While not meeting the demands made by all of Quebec's separatists, the deal represented a substantial increase in provincial autonomy.
Political movements in other provinces have also tried to use the provincial government as a force to build provincial autonomy and safeguard local identity.
The programme called for the formation of a decentralized state with provincial autonomy.
Most southern representatives supported provincial autonomy and warned that failure to win legal concessions would drive the south to rebellion.
There were also differing views over the question of provincial autonomy.
Premier Haultain spent the early part of 1905 meeting with the federal government to work out an arrangement to settle provincial autonomy.
The Centre was invested with such powers as to take unilateral action in emergency and it could influence the provincial autonomy.
However, police restrictions on his activities would not be dropped until provincial autonomy was granted in 1937.
Politically, this resulted in a movement towards more provincial autonomy.
The latter would form a loose alliance - known as the first Liberal Party - which also advocated a greater and true provincial autonomy.