The SPEAKER took the Chair at Three
o'clock.
PRAYERS.
NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES REPRESENTATION ACT.
Mr. DALY moved for leave to introduce
Bill (No. 94) to amend the Acts respecting
the Representation of the North-west Territories in the Parliament of Canada.
Mr. DALY. As hon. gentlemen are aware,
at present the Territories are represented in
this House by four members, from Saskatchewan, East Assriniboia, Western Assiniboia
and Alberta. We propose under this Bill, to
divide Alberta into two constituencies giving
an additional representative to Alberta, and
in consequence an addtional representative to
the North-west Territories. Clause 44 of the
original Act was struck out some two years
ago, and I have received a petition from
the Assembly of the Territories asking that
the clause should be restored. I am restoring clause 44 by this Bill, but providing
that
the oath is not to be taken by the elector presenting himself at the poll in the manner
set
forth in the original Act. He must subscribe to and take the oath in the form prescribed
in the schedule. I am informed that
clause 44 was struck out of the original Bill
in the Senate, because a great deal of perjury
had taken place in Eastern Assiniboia, and I
have endeavoured under this Bill to prevent
anything of that kind, by providing that those
who apply to the deputy returning officer to
have their names put on the list, shall subscribe to the oath and swear to it before
the
deputy returning officer. It is believed that
there will be less danger of perjury if the
person has to sign the affidavit. I have
changed the oath of the enumerator, making
it similar to the oath of the revising officer
under the Franchise Act. The oath provided
for in the Bill is as follows :—
I, enumerator for the polling
district No. (or as the case may be), of
the Electoral District of swear
(or solemnly affirm) that I will well and faithfully
discharge the duties assigned to me, without
favour or partiality ; that I will place no name
on the list of voters for the said polling district
and will strike no name off the said list, unless
I shall be satisfied that the said name should
by law be placed on or struck off the said list ;
and that I will in all respects conform to the
law to the best of my judgment and ability.
So help me God.
These are the only provisions of the Bill.
Mr. DAVIN. This Bill, as I understand,
meets the point that was intended to be met
in the Bill which I placed upon the paper,
and I think also the Bill that my hon. friend
(Mr. Martin) placed there. There is in addition to that, an additional member provided
for in the North-west Territories. The
chief thing which the peeple up there are interested in is met by the first part of
the Bill.
Mr. MARTIN. Do I understand the Minister of the Interior to say that Alberta is
simply divided into two, and that he does
not alter Eastern or Western Assiniboia ?
Mr. DALY. It is simply a division of Alberta by the line which is the southern
boundary of Saskatchewan being extended
2westerly to the western boundary of Alberta.
This line runs south of Innisfail. It is nearly
as equal a division of the population of Alberta as it is possible to make. The boundaries
of Eastern and Western Assiniboia
remain as before.
Mr. MILLS (Bothwell). Is there any provision for another Senator ?
Mr. DALY. That is provided for in a Bill
that is being introduced in the Senate by the
Premier.
Mr. DALY. The deputy returning officer
on polling day.
Mr. McCARTHY. Provision ought to be
made for the deputy returning officer having
these forms ?
Mr. MARTIN. That system might cause
delay on polling day.
Mr. DALY. I do not think there will be
any trouble about that.
Motion agreed to, and Bill read the first
time.
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