6325 [SEPTEMBER 30, 1891.] 6326
LOCAL REPRESENTATION OF THE NORTH- WEST TERRITORIES.
Mr. DEWDNEY moved second reading of
Bill (No. 178) further to amend the Acts respecting the North-West Territories. He
said: This is an
amendment which I explained yesterday, and its
object is to equalize the representation of the
several provisional districts of the North-West
Territories. It has been found since the census
was taken that the arrangement we had made does
not give a fair representation to the different
provisional districts. The population of Alberta,
for instance, is 26,123, of Assiniboia, 30,285, and
of Saskatchewan, 11,146. By allowing six representatives to the Saskatchewan district,
it gave
one representative for each 1,857 inhabitants. By
giving twelve representatives to Assinihoia, it gives
them one to every 2,523. In Alberta eight representatives gives one to each 3,640
inhabitants;
showing that Alberta really suffers more than any
of the other districts. It is proposed to take one
from Saskatchewan which would then give a representative to a population of over 3,000
and
equalize it to that extent.
Mr. LARIVIERE. I have no doubt that there
is, perhaps, some arguments in favour of basing the
representation strictly on population; but I believe
there are other considerations that we must remember, there is a territorial representation
to be con
sidered as well. Now, it is true that Assiniboia
has a larger population than Saskatchewan, but the
territory of Assiniboia is a great deal smaller than
that of Saskatchewan, and though the population
of Saskatchewan may not be as large, it is more
scattered, and perhaps requires a great deal more
attention from the representatives than more
thickly settled districts. I am sorry that in order
to give Assiniboia an increase of representation
which I would not deny, as they are perhaps entitled to it—we should be asked to deprive
Saskatchewan of a division which has only been
granted to it a few days ago. We knew at the
time we made these new divisions, what the census
was, and it was for those who were responsible to
call our attention to this fact, if that was an argument strong enough to require
us to make the
alterations that are asked to-day. I do not see why,
after agreeing to these electoral divisions in the
district of Saskatchewan, we should now be called
upon to stultify ourselves in making a re-arrangement of those divisions. I am aware,
and the
House is aware, that the passing of this Bill a few
days ago has had the effect of leading the people to
select candidates for those divisions we have
already created, and those candidates have already
begun the campaign for an election which will take
place in a short time. Now, these people are
greatly dissatisfied and when the rumour was set
afloat that such a change was to take place. I, for
one, received several telegrams from interested
parties, asking whether such changes were going
to be made, and why the people should be made
mere playthings of by this House, and whether,
after creating the electoral divisions for them, we
were going to take them away after the people
had already begun to act in accordance with the
law that has been passed. I, therefore, hope that
while this measure may grant an additional electoral division to Assiniboia, to which
I do not
object, it will not be to the detriment of Saskatchewan. Add another division, if
you like. but
do not rob Peter in order to pay Paul.
Mr. DEWDNEY. I do not think any great
harm would be done to any one, even if the Bill
was allowed to remain as it came from the Senate.
It certainly would do Saskatchewan a little good,
because it would then leave for that territory the
members which it was understood they were entitled to, and the people there had already
made
arrangements, I believe, to select members to represent the districts which we had
created. I may
say, in regard to Saskatchewan, that since the completion of the railway a large immigration
is going
in there. During the last few years I have had
application to send a surveyor to subdivide two
townships, in order that the families who are there
waiting may be located on the land. Therefore,
in anticipation of a very large immigration into
that district it is very desirable to make provisions
for a large representation. The hon. gentleman
who has spoken knows that in that district a
portion of the inhabitants would consider it a hardship if we did not make a re-arrangement.
An
understanding was come to between the hon. member for West Assiniboia (Mr. Davin)
and myself
that this change should be made; but of course we
cannot go on with the Bill without the unanimous
consent of the House, and if the hon. gentleman
feels so strongly that we should not do so, of
course I can do nothing but withdraw the Bill.
6327
[COMMONS] 6328
Mr. LARIVIERE. I only object to one clause
of the Bill, that is, the second clause, taking away
from one district what is wanted in the other. I
do not object to the other clauses at all.
Mr. LAURIER. The hon. gentleman will see
that this is a matter which has just been disposed
of. It should have been brought up earlier in the
session. It is impossible to say whether the new
divisions or the old divisions are right. It is
impossible for any man in this House, except perhaps the Minister or the hon. members
from the
North-West, to give it sound judgment on the
matter.
Motion agreed to, and Bill read the second time.
This individual participated in:
