The Commission of Government was established in Newfoundland due to the collapse of democratic institutions during the Great Depression. Newfoundland's economic crisis was exacerbated by the colony's debt incurred during the First World War. In 1933 after a prolonged period of economic crisis and severe budgetary deficits, the dominion government of Prime Minister Frederick C. Alderdice asked the British government to strike a royal commission to investigate the dominion's crisis. The royal commission recommended suspending responsible government in Newfoundland and replacing it with a commission made up of the British appointed governor and six other commissioners appointed by London. The Commission of Government ruled Newfoundland until 1949 when the dominion joined Canada as a province.
Chairmen of Commission of Government
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