1st Canadian Parliament explained

Jurisdiction:CA
#:1st
Type:Majority
Houseimage:Canadian Parliament Layout 1867.svg
Status:inactive
Term-Begin:September 24, 1867
Term-End:July 8, 1872
Sc:Hon. James Cockburn
Scterm:November 6, 1867 – March 25, 1874
Pm:Rt. Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald
Pm-Begin:1867-07-01
Pm-End:1873-11-05
Ss:The Hon. Joseph-Édouard Cauchon
Ssterm:November 5, 1867 – May 16, 1869
Gsl:Alexander Campbell
Gslterm:July 1, 1867 – November 5, 1873
Osl:Luc Letellier de St-Just
Oslterm:July 1, 1867 – November 5, 1873
Party:Conservative Party
& Liberal-Conservative
Party2:Liberal Party
Party3:Anti-Confederation Party
Sessionbegin:November 6, 1867
Sessionend:May 22, 1868
Sessionbegin2:April 15, 1869
Sessionend2:June 22, 1869
Sessionbegin3:February 15, 1870
Sessionend3:May 12, 1870
Sessionbegin4:February 15, 1871
Sessionend4:April 14, 1871
Sessionbegin5:April 11, 1872
Sessionend5:June 14, 1872
Monarchterm:1 July 1867 – 22 Jan. 1901
Viceroy:The Viscount Monck
Viceroyterm:1 July 1867 – 14 Nov. 1868
Viceroy2:Lord Lisgar
Viceroyterm2:2 Feb. 1869 – 25 June 1872
Viceroy3:The Earl of Dufferin
Viceroyterm3:25 June 1872 – 25 Nov. 1878
Ministry:1st Canadian Ministry
Ministrybegin:July 1, 1867
Ministryend:November 5, 1873
Members:180
Senators:72
Nextparl:2nd

The 1st Canadian Parliament was in session from November 6, 1867, until July 8, 1872. The membership was set by the 1867 federal election from August 7 to September 20, 1867. It was prorogued prior to the 1872 election.

It was controlled by a majority coalition between the Conservative Party and the Liberal-Conservative Party under Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald and the 1st Canadian Ministry. The Official Opposition was the Liberal Party, led by Edward Blake from 1869 to 1871, followed by a vacancy in the Liberal leadership.

The Speaker was James Cockburn. See also List of Canadian electoral districts (1867–1871) for a list of the ridings in this parliament.

Members of Parliament

Following is a full list of members of the first parliament by province. Cabinet members are bolded.

Electoral districts denoted by an asterisk (*) indicates that district was represented by two members.

Nova Scotia

Electoral districtNamewidth=20%Party
AnnapolisWilliam Hallett RayAnti-Confederate then Liberal1
AntigonishHugh McDonaldAnti-Confederate then Liberal-Conservative1
Cape BretonJames Charles McKeagneyAnti-Confederate then Liberal-Conservative1
ColchesterArchibald McLelan to June 21, 1869 (appointed to Senate)Anti-Confederate then Liberal-Conservative1
Adams George Archibald from September 9, 1869, to May 19, 1870
(named Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba and the Northwest Territories)		Liberal-Conservative
Frederick M. Pearson from November 8, 1870Liberal
CumberlandCharles TupperConservative
DigbyAlfred William SavaryAnti-Confederate then Conservative1
GuysboroughStewart CampbellAnti-Confederate then Liberal-Conservative1
HalifaxAlfred Gilpin JonesAnti-Confederate then Independent
Patrick PowerAnti-Confederate then Liberal1
HantsJoseph HoweAnti-Confederate then Liberal-Conservative1
InvernessHugh CameronAnti-Confederate then Liberal-Conservative1
KingsWilliam Henry Chipman to April 9, 1870 (death)Anti-Confederate then Liberal1
Leverett de Veber Chipman from June 23, 1870Liberal
LunenburgEdmund Mortimer McDonaldAnti-Confederate then Liberal-Conservative1
PictouJames William CarmichaelAnti-Confederate then Liberal1
QueensJames Fraser ForbesAnti-Confederate then Liberal1
RichmondWilliam Croke to March 11, 1869 (death)Anti-Confederate then Conservative1
Isaac Le Vesconte from April 20, 1869Conservative1
ShelburneThomas CoffinAnti-Confederate then Liberal-Conservative1
VictoriaWilliam RossAnti-Confederate then Liberal1
YarmouthThomas Killam to December 15, 1868 (death)Anti-Confederate
Frank Killam from April 20, 1869Liberal

Note:

1 – The Anti-Confederate Party dissolved after failing to secure Nova Scotia's secession from Confederation. In 1869 its members joined other parties, or in one case sat as an independent.

