CHAPTER LH. 



The Hudson's Bay Route Supported. 



the debate ix the house of commons — speeches of mr. royal, 

 mr. watson, mr. casey, dr. orton, mr. dawson, sir john a. 

 macdonald and hon. mr. blake — faith expressed in the 

 route — its advantages to the north-west — its import- 

 ance to canada — proposed expedition. 



&1S&F account has already been given of the circumstances which 

 Wim? led to a consideration of the Hudson's Bay route by the 

 f_M\c people of the North-West, and to the adoption of measures 

 -^ ' by Parliament to enquire into the navigation of the Bay 

 and Strait. The question was formally brought to the attention of 

 the House of Commons by a motion for a select committee of 

 enquiry brought forward by Mr. Joseph Royal, M.P., of Manitoba. 

 Speeches wei-e made by Mr. Royal, Mr. Dawson, Mr. Watson, Mr 

 Casey, Dr. Orton, Sir John A. Macdonald and Hon, Edward Blake. 

 These addresses faithfully set forth the views of the House at that 

 time concerning the practicability of the route, and are therefore 

 interesting. 



Mr. Royal said : "Every hon. member of this House is aware of 

 the agitation that has been going on for some time in the Province 

 of Manitoba with respect to the navigation of the Hudson's Bay. 

 This agitation arose in October last when the farmers of Manitoba, 

 after the frost of September, saw their grain run down in price by a 

 combination of millers. After discussing many questions in connec- 

 tion with their grievances, or so-called grievances, it seemed to be 

 the general opinion that the best way to escape what was called the 

 monopoly of freights of the Canadian Pacific Railway would be to 

 build a railway from Winnipeg to the Hudson's Bay. This agitation 



