The MINISTER OF JUSTICE (Hon.
Charles Fitzpatrick) moved the first reading of the Bill (No. 253) to increase the
representation of the North-west Territories in
the Senate. He said: Hon. gentlemen are
aware that, under the British North America
Amendment Act of 1886, it is provided
that the parliament of Canada may, from
time to time, make provision for the representation in the Senate and House of
Commons of Canada, or either of them, of
any territory for the time being formed in
the Dominion of Canada, but not included
in any of the provinces thereof. In the
following year a Bill was introduced, which
appears as chapter 3 of the statute of 1887,
by which provision was made for the re-
presentation of the North-west Territories in the Senate by two members. Since that
time the population has materially increased. The population of the organized part,
Assinibola, Alberta and Saskatchewan, which was only 25,515 in 1881, increased the
66,799 in 1891, and to 159,940 in 1901. Of course, since then there has been even
a greater proportion of increase. The increase in the unorganized territory was from
30,931 in 1881 to 52,709 in 1901. Taking there two together and allowing for increase
since 1901, the proportion of representation of the territories in the Senate will
be about the same as it is in Ontario.
Motion agreed to, and Bill read the first time.
