Document Information

Date: 1871-02-17
By: Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Canada, House of Commons Debates, 1st Parl, 4th Sess, 1871 at 13.
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[Page 13]

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Friday, February 17, 1871

NORTH WEST INSTRUCTIONS

Mr. MACKENZIE moved an address for copies of all instructions to Lieutenant-Governor Archibald, also copies of all reports and official correspondence between the Lieutenant- Governor and the Dominion Government from the date of his appointment.

Hon. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD said that while no objection would be urged to furnishing the returns asked for, it would be as well to mention exactly the papers which were wanted. There was a very large amount of correspondence continually passing between the Local Government and the Dominion Government, only a portion of which could be of any service to the hon. member.

Mr. MACKENZIE said he only wished to obtain that portion relative to the new system of Government, the division of the Province into electoral districts, and everything, in fact, connected with the new order of things. He did not want the formal correspondence.

Hon. Sir GEORGE-É. CARTIER called the attention of the hon. member to the fact that Lieutenant-Governor Archibald was the Governor of the North West Territory as well as of Manitoba, and correspondence relevant to both capacities should be included.

The motion was amended in accordance with the suggestion, and carried.

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BRITISH COLUMBIA CORRESPONDENCE MOTIONS

Mr. MACKENZIE moved for an address for copies of all correspondence between the Government and British Columbia, its delegates, or the Imperial Government relative to the admission of such colony into the Dominion; also copies of all orders in council or other documents relating to such negotiation.—Carried.

Hon. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD said all correspondence would be brought down by message, and the motion was unnecessary.