Document Information

Date: 1902-03-21
By: Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Canada, Senate Debates, 9th Parl, 2nd Sess, 1902 at 101 – 102
Other formats: TBA

101

PROVINCIAL AUTONOMY FOR NORTHWEST TERRITORIES.

INQUIRY.

Hon. Mr. PERLEY rose to ask the government:

If the government of the North-west Territories have made application to enter confederation under full provincial autonomy, and if so, what are the terms and conditions proposed by them?

Hon. Mr. SCOTT—The government of the North-west Territories have made an application to the government of Canada for recognition of portions of the territory as provinces. No action has been taken upon it, nor is likely to be in the near future, and unless with the consent of the government of the North-west Territories, it would not be proper to bring down the papers, or give any information. At present they are confidential and liable to be changed at any moment.

Hon. Mr. LOUGHEED—Do I understand from the hon. Secretary of State that there is no prospect of anything being done at an early day with reference to this matter?

Hon. Mr. SCOTT—It would require parliamentary action, and I do not think anything could be consummated during the present session.

Hon. Mr. LOUGHEED—Might I ask the hon. Secretary of State if the matter is under the consideration of the government?

Hon. Mr. SCOTT—Yes, it is of course under the consideration of the government.

Hon. Mr. LOUGHEED—Might I further ask why the delay? I understand the executive of the North-west Territories have been in Ottawa on two or three occasions discussing the subject with this government, and I might say that public sentiment throughout the whole of the territories has asserted itself very strongly in favour of immediate action being taken with reference to this important matter, and this government hitherto has expressed its willingness to give provincial autonomy

102

to the Territories upon the same being asked. Therefore, in view of those circumstances, it seems to me very strange that some action has not been taken during the present session. Certainly, the public of the North-west anticipated that this government would bring down some measure along those lines.

Hon. Mr. SCOTT—I think there are some matters that will have to be further considered before final action can be taken. The areas of the provinces, whether it shall be one or several, the centres, the capitals of the provinces, and a variety of questions of that kind have not really yet been discussed sufficiently to arrive at any fair conclusion.

Hon. Mr. PERLEY—I understand that the great difficulty in the way—and I imagine that to be the case from the fact that the hon. gentleman says there is no action to be taken in the very near future—is that they do not wish to do anything until after the next federal election on account of some difficulty that may arise in connection with the school question in that country. Is that so?

Hon. Mr. SCOTT—No, I have not heard that mentioned. I have not heard any mention of it in that connection.