Document Information

Date: 1866-07-13
By: Province of Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Province of Canada, Parliament, Scrapbook Debates, 8th Parl, 5th Sess, 1866 at 45-47.
Other formats: Click here to view the original document (PDF).
Note: All endnotes come from our recent publication, Charles Dumais & Michael Scott (ed.), The Confederation Debates in the Province of Canada (CCF, 2022).

Click here to view the rest of the Province of Canada’s Confederation Debates for 1866.

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

FRIDAY, July 13, 1866

John A. Macdonald [Kingston, Attorney-General West and Minister of Militia]   stated that it was his intention to take up the question of the Local Governments, this evening at 8 o’clock.

Luther Holton [Chateauguay] said that since the last measures on the Confederation scheme was about to be submitted, it was time that the House should have a declaration from the government as to the promised measure on the education question of Lower Canada.

George-Étienne Cartier [Montreal East, Attorney-General East] stated that the measure would be submitted, but it would not take precedence of the resolution on the Local constitutions.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall] stated that if a measure was to be introduced on the education question and Lower Canada, the same privileges ought to be extended to Upper Canada. He would, move a resolution to that effect himself, though personally he would have been satisfied to leave it in the hands of the majority of each Province. Since, however, they had not been asked to do that it was only fair that equal privileges should be extended to the minorities in both sections.

George-Étienne Cartier [Montreal East, Attorney-General East] said in Lower Canada there were the Common Schools, which in

• (p. 46)

each municipality were the schools of the majority, whether Catholics or Protestants, and then Dissentient Schools, which were the schools of the minority, no matter to which religion they belonged. It had been complained that the minorities in Lower Canada had not the privileges which were enjoyed by the minority in Upper Canada, and it was to remedy the new bill was to be brought in.

Further discussion took place as to the time when the measure should be brought down, some contending that it ought to have taken precedence of the question of the Local constitutions.

George-Étienne Cartier [Montreal East, Attorney-General East] stated that the resolutions of the Local constitutions would not go to a third reading until after the education bill had been brought down. The Protestants might rely upon it that he would see they received every justice in that measure.

John Cameron [Peel] expressed his satisfaction with the explanation of the Attorney-General East [George E. Carter], and felt sure they would be satisfactory to the people of Upper Canada, who desired to see the same privileges extended to their Protestant minority of Lower Canada as those enjoyed by the Catholic minority of Upper Canada.

Antoine-Aimé Dorion [Hochelaga], after referring to the educational question, proceeded to ask the government whether it was their intention to bring forward their promised bill to amend the election law.

John A. Macdonald [Kingston, Attorney-General West and Minister of Militia] said the question was now receiving all the attention which the demands upon his time would permit. He hoped to be able to bring forward the measure at an early day, and would be happy to have the assistance of the hon. member of amending it, if it were found defective.

Evening Sitting

John A. Macdonald [Kingston, Attorney-General West and Minister of Militia] did not propose to occupy the time of the House very long and submitting the resolutions for the Local constitutions of Upper and Lower Canada. Before speaking to the resolutions he would say a word as to the charge against the Government of delay.

The Quebec resolutions had been carried without amendment[1], but the Governments of the Lower Provinces have not been so successful[2], on account of the hostility the scheme had met with. The hon. member for South Oxford [George Brown] approved of the delay. It would have answered no good purpose. It would not have expedited Confederation to enter on this subject at an earlier day.

On the contrary, discussions would have taken place in this House which might have had an injurious effect. The hon. member for Hochelaga [Antoine-Aimé Dorion] had on a former occasion, put some question relative to the Intercolonial Railway, and the remarks made on that occasion were posted up at every polling place in New Brunswick to defeat the cause of Confederation, and he doubted not that had the debate been brought on in this House before the principle of Confederation was affirmed in the other Provinces, that something would have been said on one side or the other which would have been taken advantage of by the opponents of this scheme in other places. And had they laid the subject before the House on the first day of the session it would not have expedited the business of the session.

The Attorney-General East [George-Étienne Cartier] would address the House in explanation of the resolutions referring particularly to that section of the Province. In Upper Canada it had been concluded after mature consideration to have only one Legislative Chamber. The executive in both Provinces would be the same; a governor appointed by the general government, holding office during pleasure, which should not except for good reasons be exercised until after the expiration of five years.

With respect to the Local Legislature of Upper Canada, there were several reasons inducing the choice of one chamber. For a subordinate Legislature acting under authority of a general government, having in fact something of the character of a Municipal body, one chamber had been considered sufficient. It was however an experiment, and if it did not work well it would be easy to provide two, but on the other hand it would be exceedingly difficult to begin with two and then reduce it to one.

Another reason was the very great difficulty in finding the requisite number of men able and willing to undertake the charge of the duties of legislation. Even in Canada, as a whole, it must be admitted that there is a difficulty in finding a sufficient number of men qualified by habit and fitness for the duties of Legislation.

