Federal Relations of the North-West. 461 



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one end of the Dominion to the other, is an enterprise of a wholly national 

 character, and the expenses connected therewith should be borne by the 

 Dominion. Although its construction was one of the conditions upon 

 which the Province of British Columbia entered Confederation, that Prov- 

 ince was not called upon to contribute in any way towards its construc- 

 tion, but on the contrary was indemnified in the sum of $100,000 annually 

 for the right of way and for the land covering an area of twenty miles on 

 each side of the line. Thus, in the case of British Columbia, the Province 

 does not only receive a similar benefit to what Manitoba is receiving, but 

 in addition receives compensation for the right of way as previously 

 stated. 



" As to local railways, had Manitoba been possessed of the territory, 

 she would have been able to subsidize their construction, which is so 

 essential to the prosperity of her people. 



" This Province has already offered to redeem every pledge given by 

 the Federal authorities in respect to setting apart of free homesteads to all 

 coming settlers, and for the education of their children. 



" The proposal that this Province shall become possessed of only the 

 swamp lands, together with the grant of $45,000 a year, is not acceptable 

 to this Legislature as a compensation for the equitable claim that this 

 Province has always preferred to all the lands thereof. 



" As to the school lands, the House can only reiterate the arguments 

 already advanced in favour of their control being vested in the Province. 

 The grant of 150,000 acres to the University of Manitoba is considered by 

 this House advisable, and should the Province become possessed of her 

 public lands, pledges itself to carry out that proposition. 



" In reference to the allowance of capital on a population of 150,000 

 souls, instead of 17,000, as previously fixed, this House is of opinion that 

 the same is a step in the right direction, and only regrets that there is no 

 assurance that the same will be allowed on increased population as may be 

 ascertained decennially. This being the only source to which the Province 

 could look for a revenue to meet its increasing requirements, this Legisla- 

 ture is of opinion that the same should not be limited to 150,000 souls, 

 but should be adjusted decennially as urged by the delegates. 



" Although admitting that this Province has committed itself not to 

 exercise any legislative powers in reference to chartering railways which 

 would conflict with the Canadian Pacific Railway Act within the added 

 territory, this House is nevertheless of opinion that this concession does 

 not affect the exercise of that right within the limits of Manitoba, as it 

 existed previous to the extension, and insist that they should be left to the 

 full exercise of all her powers to charter local railways from one point to 



