1 6 QUEEN'S QUARTERLY. 



There was a fierce discussion in committee over •^'^^^J^^''.'^ ^^.^^ 

 Ontario Government sent leading counsel to protest ^^^'^^ j^.^^j^ 

 visions. The Toronto Globe furiously attacked "Mr. Conm _^^ ^^^^^ 

 Bill," and severely criticized the committee for ''.«P°[""f ' , 



When the measure came up for consideration m he Ho"^^ °" ^^^ 

 committee's report, the Minister of Justice '''''f }° l^'Z r^ZTc 

 the face of the bill, and because the company ^es-d the ngh to 

 export power to a foreign country, the Federal Parha,T.ent only had 

 the right to entertain the measure. The member for Sault Ste. 

 Marie protested against granting the liberty to export power m view 

 of the recently launched movement for the preservation and conser- 

 vation of our resources, and also because the Province of Ontario 

 had recently inaugurated a comprehensive power policy with wnich 

 this measure was a direct interference. Here the Premier came to 

 the rescue. Dealing with the question of interference with the pro- 

 vincial policy. Sir Wilfrid said : 



"If we pass this bill we interfere directly with this principle, and 

 under those circumstances, holding as I have held, all my life, to the 

 sacredness, if the word is not too strong, of Provincial rights, while 

 we have the brute power to override those rights, it is a question 

 whether we should do so, and it is a question upon which I would 

 invite the serious consideration of my honorable friend who is pro- 

 moting this bill." 



It would be interesting to follow out the debate more fully did 

 time and space permit. Suffice it to say, that the bill to incorporate 

 the Ontario and Michigan Power Company eventually passed both 

 houses without any discussion in the Senate and became law, but 

 shorn of all its glories. The corporation must rest upon its own 

 intrinsic merits as a federal entity, for it has not been declared to be 

 a work for the general advantage of Canada. 



As already stated, there can be no absolute rule of policy. Ex- 

 pediency in political life is a word with a large meaning. The pos- 

 sible circumstances of times and places cannot be controlled by any 

 settled rule once for all defined. But Canadians will still continue to 

 trust the good sense, forbearance, and consideration of their repre- 

 sentatives in Parliament to deal with the vexed question of Provin- 

 cial Rights in a broad, sane, and liberal spirit, recognizing that the 

 considerations which obtained at Confederation are after the lapse 

 of over forty years much more than memories and that some of the 

 great questions of Canada's future can be approached and resolved 

 only in the free spirit of forbearance and compromise. 



Andrew Havdok. 