Another consideration that had suggested itself was that the present number of representatives, 65[3], might have been sufficient for the Local Legislature, but I was surrounded with difficulties. One of the principle questions with which it would have to deal, would be the redistribution of seats for the Confederate Legislature. It had therefore been considered expedient that the same limits of constituency should apply to both the Local and the General Legislatures.

The second resolution provides for the administration of the local governments according to the well understood principles of the British Constitution[4]. Some hon. gentleman might remember how in Upper Canada, before the union, the system of log rolling had been carried on until the statute book was loaded with appropriations which, the revenue could not meet. This state of affairs was happily swept away by the union, which establish the principle of responsible government, and provided against the appropriation of a single dollar without a message from the Crown. The duration of local parliaments was to be four years.

George Brown [Oxford South]—Did not understand that such was the case. The point was discussed but not decided on.

John A. Macdonald [Kingston, Attorney-General West and Minister of Militia]   had an impression that such, at all events, was the understanding. As a representation, it’s principal basis was to be population, but territory was also to be taken into account in the redistribution of new seats for Upper Canada. In some few instances it will be seen, that from the difficulties of adjusting the population they had departed from that rule, but generally it had been adhered to. As the basis of the representation of Upper Canada was settled by the Quebec resolutions, to be re-distributed after each decennial census, they had deemed it proper to adopt, as a basis, for the first distribution, the census of 1861. By the system in Canada the people had every opportunity of electing men whom they knew—men who had been trained in the municipal system, who are capable and qualified for the high duties of a representative.

It seemed to him, that in an old country, the periodical re-distribution of seats would be undesirable, but in a new country like this, or the United States, it was necessary, on account of the rapid increase in population. In concluding, he said he had hoped that all the old party lines would be swept away by the Confederation of British America.

He moved the adjournment of the debate, which was carried.

In reply to a question from John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall]—

• (p. 47)

John A. Macdonald [Kingston, Attorney-General West and Minister of Militia] said he intended that the resolution should be preceded with, with the Speaker in the chair; but as in the case of the Quebec resolutions, it was the desire of the Government of the same freedom of debate should be allowed as if the House were in Committee[5].

George Brown [Oxford South] asked whether any mode of settling the liabilities between Upper and Lower Canada, and whether it was intended to submit a measure on the subject to this Parliament.

John A. Macdonald [Kingston, Attorney-General West and Minister of Militia] said that was a mere question of appraisal and settlement of account, with which the Local Constitutions had nothing to do. It was, however, the intention of the Government to submit a mode of arrangement to this Parliament, but his honourable friend would see that the giving effect in this, as to the Confederate and Local Legislatures, must be by act of the Imperial Parliament.

George Brown [Oxford South] was very glad to have heard at the Attorney-General’s [John A. Macdonald] views on the subject.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall] wish to know the course the government intended to pursue towards providing for the first meeting of the Upper Canada Parliament.

John A. Macdonald [Kingston, Attorney-General West and Minister of Militia] said the functions of this Government would cease the moment the Confederate Constitution came in force.

George Brown [Oxford South] wished to urge on the Attorney-General the importance of the point put by the hon. member for Cornwall [John Sandfield Macdonald]. It would be necessary for this Parliament to arrange the way in which the Local Constitutions were to be put in force, and he hoped the Government would at once bring down resolutions upon the subject before the debate on the Local Constitutions was resumed.

John A. Macdonald [Kingston, Attorney-General West and Minister of Militia]   hoped his hon. friend with see that they should first determine the principle before they went into details. The principle of the Lower Constitutions was now before them, and when that was affirmed, the means of organising them would be duly considered. The organization of the General Government, with the approbation of the people as expressed by a general election, should precede the organization of the Local Governments.

George-Étienne Cartier [Montreal East, Attorney-General East] addressed the House in French explaining at considerable length the provisions of the Local Constitution for Lower Canada.[6]

—M. L’Orateur En prenant la parole, je déclare tout d’abord, que j’ai un grand désir, comme membre de la législature, d’établir des institutions sages et durables. Mon collègue (l’honorable M. Macdonald) a exposé les principales différences entre les deux systèmes de gouvernement que nous proposons pour le Haut et pour le Bas-Canada, respectivement. Le Haut-Canada n’aura qu’une seule Chambre, tandis que le Bas-Canada en possédera deux: un Conseil législatif, dont les membres seront nommés à vie par le gouvernement, et une Assemblée nommée par les libres suffrages du peuple.

Nous ne soumettons ce projet, mes collègues et moi, qu’après de longues délibérations. Le Bas-Canada a son histoire et ses traditions politiques; le Haut-Canada aussi, et aujourd’hui, à la veille d’inaugurer un nouveau système, nous ne pouvons nous empêcher de jeter un regard sur le passé, afin d’y rechercher les raisons du présent et des présages pour l’avenir.

