The British colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island had discussed the possibility of a fusion to counter the threat of American annexation and to reduce the costs of governance.

The Province of Canada had entered these negotiations at the behest of the British government; this had led to the ambivalence of Prince Edward Island, which will delay joining the new Dominion of Canada for seven years, even though the constitutional conference had been held here, in Charlottetown.