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House of Commons, 18 September 1903, Canadian Confederation with Alberta and Saskatchewan

11691 COMMONS 11692

HOUSE OF COMMONS

FRIDAY, September 18, 1903

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Eleven o'clock

REPRESENTATION OF THE NORTH- WEST TERRITORIES IN THE SENATE.

The MINISTER OF JUSTICE (Hon. Charles Fitzpatrick) moved the first reading of the Bill (No. 253) to increase the representation of the North-west Territories in the Senate. He said: Hon. gentlemen are aware that, under the British North America Amendment Act of 1886, it is provided that the parliament of Canada may, from time to time, make provision for the representation in the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, or either of them, of any territory for the time being formed in the Dominion of Canada, but not included in any of the provinces thereof. In the following year a Bill was introduced, which appears as chapter 3 of the statute of 1887, by which provision was made for the re- presentation of the North-west Territories in the Senate by two members. Since that time the population has materially increased. The population of the organized part, Assinibola, Alberta and Saskatchewan, which was only 25,515 in 1881, increased the 66,799 in 1891, and to 159,940 in 1901. Of course, since then there has been even a greater proportion of increase. The increase in the unorganized territory was from 30,931 in 1881 to 52,709 in 1901. Taking there two together and allowing for increase since 1901, the proportion of representation of the territories in the Senate will be about the same as it is in Ontario.
Motion agreed to, and Bill read the first time.

Source:

Canada. House of Commons Debates, 1875-1949. Provided by the Library of Parliament.

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Selection of input documents and completion of metadata: Gordon Lyall.

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