En 1791[7], le Bas-Canada fut de même que le Haut-Canada, doté d’une législature, composée des deux Chambres: Conseil législatif à vie, et Assemblée élective. Quel résultat eut cette constitution? En ce qui concerne la formation des Chambres, il n’y eut rien ou que peu de chose à désirer; mais il manquait au système ce cachet de perfection qui caractérise la constitution britannique, je veux dire la responsabilité ministérielle. Si, avant 1837, le gouvernement impérial avait concédé au Bas-Canada le régime de la responsabilité, il aurait évité les troubles malheureux de cette époque; mais après avoir ainsi fait la part de reproches qui doit revenir au gouvernement impérial, sachons dire aussi qu’il n’était pas seul blâmable.

Les hommes politiques du temps avaient certes raison de demander le redressement de leurs griefs; seulement les remèdes réclamés par eux n’étaient pas les meilleurs. Tandis que dans le Haut-Canada, le Dr Baldwin, père de l’honorable Robert Baldwin, et les autres, qui avaient senti tout de suit qu’il manquait un élément essentiel au bon fonctionnement des institutions déjà établies, ne cessaient point de réclamer un gouvernement responsable, le Bas-Canada s’en tenait à demander l’élection du Conseil législatif! Les demandes du Haut-Canada étaient tout à fait conformes à l’esprit de la constitution britannique; les amélioration qu’on voulait apporter au régime du Bas-Canada, étaient plutôt approchantes du système de la responsabilité gouvernementale n’ait pas été établi dans le Haut-Canada, avant l’Acte d’Union, dès 1841[8], on y vit l’honorable Robert Baldwin soumettre à l’Assemblée les célèbres résolutions, qui, après avoir été modifiées par M. Harrison, ont formé la base des institutions politiques dont nous jouissons aujourd’hui.

D’autre part, en lisant les quatre vingt-douze résolutions proposées par M. Elzéar Bédard,—mais qui avaient été rédigées par M. Morin—nous y verrons énumérés tous les maux dont le Bas-Canada se plaignait avec beaucoup de raison. Que demandait-on? Une chose seulement: que le Conseil législatif fût nommé par élection.

Les hommes politiques d’alors ne paraissent pas avoir compris l’importance du système de la responsabilité. Quand, en 1830, M. Panet fut appelé au Conseil exécutif du Bas-Canada, on y fit peu d’attention, bien qu’il fût déjà membre de l’Assemblée législative. Mais il en fut autrement pour M. Dominique Mondelet. C’était un avocat distingué fort versé dans les lois, à la tête d’une clientèle considérable. Il représentait, à l’Assemblée, la comté de Montréal et les comtés de Jacques-Cartier et d’Hochelaga. Cette nomination était l’introduction du gouvernement responsable dans le Bas-Canada; M. Mondelet, ayant un siège à l’Assemblée, y aurait défendu les mesures du gouvernement, mais y aurait lui aussi subi l’influence de la Chambre, qui l’eût obligé d’insister auprès de ses collègues, pur obtenir les réformes demandées. La Chambre, toutefois, n’eut pas cette vue juste des choses. Elle considéra M. Mondelet comme un espion, et, dans un moment malheureux, elle résolut de l’expulser. Tous ces faits ont leur importance, et je ne crois pas inutile de les rappeler maintenant que nous jetons les fondements d’un gouvernement provincial.

En se rapportant maintenant à nos institutions politiques sous le système responsable, on voit que les vives réclamations qui se faisaient entendre au sujet du Conseil législatif s’apaisèrent insensiblement. Mais les germes de haine laissés par l’ancien régime s’étaient conservés chez ceux qui avaient servi sous ce régime, et ils crurent devoir faire cette concession aux souvenirs d’une autre époque. Après dix ans d’expérience, on a pu se convaincre que, avec la responsabilité ministérielle, cela était inutile. Ce point a été discuté par les trente-deux délégués, à la convention de Québec.

Les délégués canadiens avaient deux systèmes à soumettre à la convention. Dans le Bas-Canada, les conseillers avaient tour à tour été nommés à vue et élus par le peuple. En examinant à résultats, nous somme arrivés à cette conclusion, que, le Conseil élu, a réussi, non pas par l’effet du principe électif, mais parce qu’il y a toujours eu dans ce corps, un certain nombre de membres nommés à vie, ce qui a contribué à le maintenir dans son indépendance et lui a permis de mieux surveiller les opérations de l’autre branche de la législature.

Cela nous a engagés, mes collègues bas-canadiens et moi, à remettre en usage le système des deux Chambres, nommées l’une par la Couronne et l’autre par le peuple. Si l’on me demande pourquoi nous n’aurions pas une seule Chambre, comme le Haut-Canada, je répondrai que les résolutions de Québec ont sagement prescrit que chaque province pourrait régler sa forme propre de gouvernement comme elle l’entendrait. L’article 41 de ces résolutions est ainsi conçu:

“Les gouvernements et les législatures des diverses provinces seront continués comme leurs législatures actuelles respectives le jugeront à propos.”[9]

Ainsi chaque province est libre d’établir le gouvernement particulier qui lui conviendra. Le difficile était de trouver le système convenable pour chaque province. Le Haut-Canada n’est habité que par une seule race, il en est autrement du Bas-Canada.

