What were the two alternatives considered for Newfoundland after WWII?

• A. Return to colonial status
• B. Leave the British commission in place
• C. Return to colonial status or leave the British commission in place
• D. Seek independence

Answer: (C)

After WWII Newfoundland was momentarily governed by a British-appointed Commission of Government, so the big constitutional question was how the territory should move forward. The two practical paths discussed were to return to self-government and full domestic control (a return to colonial status with responsible government) or to keep Britain’s hands-on oversight by leaving the Commission in place. In other words, one option would restore Newfoundland’s own political authority, while the other would maintain direct British administration. A separate path—joining Canada—was also part of the broader conversation, but the two main postwar alternatives focused on these governance arrangements, with the Confederation option arriving later as the chosen direction.