P.E. Bryden is an associate professor in the Department of History at the University of Victoria.

‘Bryden provides excellent historical context…“A Justifiable Obsession” is a valuable addition to our understanding of postwar Canadian federalism and Ontario political culture.’ - Matthew Barrett (Ontario History vol 106:01:2014) ‘It is a compelling read, both as reference tool for specific questions and as a general history that helps us understand how and why, imperfect as it is and after nearly 150 years, the Canadian federal experiment has been made to function.’- Robert Talbot (Canadian Historical Review vol 96:04:2015)

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionCh. 1: “The keystone province”: George Drew’s Ontario, 1943-1946Ch. 2: “As long as we define the terms”: George Drew’s Canada, 1946-1948Ch. 3: “Know and understand the problems”: Leslie Frost Makes His Mark, 1948-1952Ch. 4: “Ontario’s earnest desire for national unity”: New Policies, New Approaches, 1952-1960Ch. 5: “A lasting effect on Confederation itself": Robarts and the Realignment of Intergovernmental Relations, 1961-1964Ch. 6: “Profound changes in the character of Canadian federalism”: Ontario Charts a New Course, 1964-1966Ch. 7: “See if we can’t amend the marriage contract": The Confederation of Tomorrow Conference and Beyond, 1967-71Ch. 8: “Disentanglement” and the Origins of Mega-Intergovernmental Politics in Ontario, 1971-1978Ch. 9: “The hot gospel of Confederation”: Securing a New ConstitutionEpilogueBibliography

P.E. Bryden is an associate professor in the Department of History at the University of Victoria.

‘Bryden provides excellent historical context…“A Justifiable Obsession” is a valuable addition to our understanding of postwar Canadian federalism and Ontario political culture.’ - Matthew Barrett (Ontario History vol 106:01:2014) ‘It is a compelling read, both as reference tool for specific questions and as a general history that helps us understand how and why, imperfect as it is and after nearly 150 years, the Canadian federal experiment has been made to function.’- Robert Talbot (Canadian Historical Review vol 96:04:2015)

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionCh. 1: “The keystone province”: George Drew’s Ontario, 1943-1946Ch. 2: “As long as we define the terms”: George Drew’s Canada, 1946-1948Ch. 3: “Know and understand the problems”: Leslie Frost Makes His Mark, 1948-1952Ch. 4: “Ontario’s earnest desire for national unity”: New Policies, New Approaches, 1952-1960Ch. 5: “A lasting effect on Confederation itself": Robarts and the Realignment of Intergovernmental Relations, 1961-1964Ch. 6: “Profound changes in the character of Canadian federalism”: Ontario Charts a New Course, 1964-1966Ch. 7: “See if we can’t amend the marriage contract": The Confederation of Tomorrow Conference and Beyond, 1967-71Ch. 8: “Disentanglement” and the Origins of Mega-Intergovernmental Politics in Ontario, 1971-1978Ch. 9: “The hot gospel of Confederation”: Securing a New ConstitutionEpilogueBibliography

P.E. Bryden is an associate professor in the Department of History at the University of Victoria.

‘Bryden provides excellent historical context…“A Justifiable Obsession” is a valuable addition to our understanding of postwar Canadian federalism and Ontario political culture.’ - Matthew Barrett (Ontario History vol 106:01:2014) ‘It is a compelling read, both as reference tool for specific questions and as a general history that helps us understand how and why, imperfect as it is and after nearly 150 years, the Canadian federal experiment has been made to function.’- Robert Talbot (Canadian Historical Review vol 96:04:2015)

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionCh. 1: “The keystone province”: George Drew’s Ontario, 1943-1946Ch. 2: “As long as we define the terms”: George Drew’s Canada, 1946-1948Ch. 3: “Know and understand the problems”: Leslie Frost Makes His Mark, 1948-1952Ch. 4: “Ontario’s earnest desire for national unity”: New Policies, New Approaches, 1952-1960Ch. 5: “A lasting effect on Confederation itself": Robarts and the Realignment of Intergovernmental Relations, 1961-1964Ch. 6: “Profound changes in the character of Canadian federalism”: Ontario Charts a New Course, 1964-1966Ch. 7: “See if we can’t amend the marriage contract": The Confederation of Tomorrow Conference and Beyond, 1967-71Ch. 8: “Disentanglement” and the Origins of Mega-Intergovernmental Politics in Ontario, 1971-1978Ch. 9: “The hot gospel of Confederation”: Securing a New ConstitutionEpilogueBibliography