26 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



for the support of these necessary institutions. In the other provinces 

 the system is less symmetrical than in Ontario, but even in the French 

 section, and in the maritime provinces, where these institutions have been 

 more recently adopted the peoj)le have within their power to manage all 

 these minor local affairs which are necessary for the comfort, security, 

 and convenience of the local divisions into which each province is divided 

 for such purposes. Then we go up higher to the provincial organizations 

 governed by a lieutenant-governor, nominated and removable by the 

 government of the Dominion, and advised by a council responsible to the 

 people's rej)resentatives, with a legislature composed, in only two of the 

 provinces of two houses — a council appointed by the Crown and an 

 elective assembly ; in all the other provinces there is simply an assembly 

 chosen by the jjeople either by universal suffrage or on a very liberal 

 franchise. The fundamental law known as the British IS'orth America Act, 

 which was passed b}^ the Imperial Parliament in 1867, gives jurisdiction 

 to the j)rovincial governments over education, j^rovincial works, hosjDitals, 

 asylums, and jails, administration of justice (except in criminal matters), 

 municipal and all other purely local affairs. In the Territories not yet 

 constituted into provinces there is provided an efficient machinery, in 

 the shape of a lieutenant-governor, appointed by the Dominion govern- 

 ment ; of an advisory council to assist the lieutenant-governor ; and of a 

 small legislative body of one house elected by the people, which has the 

 power of passing, within certain defined limits, such ordinances as are- 

 necessary for the good government and security of the sparsely 

 settled countries under its jurisdiction. These Territories are now 

 represented in the two Houses of the Dominion Parliament. These 

 representatives have all the rights and privileges of members of the 

 organized j)rovinces, and are not the mere territorial delegates of the 

 United States Congress. The central or general government of the 

 Dominion is administered by a Grove rnor-G-eneral, with the assistance of 

 a ministry responsible to a Parliament, composed of a Senate appointed 

 by the Crown, and a House of Commons elected under an electoral 

 franchise practically on the very threshold of universal suflrage. This 

 Grovernment has jurisdiction over trade and commerce, post-office, militia 

 and defence, navigation and shipping, fisheries, and railways and jJnblic 

 works, of a Dominion character and all other matters of general or 

 national import. The appointment of a Grovernor-G-eneral by the Crown, 

 the power of disallowing bills which may interfere with Imperial statutes 

 and treaty obligations, and the right which Canadians still enjo}' of 

 appealing to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council from the sub- 

 ordinate courts of the provinces, including the Supreme Court of Canada ; 

 the obligation which rests ujjon England to assist the colony in the time 

 of danger by all the power of her army and fleet, together with the fact 

 that all treaties with foreign j)Owers must necessarily be negotiated 



