that presently does not exist. Part of the "highway", [[Quebec Route 389|Route 389]], starting approximately {{convert|212|km|mi}} from Baie-Comeau to {{convert|482|km|mi}}, is of an inferior alignment, and from there to {{convert|570|km|mi}}, the provincial border, is an accident-prone section notorious for its poor surface and sharp curves. Quebec in April 2009 announced major upgrades to Route 389 to be carried out.

Route 389 and the Trans-Labrador Highway were added to Canada's [[National Highway System (Canada)|National Highway System]] in September 2005.

[[Labrador (electoral district)|Labrador]] constitutes a federal electoral district electing one member to the [[House of Commons of Canada]]. Due to its size, distinct nature, and large Aboriginal population, Labrador has one seat despite having the smallest population of any electoral district in Canada.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/peter-penashue-quits-over-campaign-donations-1.1335297 "Peter Penashue quits over campaign donations"] . [[CBC News]], March 14, 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/liberals-win-crucial-byelection-1.540341 |title=Liberals win crucial byelection |publisher=[[CBC News]] |date=24 May 2005 |access-date=1 November 2015 |archive-date=1 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701093635/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/liberals-win-crucial-byelection-1.540341 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Innnu leader">{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/innu-leader-delivers-conservatives-from-n-l-shutout-1.976524 |title=Innu leader delivers Conservatives from N.L. shutout |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2011-05-02 |access-date=2018-05-25 |archive-date=2021-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211210713/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/innu-leader-delivers-conservatives-from-n-l-shutout-1.976524 |url-status=live }}</ref> Formerly, Labrador was part of a riding that included part of the Island of Newfoundland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://vocm.com/news/former-senator-and-mp-bill-rompkey-passes-away-at-80/ |title=Former Senator And MP, Bill Rompkey Passes Away At 80 |access-date=2017-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327083517/http://vocm.com/news/former-senator-and-mp-bill-rompkey-passes-away-at-80/ |archive-date=2017-03-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Labrador is divided into four provincial electoral districts in the [[Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Yvonne Jones re-elected in Labrador |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/yvonne-jones-re-elected-in-labrador-1.983786 |access-date=2 May 2018 |newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 October 2011 |archive-date=1 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701012647/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/yvonne-jones-re-elected-in-labrador-1.983786 |url-status=live }}</ref>