New Brunswick

Electoral districtNamewidth=20%Party
width=24% AlbertJohn WallaceLiberal
CarletonCharles ConnellLiberal
CharlotteJohn BoltonLiberal
City and County of Saint JohnJohn Hamilton Gray
City of Saint JohnSamuel Leonard TilleyLiberal-Conservative
GloucesterTimothy Warren AnglinLiberal
KentAuguste RenaudLiberal
King'sGeorge RyanLiberal
NorthumberlandJohn Mercer Johnson to September 8, 1868 (death)Liberal
Richard Hutchison from December 24, 1868Liberal
Queen'sJohn FerrisLiberal
RestigoucheJohn McMillan to February 15, 1868 (appointed Inspector of Post Offices)Liberal
William Murray Caldwell from March 13, 1868, to September 29, 1870 (death)Liberal
George Moffat from November 29, 1870Conservative
SunburyCharles BurpeeLiberal
VictoriaLiberal-Conservative
WestmorlandAlbert James SmithLiberal
YorkCharles Fisher to October 3, 1868 (appointed to the Supreme Court of New Brunswick)Liberal
John Pickard from October 28, 1868Independent Liberal

Quebec

Electoral districtNamewidth=20%Party
width=24% ArgenteuilJohn AbbottLiberal-Conservative
BagotPierre-Samuel GendronConservative
BeauceChristian PozerLiberal
BeauharnoisMichael CayleyConservative
BellechasseLouis Napoléon Casault to May 26, 1870 (appointed to Superior Court of Quebec)Conservative
Télesphore Fournier from August 15, 1870Liberal
BerthierAnselme PâquetLiberal
BonaventureThéodore Robitaille-BromeChristopher Dunkin4 to October 24, 1871 (appointed to Superior Court of Quebec)Conservative
Edward Carter from November 17, 1871
ChamblyPierre BenoitConservative
ChamplainJohn Jones RossConservative
CharlevoixSimon Xavier Cimon
ChâteauguayLuther HoltonLiberal
Chicoutimi—SaguenayPierre Alexis TremblayLiberal
ComptonJohn Henry Pope5Liberal-Conservative
DorchesterHector-Louis Langevin
Drummond—ArthabaskaLouis Adélard Sénécal
GaspéPierre FortinConservative
HochelagaAntoine DorionLiberal
HuntingdonJohn Rose2 to September 29, 1869 (resigned)Liberal-Conservative
Julius Scriver from October 30, 1869Liberal
IbervilleFrançois BéchardLiberal
Jacques CartierGuillaume GaucherConservative
JolietteFrançois Benjamin GodinLiberal
Kamouraskano election in 1867 due to rioting
Charles Pelletier from February 17, 1869Liberal
LaprairieAlfred Pinsonneault
L'AssomptionLouis ArchambeaultLiberal-Conservative
LavalJoseph BelleroseConservative
LévisJoseph BlanchetLiberal-Conservative
L'IsletBarthélemy Pouliot3
LotbinièreHenri Joly De LotbinièreLiberal
MaskinongéGeorge CaronConservative
MéganticGeorge IrvineConservative
MissisquoiBrown Chamberlin to June 6, 1870 (resigned to become Queen's Printer)Conservative
George Baker from July 5, 1870Liberal-Conservative
MontcalmJoseph Dufresne to July 13, 1871 (resigned)Conservative
Firmin Dugas from September 15, 1871Conservative
MontmagnyJoseph-Octave BeaubienConservative
MontmorencyJoseph-Édouard Cauchon to November 1, 1867Conservative
Jean Langlois from December 11, 1867Conservative
Montreal CentreThomas WorkmanLiberal
Montreal EastGeorge-Étienne CartierLiberal-Conservative
Montreal WestThomas D'Arcy McGee to April 7, 1868 (assassinated)Liberal-Conservative
Michael Patrick Ryan from April 20, 1868Liberal-Conservative
NapiervilleSixte Coupal dit la ReineLiberal
NicoletJoseph GaudetConservative
Ottawa (County of)Alonzo WrightLiberal-Conservative
PontiacEdmund Heath
PortneufJean BrousseauConservative
Quebec-CentreGeorges-Honoré Simard
Quebec CountyPierre-Joseph-Olivier ChauveauConservative
Quebec EastPierre Huot to June 14, 1870 (resigned to become Postmaster of Quebec)Liberal
Adolphe Guillet dit Tourangeau from July 18, 1870Conservative
Quebec WestThomas McGreevyLiberal-Conservative
RichelieuThomas McCarthy to September 23, 1870 (death)Conservative
Georges Isidore Barthe from November 18, 1870
Richmond—WolfeWilliam Hoste Webb
RimouskiGeorge Sylvain
RouvilleGuillaume Cheval dit St-JacquesLiberal
Saint MauriceLouis Léon Lesieur Desaulniers to September 29, 1868 (resigned)Conservative
Élie Lacerte from October 30, 1868
SheffordLucius HuntingtonLiberal
Town of SherbrookeAlexander GaltLiberal-Conservative
SoulangesLuc Masson
St. HyacintheAlexandre Kierzkowski to August 4, 1870 (death)Liberal
Louis Delorme from September 1, 1870Liberal
St. John'sFrançois BourassaLiberal
StansteadCharles ColbyLiberal-Conservative
TémiscouataCharles BertrandConservative
TerrebonneLouis MassonConservative
Three RiversLouis Boucher De Niverville to September 30, 1868 (resigned)Conservative
William McDougall from October 17, 1868Conservative
Two MountainsJean-Baptiste Daoust
VaudreuilDonald McMillan
VerchèresFélix GeoffrionLiberal
YamaskaMoïse FortierLiberal

