New Documentary Continues Greg Malone’s Confederation Debate

By James Tarrant

The Rock Report

For history enthusiasts and proud Newfoundlanders alike, few events stir as much debate as the province’s confederation with Canada. Whether it was a step forward or a loss of sovereignty depends entirely on who you ask — and that very question is at the heart of filmmaker Brad Gover’s latest documentary, inspired by Greg Malone’s provocative 2012 book Don’t Tell the Newfoundlanders: The True Story of Newfoundland’s Confederation with Canada.

A Lifelong Fascination with Controversy

Gover’s interest in contentious topics began early. As a child, he was captivated by stories that challenged the status quo. The 1992 film Secret Nation ignited his passion for filmmaking, which explored Newfoundland’s confederation through a fictional lens. Watching it in theatres, Gover knew the real story deserved a documentary treatment.

When Malone’s book hit shelves in 2012, Gover saw his chance. “I pitched the idea to anyone who’d listen — even at film festivals,” he recalls. “But before the pandemic, documentaries weren’t exactly in vogue. I got a few nibbles, but nothing stuck. So it got shelved.”

A Twist of Fate and a Timely Revival

In the meantime, Gover directed Only the Night Knows, a murder mystery for Bell Fibe TV. When asked about a second season, he was told Fibe was only accepting documentary pitches from Atlantic Canada. As luck would have it, post-pandemic audiences had developed a renewed appetite for documentaries — and Gover’s long-dormant project was suddenly viable. Fibe later gave him the green light.

Bringing History to Life

Premiering in mid-July to an audience of 300 at the Majestic. The documentary features a powerhouse lineup of local voices:

• Greg Malone, actor, author, and the book’s original writer

• John Fitzgerald, historian and leading expert on Newfoundland’s confederation

• Bernice Morgan, acclaimed author and actress, shares childhood memories from the time of confederation

• Rick Mercer, beloved comedian and political commentator, who also reviewed Malone’s book

Mercer praised the book for its boldness: “It lays bare the entire story — the parts governments usually prefer to keep hidden.”

Not About Conspiracy — About Truth

Gover emphasizes that the documentary isn’t about proving conspiracy theories. “I’m just trying to show viewers the history that was kept from us,” he says. “Especially now, when echoes of that moment are resurfacing.”

He parallels today’s political climate, referencing Trump’s provocative suggestion that Canada become America’s 51st state. While filming, Gover was emotionally immersed in the same sense of loss Newfoundlanders felt decades ago.

From Page to Screen

Malone’s book, rich in research, served as the blueprint. Condensing it into six short-format episodes — each around 15 minutes — was no small feat. “It took countless late nights,” Gover admits, “digging through scanned newspapers, photos, audio clips, and archival footage.”

Halley’s Legacy and Influence

Greg Malone’s book was sparked by a friendship he developed with lawyer Jim Halley, which led to his education on the intricacies of Confederation and the original terms of union.

In 1948, Halley was a young, influential lawyer who fiercely opposed Newfoundland’s entry into Canadian Confederation. He championed the cause of independence, fearing the erosion of the province’s identity and autonomy. His opposition didn’t end with the referendum—he continued voicing his concerns for decades, often through open-line radio shows.

Before he died in 2009, Halley urged Malone to write a book based on the union documents released by the British and Canadian governments in the late 1980s and 1990s. Among the most critical resources were two enormous volumes compiled by Ottawa bureaucrat Paul Brindle, each packed with around 1,000 pages of material related to Confederation.

The Challenge to Tell the Story Correctly

Malone admitted that distilling these dense documents into a coherent timeline was daunting.

“It took me the better part of two years to get the story straight,” he said. “I had to read those big, thick documents a couple of times—memos, letters, dispatches, everything between the two governments. I had charts and timelines on my wall. They made it convoluted and fuzzy for a reason.”

According to Malone, the British government deliberately obscured the trail, making the story difficult to follow. Though Halley didn’t live to see the book completed, Malone kept his promise. He said uncovering how Newfoundland was maneuvered into Confederation ignited a deep sense of injustice.

“There were times I’d fling the manuscript across the room out of sheer frustration,” Malone recalled.

Canada vs. the United States

Whether Newfoundland would have fared better joining Canada or the United States hinges less on ideology and more on the behind-the-scenes dealings and the lingering sense of disrespect. Gover’s documentary and Malone’s work challenge the popular narrative that Canada “saved” Newfoundland.

“Look at the map,” Gover said. “The U.S. already had massive military bases here—some of the biggest outside America. Those bases brought real jobs, real money, and serious economic activity. What did Canada bring? Mostly welfare. They mismanaged the fisheries. The Americans invested directly in our economy. Canada, not so much.”

Academic Resistance and Historical Bias

One of Gover’s disappointments was the lack of engagement from Memorial University’s History Department, which declined an invitation to participate in the documentary's debut.

“They don’t believe in Greg’s premise,” Gover explained. “Their careers were built on the opposite story—the one we were taught in school: that we were poor, illiterate, backward, riddled with polio, and needed saving.”

Unearthed Footage and Contradictions

In addition to Malone’s breakdown of Brindle’s documents, Gover uncovered rare footage of Joey Smallwood contradicting himself on Confederation.

“I found a clip where Joey shoots himself in the foot,” Gover said. “The way he prefaces it is so outlandish—I don’t think anyone’s seen it before.”

Keeping the Conversation Alive

Malone emphasized that the most vital part of storytelling is keeping the dialogue going. In a democracy, multiple perspectives must be heard—even if that doesn’t always happen.

Gover recalled how teachers had approached him, asking whether his documentary could be incorporated into the high school curriculum. To him, that request was the highest form of praise—it meant the work had real educational value and cultural impact.

For Malone, writing his book was a deeply freeing experience.

“Knowledge is strength, and truth is sanity,” he said. “We feel this way for good reason. We were gravely mistreated, and that’s the root of it. It’s the abuser who keeps painting us as the dependent.”

What continues to astonish him is how the book still resonates more than a decade after its release. He also hopes Gover’s documentary will inspire people to read his book more.

“I still get calls. People stop me on the street, in the supermarket, wherever. They tell me they just gave the book to their father, or they’ve reread it. Some say they brought it to the cemetery and read it over their parents’ grave, wondering what might’ve been different if their parents had known.”

At its core, the issue is one of fairness—particularly in how Newfoundland entered Confederation with Canada.

Malone argued that Newfoundland’s union with Canada did not result from fair negotiation. Instead of a dialogue between two governments—Canada and Newfoundland—it was a transaction between Canada and Britain, with Newfoundland left voiceless.

“We didn’t negotiate the terms. They were imposed. If a Newfoundland government had been empowered to represent its people, using its resources and authority, we could have secured a far more equitable union. One that was chosen, not forced. One that fostered a healthier, more balanced Confederation.”

Brad Gover’s powerful documentary is now streaming on Bell Fibe TV. If you are a Bell subscriber, head to the Fibe TV On Demand section to experience this gripping visual journey into the heart of Newfoundland’s confederation story.

If you want to dive even deeper, grab a copy of Greg Malone’s groundbreaking book, Don’t Tell the Newfoundlanders: The True Story of Newfoundland’s Confederation with Canada. Available through Penguin Random House, Amazon, Indigo, and local bookstores across Newfoundland, it’s a must-read for anyone who believes history deserves a second look.