Document Information

Date: 1864-05-03
By: Province of Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Province of Canada, Parliament, Scrapbook Debates, 8th Parl, 2nd Sess, 1864 at 118-119.
Other formats: Click here to view the original document (PDF).

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Tuesday, May 3rd, 1864

The New Ministers

The new Ministers were introduced in the following order:

Hon. John A. Macdonald, by Mr, Cartwright and Hon. Mr. Alleyn.
Hon. Mr. Cartier, by Hon. Mr. Ross and Mr. Tasse.
Hon. Mr. Chapais by Hon. Mr. Turcotte and Mr. Price.
Hon. Mr. Simpson, by Mr. Powell and Mr. Daoust.
Hon. Mr. McGee by Hon. Mr. Alleyn and Hon. Mr. Rose.
Hon. Mr. Cockburn, by Mr. Powell and Hon. Mr. Rose.
Mr. Buchanan, by Mr. W. Ferguson and Mr. Leboutillier.
Hon. Mr. Galt, by Hon. Mr. Alleyn and Mr. Knight.
Hon. Mr. Langevin, by Hon. Mr. Alleyn and Mr. Blanchet.

Adjournment

John A. Macdonald [Kingston, Attorney-General West] suggested the propriety of an adjournment, inasmuch as the great majority of the members present had only arrived this morning, and as there were many to arrive.

Antoine-Aimé Dorion [Hochelaga] said that before the motion of adjournment was put, he would state his belief that he thought it was usual on such occasions as the present for new Administrations to offer explanations as to the policy intended to be pursued by them. When this House last met, we had some explanations from an hon. member, who declared himself, however, incapable of giving full explanations as to the policy of the new Government; and he (Mr. Dorion) thought the hon. gentlemen on the Treasury Benches should, on the first occasion of the assembling of the House, be ready to furnish the usual explanations respecting the formation of the Ministry, and its policy—especially as some important points thereof foreshadowed when the House was last in session required some explanation. He would particularly refer to the points in reference to the steps to be taken to secure a more intimate commercial alliance between the sister Provinces, and the abrogation of canal tolls, for the purpose of attracting a greater portion of the western trade to our waters.

Now, he supposed on of the subjects on which explanations were required was the Intercolonial Railway. He thought this was the proper time to learn whether the terms agreed on as a basis for negotiations in 1862, to which two of the members of the present Administration were parties, were to form the basis of the arrangements to be carried out with a view to improve our means of access to the seaboard. He would also like to know whether all the changes contemplated with reference to the canal tolls had been made? The House had a right to information on these points at as early a day as possible.

John A. Macdonald [Kingston, Attorney-General West] said explanations with reference to the formation of the Government were fully gone into before the adjournment, when information was given to the House in regard to all the steps taken in connexion with the formation of the present Administration, and with reference to the attempts made to form other Cabinets. He thought the House and country were fully aware of all that took place in relation to these matters. With respect to the policy of the Government, it would be fully shown by their measures, when brought down—when it would be also observed that what was announced as the policy would be carried out by the Government in their legislation. He would prefer that any discussion on this subject should stand ever till to morrow, to allow of the presence of several hon. members on both sides of the House, and particularly the hon. member for Cornwall [John Sandfield Macdonald], as questions of fact might arise. He would, therefore, move that the House adjourn till to-morrow.

Carried.

The House then, at a quarter to four p.m., adjourned.