Document Information

Date: 1866-06-30
By: The Globe
Citation: “New Local Constitutions for Upper Canada,” The Globe (30 June 1866).
Other formats: Click here to view the original document (PDF).

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NEW LOCAL CONSTITUTIONS FOR UPPER CANADA

BY SPECIAL TELEGRAM

OTTAWA, Friday, June 29.

I hear that the Local Constitutions for Upper and Lower Canada, respectively, are nearly ready at last, and will be submitted to Parliament on Tuesday next. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of every point, but, from what I have gathered in various quarters, am led to believe the following will be found a pretty correct outline of the scheme that will be proposed.

In Lower Canada the system will remain very much at present. The electoral divisions for the Lower House will be as now and the Upper House will be a nominated body of gentlemen residing within and possessing certain property qualifications within the electoral division for which he is nominated.

In Upper Canada there is to be but one Chamber. The Lieut.-Governor is to be appointed by the Confederate Government, and he will have a veto on all measures passed by the Chamber—but a two-thirds vote of the Chamber will override the veto. The constitution will not provide for the appointment of any departmental officers—the Local Parliament, when established, will determine the number and duties of these functionaries. The Lieut.-Governor, immediately on his appointment, will nominate Cabinet Ministers and organize the Legislative Chamber.

The Legislative Chamber of Upper Canada is to consist of eighty-two members, that is, seventeen more than at present. The seventeen seats, I understand, are to be distributed as follows:—

Town of Chatham 1
Town of Guelph 1
Town of Brantford 1
Town of Peterboro 1
Town of Belleville 1
Town of St. Catherines 1
Toronto University 1
Indian District of Algoma
County of Huron 1
County of Bruce 1
County of Perth 1
County of Grey 1
Kent and Lambton (between them) 1
County of Peel 1
York and Simcoe (between them) 1
County of Frontenac 1
County of Renfrew 1

This may not be the exact arrangement, but it is not far from what is proposed. I fancy perhaps a township adjoining the towns to which members are given may be brought within their respective electoral divisions.

The new Local Constitutions will come into force the Imperial Parliament has passed the Act necessary to give them existence.The Governor-General will form a Confederate Cabinet Council, a Confederate Parliament will be called and put in operation under the advice of that Council, Lieut.-Governors will be appointed in the several Provinces under the advice of that Cabinet and the Lieut.-Governors so appointed will proceed to form their respective Cabinets, and organize their respective Legislatures.

It will be quite competent for the same person to represent his electoral division in the local as well as the Confederate Legislature.