Je ne crois pas que la dualité de races soit un désavantage pour nous, mais il nous faut un système que trouvent acceptable les populations de races et de religions différentes qui habitent le Bas-Canada. Le Haut-Canada, en ne voulant avoir qu’une seule Chambre, a été mû par un désir d’économie. Quant à nous, nous n’avons pas cru ce motif suffisant. Ce n’est pas pour une épargne de ₤15,000 à ₤20,000 que nous refuserions de donner plus de dignité à nos institutions législatives. En pareille matière, l’économie ne doit pas être la principale chose à rechercher, et j’espère que mes amis partageront cette opinion.

Les populations du Bas-Canada sont beaucoup plus monarchistes que celles du Haut-Canada; elles apprécient davantages les institutions monarchiques, hormis, toutefois, les démocrates avancés, comme il s’en trouve quelques-uns dans cette Chambre. Ceux-là vont me désapprouver; mais je n’y ai pas regret. Pour avoir leur approbation, il me faudrait favoriser beaucoup trop leurs idées et manquer par là même au premier de mes devoirs.

Quoique l’on ne puisse en Canada, établir une aristocratie fondée sur la naissance on sur la propriété, on ne doit pas oublier, cependant, que la Constitution de 1791[10] avait posé les bases d’une institution aristocratique établie sur le droit de naissance; mais on n’y a pas donné suite. Le Haut-Canada veut tenter une expérience; sans nous permettre de lui offrir un avis, nous pouvons bien dire que l’on a déjà essayé ailleurs plusieurs fois, de gouverner avec une seule Chambre, notamment aux Etats-Unis, où la doctrine démocratique est poussée très loin, essai malheureux, l’on est bientôt revenu de cette erreur. Aussi a été encore consacrée l’utilité d’une seconde Chambre. Dans ces Etats, il est vrai, les membre du Sénat ne sont pas nommés à vie; mais leur élection diffère de celle de la Chambre basse. On doit aussi remarquer que les sénateurs y sont élus pour un plus grand nombre d’années que les représentants.

Avec la responsabilité ministérielle, un Conseil électif est une anomalie; au lieu d’apporter plus de force à la constitution, il est une cause d’embarras. Si, dans le Bas-Canada, on avait eu tout de suite le système de la responsabilité, jamais la constitution de 1791 n’aurait été renversée.

Voilà ce qui nous a engagés, mes collègues et moi, à avoir une seconde Chambre. Les membres en seront nommés à vie, pour les circonscriptions territoriales prescrites par le statut. Il pourra se produire des conflits entre les deux Chambres. Le fait est que, dans l’histoire de tous les peuples soumis à un gouvernement constitutionnel, on voit ces deux corps politiques s’entre-choquer, quelquefois la situation devient grave, il faut alors user d’une extrême prudence; il faut aussi être attentif à l’opinion publique.

Mais l’opinion publique que j’ai en vue n’est pas ce produit d’une tempête populaire, qui ne cherche qu’à tout renverser. Le mieux, sera toujours d’éviter, et à tout prix, le choc des corps politiques.

Dans le Bas-Canada, je le répète, nous sommes monarchistes conservateurs; et nous voulons prendre les moyens d’empêcher la tourmente populaire de jamais bouleverser l’État.

Par les résolutions l’on propose de donner au Bas-Canada soixante-cinq députés, en conservant les circonscriptions électorales de maintenant. Dans le plan fédéral, le Bas-Canada aura toujours ce même nombre de représentants. Il a, en quelque sorte, la position d’honneur, il sert comme de pivot à tout le rouage constitutionnel. Il est important de ne pas nous départir à la légère de cette position, d’un pareil rôle. C’est pourquoi, les circonscriptions électorales ne pourront être changées que du consentement des trois quarts des membres de l’Assemblée législative.

On a cherché à effrayer la population anglaise du Bas-Canada à ce propos. Mais elle n’a rien à craindre. Il y a aujourd’hui dans le Bas-Canada seize circonscriptions électorales, qui fournissent à la population anglaise ou protestante sa bonne part de représentation: Ottawa (comté), Argenteuil, Shefford, Richmond et Wolfe, Compton, Stanstead, Missisquoi, Brome, Huntingdon, Sherbrooke, Mégantic, Châteauguay, Montréal-Ouest, Montréal-Centre, Québec-Ouest et Gaspé. A la vérité, ce n’est qu’un quart de la représentation totale; mais comment ce quart pourrait-il être opprimé?

Supposons qu’on veuille donner un nouveau membre à tel district, les autres districts, jaloux de leur influence, s’y opposeront naturellement. En outre, dans plusieurs autres comtés, il existe une minorité anglaise assez importante pour pouvoir y exercer une influence très sensible: Pontiac, Bonaventure, Québec-Centre, Montréal-Est, Montcalm, etc. Voilà assurément qui doit rassurer ceux de nos concitoyens anglais et protestants qui désirent comme moi, que l’harmonie règne toujours entre nous. Les anciennes luttes ne sauraient renaître, soyons-en bien convaincus.

