448 



NORTHWEST TERRITORIES OP CANADA. 



The Legislature will be composed of 82 Repub- 

 licans and 11 fusionists. 



Two constitutional amendments were voted 

 upon, and were carried by large majorities. The 

 first was for the creation of a board of pardons, 

 to consist of the Governor, the ^hief Justice of the 

 Supreme Court, and the Attorney-General. The 

 vote was 33,260 for and 8,153 against. The sec- 

 ond was to permit taxation of telegraph, tele- 

 phone, express, and dining-car companies. This 

 was carried by a vote of 32,674 for to (5,947 against. 



NORTHWEST TERRITORIES OF CAN- 

 ADA. Politics and Government. Mr. F. W. G. 

 llaultain remained at the head of affairs during 

 1900, as he had since 1887. In the Government 

 he was Attorney-General and Treasurer, with Mr. 

 ,J. H. Ross as Commissioner of Agriculture and 

 Public Works. The immense area of the terri- 

 tories, with their million square miles, is indicated 

 by the existence of three nonresident members of 

 the Government Hillyard Mitchell, C. A. Ma- 

 gruth, of Lethbridge, and G. H. V. Bulyea, of 

 Qif Appelle. The Legislative Assembly met on 

 March 29, 1900. The speech from the throne, 

 which was read by Lieut.-Gov. A. E. Forget, con- 

 tained these passages: 



" The spontaneous expressions of loyalty with 

 which all parts of the empire have given practical 

 evidence of their devotion to the Queen and im- 

 perial interests will mark the past year as a 

 memorable one in the history of the nation. Ow- 

 ing to the nonestablishment of the militia system, 

 the territories were deprived of the privilege of 

 being represented in the first Canadian contingent ; 

 but in the second contingent, and in that corps 

 raised and equipped through the splendid generos- 

 ity and patriotism of Lord Strathcona and Mount 

 Royal, the territories have now the honor of hav- 

 ing given not only a large number of men in the 

 aggregate, but, in proportion to their population, 

 a larger number than any other portion of the 

 Dominion, to the Canadian contribution to the 

 cause of the empire. In this connection you will 

 be asked to concur in a grant made to the North- 

 west members of the second contingent, and your 

 assent will be asked to a measure legalizing grants 

 made by municipal corporations to various pa- 

 triotic funds. 



" The unprecedented rainfall and disastrous 

 floods of the past year brought about a state of 

 affairs which the revenue, already proved to be in- 

 adequate under ordinary conditions, was altogether 

 unable to cope with. This state of affairs tended 

 not so much to create as to aggravate and call 

 more pointed attention to the great disproportion 

 existing between the means at command and the 

 ever-growing necessities of the rapidly increasing 

 population of the territories. It is gratifying for 

 me to be able to inform you that the 'Federal 

 Government has proposed to Parliament, now in 

 session, a moderate increase to your annual grant 

 and a large special vote for the purpose of restor- 

 ing public works destroyed by the floods. In 

 spite of this very substantial increase to the rev- 

 enue, my Government can only look upon it as 

 affording a temporary and partial amelioration of 

 otherwise impossible financial conditions, and will 

 ask you to take action leading to the earliest 

 practicable solution of territorial financial and ad- 

 ministrative problems." 



An interesting discussion took place on April 

 30, upon a motion that: "In the opinion of this 

 house, it is detrimental to the best interests of the 

 Northwest Territories, as long as our present 

 status as territories exists, for members of the 

 executive of this Government to take any active 

 part in Federal politics." This was a direct attack 



upon Mr. Haultain's well-known Conservative pro- 

 clivities and his appearance upon Sir Charles Tup- 

 per's platform. It was voted down by 21 to 6. 

 On May 2 the local demands for a full provincial 

 position and better financial terms found expres- 

 sion in the following resolution, moved by Mr. 

 Haultain and unanimously carried : 



" That an humble address to his Excellency the 

 Governor General be adopted by this house, pray- 

 ing him that he will be pleased to cause the fullest 

 inquiry to be made into the position of the terri- 

 tories, financial and otherwise, and to cause such 

 action to be taken as will provide for their present 

 and immediate welfare and good government, as 

 well as the due fulfillment of the duties and obli- 

 gations of government and legislation assumed, 

 with respect to these territories, by the Parlia- 

 ment of Canada ; and that 



" Whereas, By the British North America act, 

 1871, it was (among other things) enacted that 

 the Parliament of Canada may from time to time 

 establish new provinces in any territories forming 

 for the time being part of the Dominion of Canada, 

 but not included in any province thereof, and may, 

 at the time of such establishment, make provision 

 for the constitution and administration of ... 

 such provinces, his Excellency be also prayed to 

 order inquiries to be made and accounts taken 

 with a view to the settlement of the terms and 

 conditions upon which the territories or any part 

 thereof shall be established as a province, and that 

 before any such province is established opportunity 

 should be given to the people of the territories, 

 through their accredited representatives, of con- 

 sidering and discussing such terms and condi- 

 tions." 



On May 4, a resolution was passed pointing out 

 the rich productiveness of a large area of country 

 north of the Qu'Appelle valley, in the district 

 of Assiniboia, the difficulties of the settlers in ob- 

 taining transportation, the necessity of a railway, 

 and the desirability of Dominion aid in its con- 

 struction. 



The Assembly adjourned on the same day, after 

 the Lieutenant Governor had assented to the fol- 

 lowing ordinances, among others: 



Respecting the public lands of the territories. 



To amend chapter xxii of the ordinances of 1899, 

 intituled " an ordinance respecting noxious weeds." 



Respecting the medical profession. 



Respecting hail insurance. 



Respecting assignments for the general benefit 

 of creditors. 



Respecting the sale of intoxicating liquors. 



Respecting mortgages and sales of personal prop- 

 erty. 



Respecting the incorporation of joint-stock coin 

 panies. 



Respecting dentistry. 



Respecting mining companies. 



To secure compensation to workmen. 



Respecting foreign corporations. 



Respecting confirmation of sales of land 

 taxes. 



An important incident of the session was a re- 

 quest from the Legislature to the Dominion ' 

 eminent, as a natural outcome of the military 

 spirit of the moment, that the Federal militia 

 tern be extended to the Territories. 



Finances. The needs of the Government 'lur- 

 ing the year were greater than the revenue, and 

 resulted in an appeal to the Dominion, as givm 

 above, for further financial assistance. On M:.v ' 

 the following sums were voted by the Assembly 

 for the current year: Civil government. *H>.s'.)i 

 Attorney-General's department, $3,579; Treasuijr 

 Department, $4,540; public works, $7,980; agri- 





