CANADA 675 



to be a dry dock of the first class unless there can be received and repaired therein the largest 

 ships or vessels of the British navy existing at the time at which the contract is entered into. 

 Another Act of this session provided for the constitution of a new Department under the 

 First Minister, to deal with all official communications in connection with the external affairs 

 6f Canada, the administration of all matters relating to the foreign consular service in Canada, 

 etc. A measure of great importance, dealing generally with grain inspection, was also 

 passed; it provides for the appointment of Grain Commissioners, the establishment of 

 inspection divisions, and the appointment of a Grain Standards Board for the purpose 

 of establishing commercial grades, and defines the various established grades. Acts providing 

 for the extension of the boundaries of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec were also passed. 



Under the Canadian Medical Act, chapter 137, Revised Statutes 1906, and the-amending 

 Act, chapter 16, 19-11, provision was made for the formation of a Dominion Medical Council 

 as soon as the Legislatures of the various provinces of Canada had enacted legislation accept- 

 ing the provisions of the Acts. The object of the legislation is to provide for one central 

 council consisting of representatives of the different provinces, for the purpose of (a) the 

 establishment of a qualification in medicine, such that the holders thereof shall be acceptable 

 and empowered to practise in all the provinces of Canada; (b) the establishment of a register 

 for Canada of medical practitioners, and the publication and revision from time to time of 

 such register; (c) the determination and fixing of the qualification and conditions necessary 

 for registration, the examinations to be undergone with respect to professional subjects 

 only, and generally the requisites for registration; (d) the establishment and maintenance 

 of a board of examiners for examination and granting of certificates of qualification: (e) the 

 enactment, with the consent and at the instance of the medical councils of the various prov- 

 inces of Canada, of such provincial legislation as is necessary to supplement the provisions 

 of this Act and to effect the foregoing purposes. The Secretary of State summoned a 

 meeting on November 17, 1912 for the purpose of organising the Council, and a number of 

 appointments were subsequently made. 



The " Ne Temere" Decree. On January 23, 1912 the House of Commons decided to refer 

 to the Supreme Court of Canada, and later to the Judicial Committee of the Imperial Privy 

 Council, the question whether the Dominion parliament may constitutionally pass a marriage 

 law applicable in all respects in every province in Canada. On July 29, 1912 the Lord 

 Chancellor delivered judgment, which, speaking generally, upheld the decision of the Supreme 

 Court of Canada. It was ruled that the Dominion parliament is not entitled under the 

 British North America Act to pass a uniform federal law legalising all marriages performed 

 by authorised clergymen. The matter is in the jurisdiction of the provinces. 



Anglo-American Peace Celebrations. On June 4, 1912 at a representative meeting at 

 Ottawa, a Committee was appointed to act for Canada in preparing a programme of the 

 celebration of the 100 years of peace between the branches of the English-speaking people. 



Fur Seal Convention. The International Fur Seal Conference which was held at Washing- 

 ton from May n to July 7, 1911 resulted in a Convention being signed by which Great 

 Britain, the United States, Russia, and Japan undertook that pelagic sealing should cease 

 for a period of 15 years from December 15, 1911, and thereafter until terminated by one 

 year's notice. Canada was represented by the under-secretary for external affairs, Mr. Joseph 

 Pope, who in 1912 was created a K.C.M.G. Provision was made for an apportionment of 

 the annual proceeds from the seals killed on land, the share payable to Canada being 15 per 

 cent of the gross takings of the United States and Russia, and 10 per cent of those of Japan. 



Provincial Governments. On June 14, 1911 a general election was held in Nova Scotia, 

 the result being the return of the government, which had been Liberal since 1884. The 

 elections for the British Columbia Legislature took place on March 28, 1912, the result being 

 the return of the government, 40 Conservatives and 2 Socialists being elected. The Hon. 

 Richard McBride, K.C. (b. 1870), the Premier of British Columbia since 1903, was created 

 a K.C.M.G. in 1912. The election in Ontario was held on December n, 1911, when 

 Sir James Whitney's government was returned by a majority of 60. In January 1912 the 

 Prince Edward Island elections resulted in the return of 27 Conservatives and 3 Liberals. 

 The Premier is Hon. J. A. Mathieson, K.C., who had formed a government in December 

 1911. The general election in New Brunswick took place on June 20, 19.12, resulting in 

 the return of 44 Conservatives, 2 Independents, and 2 Liberals. On May 15, 1912 the elec- 

 tions were held for the Quebec Legislature and resulted in the return of Sir Lomer Gouin's 

 government with a slightly reduced majority. On July II, 1912 the general election took 

 place for the province of Saskatchewan. The chief issue was the Reciprocity agreement, as 

 in the Dominion elections, and the overwhelming majority by which Mr. Scott's government 

 was returned, was looked upon as a striking victory for the Reciprocity party. 



The appointment of members of provincial governments to the new federal cabinet in 

 1911 necessitated some re-arrangements in the provincial cabinets. 



In Manitoba the vacancy caused by the Hon. Robert Rogers joining the Dominion 

 cabinet was filled by the inclusion of Mr. George Lawrence, as Minister of Agriculture. 

 In 1912 the Hon. Rodmond Palen Roblin (b. 1853), Premier since 1900, was created 

 K.C.M.G., and the retiring Chief Justice, Joseph Dubuc (b. 1840), was knighted. 



In Ontario, Mr. W. H. Hearst, K.C. , M. P. .became Minister of Lands, Forests and Mines 