On propose d’appliquer au gouvernement du Bas-Canada le système de la responsabilité ministérielle. Il y faudra un commissaire des Terres de la Couronne, un procureur général, un ministre des finances, un secrétaire provincial et un président du conseil. Mais cela ne sera pas bien coûteux. D’ailleurs, encore une fois, nous ne devons pas trop regarder à la dépense, quand il s’agit d’avoir un bon gouvernement. Aux États-Unis, il y a ce qu’ils appellent la responsabilité, dans le gouvernement provincial, la durée des législatures serait forcément plus courte, et il nous faudrait nous résigner à vivre au milieu d’une continuelle agitation électorale, comme on fait aux États-Unis, où les honnêtes dégoûtés. Le régime démocratique poussé aux dernières limites en est à présent au règne de la populace.

En adoptant la responsabilité ministérielle et donnant à la législature une durée de quatre ans, nous évitons l’inconvénient des trop fréquentes élections. Les honnêtes gens n’auront alors aucune répugnance à s’occuper de la chose publique, et ils pourront combattre avec avantages les extravagances de la démocratie turbulente.

Moise Fortier [Yamaska]—Quel inconvénient y aurait-il done à n’avoir qu’une Chambre?

George-Étienne Cartier [Montreal East, Procureur-Général Ouest]—Conservateur d’éducation monarchique, notre devoir est d’entourer nos institutions politiques de tout ce qui peut contribuer à leur stabilité.

Antoine-Aimé Dorion [Hochelaga] followed, stating that he designed to propose an amendment in favour of a single chamber in Lower Canada, the same as in Upper Canada.

Joseph Cauchon [Montmorency] replied to Mr. Dorion, speaking until a quarter to twelve o’clock.

The resolutions were then read the first time,—

1. That by the 38th paragraph of the Resolution of this House passed on the third day of February, 1865, for presenting an humble Address to Her Majesty, praying that She may be graciously pleased to cause a measure to be submitted to the Imperial Parliament, for the purpose of uniting the Colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward island, in one Government, with provisions based on the Resolutions which were adopted at a Conference of Delegates from the said Colonies, held at the City of Quebec, on the 10th of October, 1864, it is provided that “for each of the Provinces there shall be an Executive Officer, styled the Lieutenant Governor, who shall be appointed by the Governor General in Council, under the Great Seal of the ‘Federated Provinces, during pleasure; such pleasure, not to be exercised before the expiration of the first five years, except for cause; such cause to be communicated in writing to the Lieutenant Governor immediately after the exercise of the pleasure as aforesaid, and also by Message to both Houses of Parliament, within the first week of the first Session afterwards;” and that by the 41st paragraph of the same Resolution it is provided that “the Local Government and Legislature of each Province shall be constructed in such manner as the existing Legislature of each such Province shall provide.”

2. That under and subject to the Constitution of the Federated Provinces, the executive authority of the Lieutenant Governor of Lower Canada and Upper Canada respectively shall be administered by each of such Officers according to the well understood principles of the British Constitution.

3. The Great Seal of each Province of Lower Canada and Upper Canada, shall be the same or of the same design, in each of the said Provinces, as that used in the said Provinces respectively, at the time of the existing Union, until altered by the Local Government.

4. That there shall be a Local Legislature for Lower Canada, composed of Two Chambers, to be called the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada.

5. That there shall be a Local Legislature for Upper Canada, which shall consist of One Chamber, to be, called the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada.

6. That the Legislative Council of Lower Canada shall be composed of twenty-four Members, to be appointed by the Crown, under the Great Seal of the Local Government, who shall hold office during life; but if any Legislative Councillor shall, for two consecutive Sessions of Parliament, fail to give his attendance in the said Council, his seat shall thereby become vacant.

7. That the Members of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada shall be British Subjects by birth or naturalization, of the full age of thirty years; shall possess a continuous real property qualification, in Lower Canada, of four thousand dollars over and above ait incumbrances, and shall continue worth that sum over and above their debts and liabilities.

8. That if any question shall arise as to the qualification of a Legislative Councillor in Lower Canada, the same shall be determined by the Council.

9. That the Speaker of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada (unless otherwise provided by the Local Parliament) shall be appointed by the Crown, from among the Members of the Legislative Council, and shall hold office during pleasure, and shall only be entitled to a casting vote on an equality of votes.

10. That each of the twenty-four Legislative Councillors of Lower Canada shall be appointed to represent one of the twenty-four Electoral Divisions thereof, mentioned in Schedule A of the first chapter of the Consolidated Statutes of Canada, and such Councillor shall reside or possess his qualification in the Division he is appointed to represent.

