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House of Commons, 15 November 1867, Canadian Confederation with Newfoundland

82 COMMONS DEBATES November 15, 1867

VALUE OF SILVER COIN

Mr. Morrison inquired whether the Government intended to introduce a measure for the regulation of the value of foreign silver coinage as part of the currency of the Dominion.
Sir John A. Macdonald said the Government would introduce a Bill on currency which would include the particular subject mentioned.

MOVING FOR RETURNS

Mr. Mackenzie moved an address for a return, showing the distribution of sums paid out of the public chest to defray the expenses of the elections for this House. Carried.
Mr. Mackenzie moved an address for a return of the votes polled in each electoral division during the late election. Carried.
Mr. Lawson moved for a number of returns respecting the sale of the Hamilton and Port Dover plank road. Carried.
Hon. Mr. Holton moved for an address for copies of all agreements and correspondence between the Government and the late Province of Canada and the Bank of Montreal, having reference to the provisions of the act of 1866, to provide for the issue of provincial notes; and also all correspondence since 1st August, 1866, between the Government of the late Province of Canada as well as that of the Dominion of Canada with the Bank of Montreal respecting the mode of conducting the public accounts, and the terms on which it should continue to be held by the bank. Carried.
Mr. Oliver moved for returns respecting the Inland Custom House offices of the Dominion, the amount of money collected, the expenses, etc. Carried.
Mr. Mackenzie, in the absence of Mr. Blake, moved for copies of all warrants, orders, records, etc. in relation to the extradition of Lamirande. Carried.

UNION OF ALL THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN PROVINCES.

Mr. Mackenzie moved an address for copies of all correspondence held with the Governments of the Colonies of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and British Columbia, and with the Imperial Government on the question of uniting these colonies and the unorganized territory in the North-West with the Dominion of Canada.
Sir John A. Macdonald said the correspondence on these very important subjects was in such a state that he did not think it expedient to have it brought down at present.
Mr. Mackenzie said he had moved this because, during the elections, he had had the pleasure of hearing a Minister of the Crown declare publicly that the correspondence with some of these colonies was in such a state of forwardness that the question of a union with some of them was in all likelihood a question of months if not of weeks.
Sir John A. Macdonald was understood to say that he hoped this result would very soon be realized with reference to some of the colonies, and the motion might be repeated at some future day, but at present it was not for the interest of the country that the correspondence should be brought down.
The motion was accordingly withdrawn.

TITLES CONFERRED ON MINISTERS

Mr. Parker, seconded by Mr. White moved an address to His Excellency that he will be pleased to lay before the House copies of any representations addressed to His Excellency by members of this House respecting the marks of Royal favour which Her Majesty had been pleased to confer upon them, and of all despatches on the same subject to or from Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Sir John A. Macdonald said he was afraid he could not consent to the passage of this address; any representations that might have been made to His Excellency, and any despatches addressed to the Colonial Secretary were addressed to the Governor General in his Imperial capacity and had reference to a subject with which the House had no concern. The conferring of Royal favour was an act of Her Majesty in her Imperial position, and any action of the Governor-General in the matter was in his capacity as an Imperial officer.
Dr. Parker said he had not had time to look up authorities, but he had found one case in which the granting of those honours by the Crown gave dissatisfaction and was made the subject of discussion in Parliament.

Source:

Canada. House of Commons Debates, 1867-1868. Edited by P.B. Waite. Ottawa: Queen's Printer, 1967. Original scans accessible at: http://parl.canadiana.ca/.

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

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