Four Quebec members recontested their seats in byelections, and were re-elected:

2 – John Rose was reelected in Huntingdon on November 28, 1867, after being named Minister of Finance.

3 – Barthélemy Pouliot was unseated on petition, but was reelected in L'Islet on July 14, 1869.

4 – Christopher Dunkin was reelected in Brome on November 29, 1869, after being named Minister of Agriculture.

5 – John Henry Pope was reelected in Compton on November 11, 1871, after being named Minister of Agriculture following Dunkin's resignation from Parliament.

Ontario

Electoral districtNamewidth=20%Party
width=24% AddingtonJames LapumConservative
AlgomaWemyss Mackenzie Simpson to April 26, 1871 (appointed Indian Commissioner for Rupert's Land)Conservative
Frederick William Cumberland from June 30, 1871Conservative
BothwellDavid MillsLiberal
Brant NorthJohn Young BownLiberal-Conservative
Brant SouthEdmund Burke WoodLiberal
BrockvilleJames CrawfordConservative
Bruce NorthAlexander SproatConservative
Bruce SouthFrancis HurdonConservative
CardwellThomas Roberts FergusonConservative
CarletonJohn HolmesLiberal-Conservative
CornwallJohn Sandfield MacdonaldLiberal
DundasJohn Sylvester RossLiberal-Conservative
Durham EastFrancis H. BurtonConservative
Durham WestEdward BlakeLiberal
Elgin EastThomas William DobbieConservative
Elgin WestJohn H. MunroeConservative
EssexJohn O'ConnorConservative
FrontenacThomas Kirkpatrick to March 26, 1870 (death)Conservative
George Airey Kirkpatrick from April 27, 1870Conservative
GlengarryDonald Alexander MacdonaldLiberal
Grenville SouthWalter ShanlyConservative
Grey NorthGeorge SniderLiberal
Grey SouthGeorge JacksonConservative
HaldimandDavid ThompsonLiberal
HaltonJohn WhiteLiberal
HamiltonCharles MagillLiberal
Hastings EastRobert Read to February 24, 1871 (appointed to Senate)Conservative
John White from March 20, 1871Conservative
Hastings NorthMackenzie BowellConservative
Hastings WestJames BrownConservative
Huron NorthJoseph WhiteheadLiberal
Huron SouthMalcolm Colin CameronLiberal
KentRufus StephensonConservative
KingstonThe Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald, Prime Minister of CanadaLiberal-Conservative
LambtonAlexander MackenzieLiberal
Lanark NorthWilliam C.B. McDougallLiberal-Conservative
Lanark SouthAlexander Morris6Conservative
Leeds North and Grenville NorthFrancis JonesConservative
Leeds SouthJohn Willoughby CrawfordConservative
LennoxRichard John CartwrightConservative
Liberal
LincolnJames Rea Benson to March 14, 1868 (appointed to the Senate)Liberal-Conservative
Thomas Rodman Merritt from April 13, 1868Liberal
LondonJohn CarlingLiberal-Conservative
Middlesex EastCrowell WillsonLiberal-Conservative
Middlesex NorthThomas ScatcherdLiberal
Middlesex WestAngus Peter McDonaldConservative
MonckLachlin McCallumLiberal-Conservative
NiagaraAngus MorrisonConservative
Norfolk NorthAquila WalshConservative
Norfolk SouthPeter LawsonLiberal
Northumberland EastJoseph KeelerLiberal-Conservative
Northumberland WestJames CockburnConservative
Ontario NorthJohn Hall ThompsonLiberal
Ontario SouthThomas Nicholson GibbsLiberal-Conservative
