With the death of Bishop Michael Power of Toronto, the Canadian hierarchy asked the Propaganda in Rome to appoint Charbonnnel. Pope Pius IX consecrated him bishop in the Sistine Chapel on 26 May 1850. Bishop Charbonnel arrived in Toronto on 21 September 1850. He worked to give the diocese a stable pastoral and financial footing. An eloquent preacher Bishop Charbonnel nonetheless, never felt up to the responsibilities of bishop, because of the linguistic and cultural gap that existed between him and his flock.