Document Information

Date: 1905-07-11
By: Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Canada, Senate Debates, 10th Parl, 1st Sess, 1905 at 550.
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550

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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES REPRESENTATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.

Hon. Mr. SCOTT moved the second reading of Bill (156), An Act to amend the Northwest Territories Representation Act. He said: In the Northwest there are no regular voters’ lists. The lists are made up after the issue of the writ. Enumerators are appointed either by the Governor in Council or by the returning officers and the enumerator goes around and makes up his list in a very primitive way, and files three copies of it in the polling division. There has in the past been considerable liberty allowed as to the place where a man might vote. I think men have sometimes voted outside of the district in which they live. The first clause of the Bill provides that except that as hereinafter provided—which applies to scrutineers or deputy returning officers who are allowed to go outside of their own divisions to vote—an elector may only vote at the polling station of the division in which he is a resident at the time of voting. The next clause makes provision for the posting of the lists. It must be done in a post office or some public place. Heretofore the lists were practically not posted, but they were put up at any three places which the enumerator thought proper. Of course after the province has been organized the legislature will no doubt enact laws with regard to the franchise. As we have adopted the provincial franchise, this Bill is simply for the short period which must elapse until the territory organizes and prepares voters lists.

The motion was agreed to, and the Bill passed through its final stages under a suspension of the rules.