City of OttawaJoseph Merrill CurrierLiberal-Conservative
Oxford NorthThomas OliverLiberal
Oxford SouthEbenezer Vining BodwellLiberal
PeelJohn Hillyard CameronConservative
Perth NorthJames RedfordLiberal
Perth SouthRobert MacFarlaneLiberal
Peterborough EastPeregrine Maitland GroverConservative
Peterborough WestCharles PerryConservative
PrescottAlbert HagarLiberal
Prince EdwardWalter RossLiberal
Renfrew NorthJohn Rankin to October 12, 1869 (resigned)Conservative
Francis Hincks from November 13, 1869Liberal-Conservative
Renfrew SouthDaniel McLachlin to June 3, 1869 (resigned)Liberal
John Lorn McDougall from July 12, 1869Liberal
RussellJames Alexander GrantConservative
Simcoe NorthThomas David McConkeyLiberal
Simcoe SouthWilliam Carruthers LittleLiberal-Conservative
StormontSamuel AultLiberal-Conservative
Toronto EastJames BeatyConservative
Toronto WestRobert Alexander HarrisonConservative
Victoria NorthJohn MorisonLiberal
Victoria SouthGeorge KemptLiberal
Waterloo NorthIsaac Erb BowmanLiberal
Waterloo SouthJames YoungLiberal
WellandThomas Clark StreetConservative
Wellington CentreThomas Sutherland Parker to October 24, 1868 (death)Liberal
James Ross from January 18, 1869Liberal
Wellington NorthGeorge Alexander DrewLiberal-Conservative
Wellington SouthDavid StirtonLiberal
Wentworth NorthJames McMoniesLiberal
Wentworth SouthJoseph RymalLiberal
York EastJames MetcalfeLiberal
York NorthJames Pearson WellsLiberal
York WestWilliam Pearce Howland to July 14, 1868 (appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ontario)Liberal-Conservative
Amos Wright from August 14, 1868Liberal

Note:

6 – One Ontario MP, Alexander Morris, recontested his seat in a byelection. He was reelected in Lanark South on November 29, 1869, after being appointed Minister of Inland Revenue.

Manitoba

Manitoba joined Confederation in 1870. Byelections to choose Manitoba's representatives were held on March 2 and March 3, 1871.

Electoral districtNamewidth=20%Party
width=24% LisgarJohn Christian Schultz from March 2, 1871Conservative
Marquette

  • (both candidates declared elected due to a tie)
James S. Lynch from March 2, 1871Liberal
Angus McKay from March 2, 1871Conservative
SelkirkDonald Alexander Smith from March 2, 1871Independent Conservative
ProvencherPierre Delorme from March 3, 1871Conservative

British Columbia

British Columbia joined Confederation in 1871. Byelections to choose the province's representatives were held in November and December of that year.

Electoral districtNamewidth=20%Party
width=24% Cariboo DistrictJoshua Spencer Thompson from December 19, 1871Liberal-Conservative
New Westminster DistrictHugh Nelson from December 13, 1871Liberal-Conservative
VancouverRobert Wallace from December 15, 1871Conservative
VictoriaAmor De Cosmos from November 24, 1871Liberal
Henry Nathan, Jr. from November 24, 1871Liberal
Yale DistrictCharles Frederick Houghton from December 19, 1871Liberal

Pre-Confederation predecessors

ColonyAssembly
Province of Canada8th Parliament
Nova Scotia22nd General Assembly
New Brunswick21st Legislative Assembly

By-elections

See main article: By-elections to the 1st Canadian Parliament.