11. That the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada shall be composed of the sixty-five Members to be elected to represent the sixty-five Electoral Divisions into which Lower Canada is now divided, under chapter two of the Consolidated Statutes of Canada, chapter seventy-five of the Consolidated Statutes for Lower Canada, and the Act 23 Victoria, chapter 1, or of any other Act, amending the same, in force at the time when the Local Government shall be constituted, as well for representation in the Local Legislature thereof, as in the House of Commons of the Federated Provinces; Provided that it shall not be lawful to present to the Lieutenant Governor for assent any Bill of the Legislative Council and Assembly of Lower Canada by which the number of the Representatives in the Legislative Assembly or the limits of the Electoral Divisions may be altered, unless the second and third readings of such Bill in the Legislative Assembly shall have been passed with the concurrence of three-fourths of the Members for the time being of the said Legislative Assembly, and the assent shall not be given to such Bill unless an Address has been presented by the Legislative Assembly to the Lieutenant Governor that such Bill has been so passed.

12. That the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada shall be composed of eighty-two Members, to be elected to represent the eighty-two constituencies in Upper Canada, such constituencies being identical, whether for representation in the Local Legislative Assembly or for representation in the House of Commons of the Federated Provinces, and which constituencies shall consist of the divisions and be bounded as is provided in the schedule hereto annexed, marked A.

13. That until other provisions are made by the Local Legislature of Lower and Upper Canada respectively, changing the same in either of the said Provinces, all the Laws which at the date of the Proclamation, constituting the separate Provinces of Lower Canada and of Upper Canada, shall be in force in each of the said Provinces respectively, relating to the qualification and disqualification of any person to be elected or to sit or vote as a Member of the Assembly of the Province of Canada, and relating to the qualification and disqualification of voters and to the oaths to be taken by voters, and to Returning Officers and their powers and duties, and relating to the proceedings at elections and to the period during which such elections may be continued, and relating to the trial of controverted elections and the proceedings incident thereto, and relating to the vacating of the seats of Members and to the issuing and execution of new writs in case of any seat being vacated otherwise than by a dissolution, shall respectively apply to elections of Members to serve in the said Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada and in the said the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada.

14. That the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada and the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada respectively, shall continue for four years from the day of the return of the Writs for choosing the same, and no longer, subject, nevertheless, to either the said the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada, or the said the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada, being sooner prorogued or dissolved by the Lieutenant Governor of either of the said Provinces respectively.

15. That there shall be a Session of the Legislature of each of the said Provinces once at least every year, so that a period of twelve months shall not intervene between the last sitting of the Local Legislature in one Session, and the first sitting thereof in the next Session.

SCHEDULE B.

Electoral Divisions of Upper Canada.

DIVISIONS TO STAND WITH THEIR PRESENT BOUNDARIES.

Counties of—Prescott, Glengarry, Stormont, Dundas, Russell, Carleton, Prince Edward, Halton and Essex.

Ridings of Counties:—Lanark North, Lanark South, Leeds and Grenville, North Riding, South Riding Leeds, South Riding Grenville, Northumberland East, Northumberland West (less South Monaghan), Durham East, Durham West, Ontario North, Ontario South, York East, York West, York North, Wentworth North, Wentworth South, Elgin East, Elgin West, Waterloo North, Waterloo South, Brant North, Brant South, Oxford North, Oxford South, Middlesex East Riding.

Cities and Towns;—Toronto East, Toronto West, Hamilton, Ottawa, Kingston, London, Brockville, with the Township of Elizabethtown, Niagara, with the Township of Niagara, Cornwall, with the Township of Cornwall.

NEW AND ALTERED ELECTORAL DIVISIONS.

District of Algoma:—

County of Bruce divided into two Ridings, to be called respectively the North and South Ridings.

The North Riding shall consist of the Townships of Bury, Lindsay, Eastnor, Albemarle, Amable, Arran, Bruce, Elderslie and Saugeen and the Village of Southampton.

The South Riding shall consist of the Townships of Kincardine (including Village), Greenock, Brant, Huron, Kinloss, Culross and Carrick.

The County of Huron divided into two Ridings, to be called respectively the North and South Ridings :—

The North Riding shall consist of the Townships of Ashfield, Wawanosh, Turnberry, Howick, Morris, Grey, Colborne, Bullet, including the Village of Clinton, and McKillop.

The South Riding shall consist of the Town of Goderich and the Townships of Goderich, Tuckersmith, Stanley, Hay, Usborne and Stephen.

The County of Middlesex divided into three Ridings, to be called respectively the North, West and East Ridings:—

The North Riding shall consist of the Townships of McGillvray, Bidduph, (taken from the County of Huron) and Williams East, Williams West, Adelaide and Lobo.

The West Riding shall consist of the Townships of Delaware, Carradoc, Metcalfe, Mosa and Ekfrid and the Village of Strathroy.

The East Riding shall consist of the Townships now embraced therein, and be bounded as it is at present.

The County of Lambton shall consist of the Townships of Bosanguet, Warwick, Plympton, Sarnia, Moore, Enniskillen and Brooke, and the Town of Sarnia.

