First Baldwin–La Fontaine ministry
The Hon. Robert Baldwin. Documentary art collection, Archives of Ontario, I0003075, C 281-0-0-0-144
1842
After the passing of the Act of Union, which united Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada, an election was called that saw Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine lose in Terrebonne and Robert Baldwin win in two ridings: Hastings and Fourth York. The two men united in a party of Reformers and Baldwin convinced La Fontaine to run for office in his Fourth York riding, which La Fontaine won. Their efforts not only exhibited French-English political cooperation in the province, but later helped bring about a system of responsible government, whereby legislative power rested with the elected colonial assembly.
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