Throne Speeches

1st Session

On Thursday November 7, 1867. The 1st session of the 1st parliament of the Dominion of Canada opened with a speech from the throne by the governor general, Charles Stanley Monck (The Viscount Monck).

In the speech, the governor general remarks the creation of the Dominion of Canada itself and the future expansion of the country from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. Some notable objectives for this first government would be to determine "Currency, Customs, Excise, and Revenue generally,-for the adoption of a uniform Postal System,-for the proper management and maintenance of the Public Works and Properties of the Dominion,-for the adoption of a well considered scheme of Militia Organizationand Defence, for the proper administration of Indian affairs,-for the introduction of uniform Laws respecting Patents of Invention and Discovery,-the naturalization of Aliens,-and :the assimilation of the Criminal Law, and the Laws relating to Bankruptcy and Insolvency." He also notes the imperative immediate construction of the intercolonial railway. As well as the protection and development of Fisheries and Marine Interests. Finally, he speaks on the necessity to establish uniform laws regarding elections.[1]

2nd Session

On Thursday April 15, 1869. The 2nd session of the 1st parliament of the Dominion of Canada opened with a speech from the throne by the governor general, John Young (The Lord Lisgar).

In the speech, the governor general speaks on confederation and the initiatives to bring parts of the Hudson Bay Company (The Northwest Territory) and Newfoundland into the union. He also speaks on the assimilation of provincial criminal laws into federal criminal laws. He also touches on future bills focusing on Elections, Bankruptcy and Insolvency, and Patents of invention and discovery.[2]

3rd Session

On Tuesday February 15, 1870. The 3rd session of the 1st parliament of the Dominion of Canada opened with a speech from the throne by the governor general, John Young (The Lord Lisgar).

In the speech, he remarks the growing economy of the Dominion - specifically noting the fisheries. He also speaks on the difficulties faced in acquiring the Northwest Territory and the desire to go through with the assimilation. He continues in speaking on making the election process uniform among the country. He also notes the necessity to create a Court of Appeal as well as the need to prepare for the upcoming 1871 census.[3]

4th Session

On Wednesday February 15, 1871. The 4th session of the 1st parliament of the Dominion of Canada opened with a speech from the throne by the governor general, John Young (The Lord Lisgar).

In the speech, he highlights the menace of invasion from the United States. He also celebrates the creation of the province of Manitoba and looks forward to the same from British Columbia. On that topic, he speaks on the importance of the interoceanic railway to be created. He encourages more immigration to these new territories. He recommends the swift standardization of currency to not fall into the divisiveness seen in Europe. He says the census will occur on April 3, 1971. He briefly touches on some future bills pertaining to Parliamentary Elections, Weights and Measures, Insurance Companies, Savings Banks, and for the Consolidation and amendment of the Inspection Laws.[4]

5th Session

On Thursday April 11, 1872. The 5th session of the 1st parliament of the Dominion of Canada opened with a speech from the throne by the governor general, John Young (The Lord Lisgar).

In the speech, he highlights the threat of invasion of Manitoba from the United States. He remarks on a conference held in Ottawa in September 1871 on the subject of immigration. He recognizes the adoption of British Columbia into the union and the continuation of the railway project. He encourages the development of canals and a direct water communication between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy. He notes that the census has taken place. He briefly mentions future bills pertaining to Judges of Superior Courts-to the regulation and management of the Public Lands and Mines of the Dominion in Manitoba and the North West Territories, aid for the amendment of the laws relating to the Public Health.[5]

Works cited

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Documents. Throne Speech. parl.ca. 31 May 2023.
  2. Web site: Documents. Throne Speech. parl.ca. 31 May 2023.
  3. Web site: Documents. Throne Speech. parl.ca. 31 May 2023.
  4. Web site: Documents. Throne Speech. parl.ca. 31 May 2023.
  5. Web site: Documents. Throne Speech. parl.ca. 31 May 2023.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "1st Canadian Parliament".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.