The County of Kent shall consist of the Townships of Chatham, Dover, East Tilbury, Romney, Raleigh and Harvick, and the Town of Chatham.

The County of shall consist of the Townships of Sombra, Dawn and Euphemia (taken from the County of Lambton), and the Townships of Zone, Camden with the Gore thereof, Orford and Howard (taken from the County of Kent).

The County of Grey divided into two Ridings, to be called respectively the South and North Ridings:—

The South Riding shall consist of the Townships of Bentinck, Glenelg, Artemesia, Osprey, Normanby, Egremont, Prothon and Melancthon.

The North Riding shall consist of the Townships of Collingwood, Euphrasia, Holland, Saint Vincent, Sydenham, Sullivan, Derby and Keppel, Sarawak and Brooke, and the Town of Owen Sound.

The County of Perth divided into two Ridings, to be called respectively the South and North Ridings:—

The North Riding shall consist of the Townships of Wallace, Elma, Logan, Ellice, Morninqton, and North Easthope, and the Town of Stratford.

The South Riding shall consist of the Townships of Blanchard, Downie, South Easthope, Fullarton, Hibbert, and the Villages of Mitchell and St. Marys.

The County of Wellington shall be divided into three Ridings, to be called respectively North, South and Centre Ridings:—

The North Riding shall consist of the Townships of Amaranth, Arthur, Luther, Minto, Maryborough and Peel.

The Centre Riding shall consist of the Townships of Garafraxa, Erin, Eramosa, Nichol and Pilkington, and the Villages of Fergus and Elora.

The, South Riding shall consist of the Town of Guelph, and the Townships of Guelph, and Puslinch.

The County of Norfolk shall be divided into two Ridings, to be called respectively the South and North Ridings:—

The South Riding shall consist of the Townships of Charlotteville, Houghton, Walsingham and Woodhouse, and with the Gore thereof.

The North Riding shall consist of the Townships of Middleton, Townsend and Wyndham, and the Town of Simcoe.

The County of Haldimand shall consist of the Townships of Oneida, Seneca, Cayuga North, Cayuga South, Rainham, Walpole and Dunn.

The County of shall consist of the Townships of Canborough, and Moulton and Sherbrooke, and the Village of Dunville (taken from the County of Haldimand), the Townships of Caistor and Gainsborough (taken from the County of Lincoln), and the Townships of Pelham and Wainfleet (taken from the County of Welland.)

The County of Lincoln shall consist of the Townships of Clinton, Grantham, Grimsby and Louth, and the Town of St. Catharines.

The County of Welland shall consist of the Townships of Bertie, Crowland, Humberstone, Stamford, Thorold and Willoughby, and the Villages of Chippewa, Clifton, Fort Erie, Thorold and Welland.

The County of Peel shall consist of the Townships of Chinguacousy, Toronto, and the Gore of Toronto, and the Villages of Brampton and Streetsville.

The County of shall consist of the Townships of Albion and Caledon (taken from the County of Peel), and the Townships of Adjala and Mono (taken from the County of Simcoe).

The County of Simcoe, divided into two Ridings, to be called respectively the South and the North Ridings:—

The South Riding shall consist of the Townships of West Gwillimsbury, Tecumseth, Innisfil, Essa, Tossorontio, Mulmur, and the Village of Bradford.

The North Riding shall consist of the Townships of Nottawasaga, Sunnidale, Vespra, Flos, Oro, Medonte, Orillia and Matchedash, Tiny and Tay, Balaklava and Robinson, and the Towns of Barrie and Collingwood.

The County of Victoria divided into two Ridings, to be called respectively the South and North Ridings:—

The South Riding shall consist of the Townships of Ops, Mariposa, Emily, Verulam, and the Town of Lindsay.

The North Riding shall consist of the Townships of Anson, Bexley, Carden, Dalton, Digby, Eldon, Fenelon, Hindon, Laxton, Lutterworth, Macaulay and Draper, Sommerville and Morrison, Muskoka, Monck and Watt (taken from the County of Simcoe), and any other surveyed Townships lying to the North of the said North Riding.

The County of Peterborough, divided into two Ridings, to be called respectively the West and East Ridings:—

The West Riding shall consist of the Townships of South Monaghan (taken from the County of Northumberland), North Monaghan, Smith and Ennismore, and the Town of Peterborouqh.

The East Riding shall consist of the Townships of Asphodel, Belmont and Methuen, Douro, Dummer, Galway, Harvey, Minden, Stanhope and Dysart, Otonabee and Snowden, and the Village of Ashburnham, and any other surveyed Townships lying to the North of the said East Riding.

The County of Hastings divided into three Ridings, to be called respectively the West, East and North Ridings:—

The West Riding shall consist of the Town of Belleville, the Township of Sydney, and the Village of Trenton.

The East Riding shall consist of the Townships of Thurlow, Tyendinaga and Hungerford.

The North Riding shall consist of the Townships of Rawdon, Huntingdon, Madoc, Elzevir, Tudor, Marmora and Lake, and the Village of Stirling, and any other surveyed Townships Iying to the north of the said North Riding.

The County of Lennox shall çonsist of the Townships of Richmond, Adolphustown, North Fredericksburgh, South Fredericksburgh, Ernesttown and Amherst Island, and the Village of Napanee.

The County of Addington shall consist of the Townships of Camden, Portland, Sheffield, Hinchinbrooke, Kaladar, Kennebec, Olden, Oso, Anglesea, Barrie, Clarendon, Palmerston, Effingham, Abinger, Miller, Canonto and Denbigh.

The County of Frontenac shall consist of the Townships of Kingston, Wolfe Island, Pittsburg and Howe Island, Storrington, Loughborough and Bedford.

The County of Renfrew divided into two Ridings, to be called respectively the South and North Ridings:—

The South Riding shall consist of the Townships of McNab, Bagot, Blithfield, Brougham, Horton, Admaston, Grattan, Matawatchan, Griffith, Lyndoch, Raglan, Radcliffe, Brudenell, Sebastopol, and the Villages of Arnprior and Renfrew.

The North Riding shall consist of the Townships of Ross, Bromley, Westmeath , Stafford, Pembroke, Wilberfoce, Alice; Petawawa, Buchanan, South Algona, North Algona, Fraser, McKay, Wylie, Rolph, Head, Maria, Clara, Haggerty, Sherwood, Burns and Richards, and any other surveyed lying north-westerly of the said North Riding.[11]

—and the House adjourned.

ENDNOTES

[1]      The Quebec Resolutions which were agreed to by the Legislative Assembly can be found on Mar. 13, 1865, pp. 1027-1032.

[2]      The member here is likely referring in part to the work of the colonial office and the Canadians, as well as the effect of a host of other events in 1866 that turned public opinion in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in favor of confederation (e.g., abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty by the United States, and Fenian raids from that territory into Lower Provinces and Canada). In New Brunswick in 1866, for example, events forced the resignation of the anti-confederate ministry of A.J. Smith, and general elections in June, overwhelmingly elected an assembly of pro-confederationists under new Premier Peter Mitchell.

[3]      Resolution 11 of the Local Resolutions, which reads, “That the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada shall be composed of the sixty-five Members to be elected to represent the sixty-five Electoral Divisions into which Lower Canada is now divided, under chapter two of the Consolidated Statutes of Canada, chapter seventy-five of the Consolidated Statutes for Lower Canada, and the Act 23 Victoria, chapter 1, or of any other Act, amending the same, in force at the time when the Local Government shall be constituted, as well for representation in the Local Legislature thereof, as in the House of Commons of the Federated Provinces; Provided that it shall not be lawful to present to the Lieutenant Governor for assent any Bill of the Legislative Council and Assembly of Lower Canada by which the number of the Representatives in the Legislative Assembly or the limits of the Electoral Divisions may be altered, unless the second and third readings of such Bill in the Legislative Assembly shall have been passed with the concurrence of three-fourths of the Members for the time being of the said Legislative Assembly, and the assent shall not be given to such Bill unless an Address has been presented by the Legislative Assembly to the Lieutenant Governor that such Bill has been so passed.” All local resolutions can be found at the end of this day of proceedings.

[4]      Resolution 2 of the Local Resolutions, which reads:, “That under and subject to the Constitution of the Federated Provinces, the executive authority of the Lieutenant Governor of Lower Canada and Upper Canada respectively shall be administered by each of such Officers according to the well understood principles of the British Constitution.” ibid.

[5]      In regards to the debate on the Quebec Resolutions, Macdonald had said, “He would propose that after the discussion commenced, it should continue day after day, and that for the purpose of greater regularity the Speaker should remain in the chair. At the same time he would propose that the rule which prevented members speaking more than one when the Speaker was in the chair should be suspended, in order that every member might have the same liberty of free discussion as he would have in Committee of the Whole.” Legislative Assembly, Feb. 3, 1865, p. 13.

[6]      The Scrapbook Debates merely summarizes that Cartier spoke in French. We have added the French speech for completeness. Source: Joseph Tassé, Discours de Sir Georges Cartier, Baronnet, Accompagnés de Notices (1893), pp. 493-498. The Scrapbook Debates resumes with the next English passage.

[7]      Constitutional Act (U.K., 1791).

[8]      The Union Act, 1840 (U.K).

[9]      Quebec Resolution 41 reads slightly differently. It reads, “Les gouvernments et les parlements des diverses provinces seront constitués en la manière que leurs législautres actuelles jugeront respectivement à propos de les établir.” Débats parlementaires sur la question de la confédération des provinces de l’Amérique Britannique du Nord (1865), p. 1024. The English version of the Resolution reads, “The Local Government and Legislature of each Province shall be constructed in such manner as the existing Legislature of each such Province shall provide.” Legislative Assembly, Mar. 13, 1865, p. 1030.

[10]    Constitutional Act (U.K., 1791).

[11]    Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada (Jul. 13, 1866), pp. 141-145. Added for completeness.