THURSDAY, April 16th, 1903.
The first session of the fifth Legislative Assembly of the North-West
Territories was formally opened this
afternoon by His Honor Lieutenant
Governor Forget. There was a very
large attendance of Members, only six
out of a total of thirty-five being absent. The attendance of the general
public was also large, among the number being Mr. C. A. Magrath, a former
member of the Executive Council.
Many of the fair sex graced the occasion with their presence, and altogether the enlarged,
and redecorated
chamber presented a rather pretty
picture.
Sharp on time His Honor the
Lieutenant Governor arrived, accompanied by Lt.-Col. Macdonell, D.S.O.
as A.D.C., Supt. Wilson and Capt.
Gilpin Brown, of the N.W.M.P., and
an escort of about fifteen men of the
N.W.M.P. under command of Insp.
Walke. As is always the case at the
opening of the first session of a new
Assembly, the usual proceedings were
varied somewhat, His Honor, after
entering the chamber, retiring after
the formal announcement by the
Territorial Secretary that he would
withhold his message until the Assembly had elected a Speaker.
MR. SPEAKER GILLIS.
His Honor the Lieutenant Governor
having re-entered the chamber, and
been informed by the Speaker of his
election, delivered the following
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE.
Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly:—
I have much pleasure in welcoming you to
the First Session of the Fifth Legislative Assembly of the North-West Territories.
During the past year, in common with our
fellow subjects throughout the Empire, we heard
with grief and alarm of the illness of the King,
and I am sure that we all rejoiced in his Majesty's restoration to health and in the
successful
carrying out of the Coronation ceremonies.
The abundant harvest of the past year, the
general prosperity of the country and the
remarkable growth of the Territories in material wealth and population must all be
a source
of profound gratification.
But these circumstances, gratifying as they
are from a national standpoint, have immeasurably increased the duties and responsibilies
of the North-West Government and Legislature.
For some years past the Government and
Legislature have been pressing upon the Federal Government the absolute necessity
for
larger powers and revenues if the duties and
obligations already imposed upon them by
Parliament and the further obligations imposed
by new conditions are to be adequately fulfilled.
In their latest negotiations with the Federal
Government, my Government again forcibly
impressed the immediate necessity for the
granting of Provincial Institutions to the Territories.
Strong representations have also been made
with regard to the present financial necessities
of the Territories.
As a result of these representations a conference was held at Ottawa in the month
of February last between members of my Government
and a Sub-Committee of the Privy Council
appointed for that purpose.
I regret to say that no intimation has yet been
given by the Federal Government as to the
action they propose to take as a result of the
Conference.
All the papers relating to these important subjects will be laid before you, and you
will be
asked to take such action as may seem desirable
to further enforce the just claims of the Territories.
I feel it to be my duty to ask your attention
to the important question of transportation.
This question is partially bound up with the
Provincial question, but some of its larger
phases falls more peculiarly within the Federal
domain.
In view of the transportation conditions prevailing since the close of lake navigation
last
year, and which threaten to continue in a more
aggravated forum during the year to come, I
feel justified in asking you to consider the
advisability of making some representations to
Parliament with regard to a question which so
vitally affects the welfare of the Territories.
The claim which has been made on the part
of the Territories to the public domain will also
justify an expression of opinion on your part
with regard to further alienations of the public
lands of the Territories for railway or other
purposes except actual settlement.
In response to a request by my Government
the Federal Government have consented to extend the jurisdiction of the Legislature
to the
important subject of land titles, and legislation
to that effect has been promised at the present
session of Parliament. This important extension of your powers will necessitate legislative
provision for the maintenance and control of
the land titles system, and a measure for thatÂ
purpose will be presented to you. Federal
legislation has also been promised which will
give to the Legislative Assembly the right to
fully control the qualification of its members, to
legislate with regard to the constitution and
jurisdiction of Civil Courts and other matters
at present withheld from you by the provisions
of the North-West Territories Acts. Measures
necessitated by these further extensions of
your powers will also be submitted to you.
Your consideration will also be asked to
Bills relating to Mechanics' Liens, Drainage,
Mutual Fire Insurance and Succession Duties.
Your attention will be invited to Bills to
amend the law relating to Civil procedure and
the sale of intoxicating liquor, and a Bill to
amend and consolidate as amended the law
relating to Brands.
A statement of the receipts and expenditures
of the past year and the estimates of expenditure for the current year will he laid
before
you.
I now leave you to your deliberations with
every confidence that your labors, under Divine
Providence, will be directed to the advantage
and welfare of the Territories.
This individual participated in:
