Mr. DEWDNEY moved for leave to introduce
Bill (No. 126) to amend the North-West Territories
Act. He said: This Act is ver similar to the one
introduced last year. It provides for the election
of members of the Legislative Assembly for three
years, making clear a doubt that existed about the
provision of the Bill of last session on this point.
It proposes to abolish the advisory council and the
1761 [JULY 6, 1891.] 1762
legal experts. It gives the Assembly all the powers
it had previously by Order in Council, in addition
to the disposition of the liquor question. There is
a clause providing that a lump sum of money shall
be placed at the disposal of the Legislative Assembly. The Bill also does away with
the system of
justices of the peace sitting in conjunction with the
Supreme Court to hear criminal cases. It provides
for the establishment of gaols in the North-West
Territories and for applying to these the same regulations as are applicable to penitentiaries.
It makes
it illegal for any man to have liquor in his possession unless he has a permit in
his own name. Section 110, which deals with the dual language, is
altered in accordance with the resolution of the
House of last session. The Bill also gives power to
the Legislative Assembly to repeal all the provisions oo the Act relating to the liquor
traffic—this
provision was in the former Bill—and grants to the
Legislative Assembly the same powers as the provinces possess in regard to licenses,
that is, after a
general election.
Motion agreed to, and Bill read the first time.