first of July, 1867, and the first parliament of the united provinces met on November of the same year-the Act requiring it to assemble not later than six months after the union.❜

The confederation, as inaugurated in 1867, consisted only of the four provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. By the 146th section of the Act of Union, provision was made for the admission of other colonies on addresses from the parliament of Canada, and from the respective legislatures of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and British Columbia. Rupert's Land and the North-West Territory might also at any time be admitted into the union on the address of the Canadian Parliament. The acquisition of the NorthWest Territory had been for years the desire of the people of Canada, and was the subject of consultation with the imperial government in 1865, when Canadian delegates. went to England. During the first session of the par

1 Her Majesty's proclamation, giving effect to the Union Act, was issued on the 22nd May, 1867, declaring that on and after the 1st July, 1867, the provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick shall form and be one Dominion, under the name of Canada. The proclamation also contained names of first senators. Jour. House of Commons of Canada, V-VI. B. N. A. Act, 1867, ss. 3 and 25. Lord Monck was the first governor-general of the Dominion. Com. Jour. (1867-8), VII. Parliament met on the 7th November, and Hon. J. Cockburn was elected first speaker of the Commons. Hon. J. Cauchon was first speaker of the Senate.

2 Sec. 19.

B. N. A. Act, 1867, ss. 5-7.

Can. Com. J., 1865, 5 sess., pp. 12-13. For papers on the subject of the acquisition of the territory, see Can. Sess. P., 1867-8, No. 19, and p. 367 of Journals.

liament of Canada, an address was adopted praying her Majesty to unite Rupert's Land and the North-West Territory to the dominion. This address received a favourablo response, but it was found necessary in the first place to obtain from the Imperial Parliament authority to transfer to Canada the territory in question. An Act was passed in the month of July, 1868, and in accordance with its provisions, negotiations took place between Canadian delegates and the Hudson's Bay Company for the surrender of the North-West to the Dominion. An agreement was finally arrived at for the payment of £300,000 sterling on condition of the surrender of Rupert's Land to the Dominion-certain lands and privileges at the same time being reserved to the company. The terms were approved by the Canadian Parliament in the session of 1869,3 and an Act at once passed for the temporary government of Rupert's Land and the NorthWest Territories when united with Canada. The Act of 1869 provided for the appointment off a lieutenant-governor and council, to make provision for the administration of justice, and establish such laws and ordinances as might be necessary for peace and good government in the North-West Territories. In the autumn of 1869 an

1 Can. Com. J. (1867-8), 67.

2 Imp. Stat., 31 and 32 Vict., c. 105 (Can. Stat. for 1869), entitled "An Act for enabling her Majesty to accept the surrender upon terms of the lands, privileges and rights of the governor and company of adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay, and for admitting the same into the dominion of Canada."

* Can. Com. (1869), pp. 149-56, in which the negotiations for the transfer are set forth in the address to her Majesty, accepting the terms of agreement for the surrender of the territory. 4 Can. Stat. 32 and 33 Vict., c. 3.

order in council was passed appointing the first lieutenant-governor of the territories, but the outbreak of an insurrection among the French half-breeds prevented the former ever exercising his executive functions.' It was not until the appearance of an armed force in the country in the fall of 1870 that the remnant of the insurgents fled from the territory; but, during the twelve months that preceded, means had been taken by the Canadian authorities to arrange terms on which the people of the Red River might enter confederation. In the session of 1870, the Canadian parliament passed an Act to establish and provide for the government of Manitoba-a new province formed out of the North-West Territory, to which was given representation in the Senate and House of ComProvision was also made for local or provincial government on the same basis as existed in the older provinces. On the 30th of June, 1870, by an imperial order in council,3 it was declared that after the 15th of July, 1870, the North-West Territory and Rupert's Land should form part of the dominion of Canada. The legislature of Manitoba was elected in the early part of 1871, and the provincial government regularly and peacefully. established. The members for the House of Commons took their seats in the session of the same year,5-the

mons.

1 Hon. W. McDougall.

2 33 Vict., c. 3. The limits of the province were enlarged in 1881; Can. Stat. 44 Vict., c. 14. See Rev. Stat. of Can., c. 47. Also Man. Stat., 44 Vict., c.c. 1, 12, 13, 14.

3 In accordance with s. 146, B. N. A. Act, 1867; Can. Stat.. 1872, p. lxiii.

Annual Register, 1878, pp. 18-19.

5 Com. J. (1871), 154, 221, 226. Only three members were returned; a new election in one constituency being requisite on account of a tie. Jour. p. 152.

new senators in the session of 1872.1 When we come to consider the provincial constitutions we shall refer to the local government of Manitoba as well as to the provisions made in several statutory enactments for the administration of affairs in the North-West.

In accordance with addresses from the Canadian parliament, and the legislative council of British Columbia, that colony was formally admitted into the confederation by imperial order in council declaring that from and after the 20th of July, 1871, the colony should form part of the dominion. The terms of union provided for representation in the Senate and House of Commons, and responsible government in the province, as well as for the construction of a transcontinental railway.' The members for the province took their seats in the Senate and House of Commons during the session of 1872.3

The province of P. E. Island, had been represented in the Quebec conference of 1864, but, owing to the opposi tion that existed to the union for some years, it was not until the first session of 1873 that both the parliament of Canada and the legislature of the island passed addresses for the admission of the province into the confederation on certain conditions which included representation in the Senate and House of Commons, and the continuance of the local government on the same basis as in the other provinces. A bill was also passed during the same scs

15 Sen. J. (1872), 18.

2 Can. Com. J. (1871); 193-99 ; Parl. Deb., 1871. Can. Stat. for 1872, p. lxxxiv. Also, as to preparatory steps, Can. Sess. Pap., No. 59, 1867-8, pp. 3-7.

3 Sen. J. (1872) 18; Com. J. (1872) 4. The elections for the Commons were held in accordance with 34 Vict., c. 20.

Can. Com. J. (1873) 403.

sion, in anticipation of her Majesty's government taking the necessary steps to admit the island-providing that certain Acts should come into force in the province as soon as it was united to Canada. By an imperial order in council, it was declared that from and after the first of July, 1873, the colony should form part of the dominion. The members for the two houses took their seats for the first time during the second session of 1873.3

Newfoundland was also represented at the Quebec convention of 1864, but the general elections of 1865 resulted adversely to the union. Subsequently the House of Commons, in the session of 1869, went into committee on certain resolutions providing for the admission of Newfoundland, and an address was passed in accordance therewith. The union was to take effect on such day as "Her Majesty by order in council, on an address to that effect, in terms of the 146th section of the British North American Act, 1867, may direct; "5 but the legislature of Newfoundland has so far refused to sanction the necessary 'address.

In response to an address of the parliament of Canada, in the session of 1878, an imperial order in council was passed on the 31st of July, 1880, declaring that "from and after the 1st of September, 1880, all British territories and possessions in North America, not already included within the dominion of Canada, and all islands

1 36 Vict., c. 40.

"Can. Stat. for 1873, p. ix.

'Sen. J. 1873, 2nd session, p. 9. Com. J., Ib.

• Turcotte II., 562.

Can. Com. J. (1869), 221.

pp. 2-4.