November 16, 1867

ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES

The Commons established two committees yesterday, on motions by the Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. The first, the committee to form rules and regulations for the government of the House consists of two members from Ontario (one minister and one opposition member), two members from Québec (one minister and one supporter of the government), one member from Nova Scotia (opposition), and one member from New Brunswick (government supporter).

The second committee, consisting of sixteen members, has been created to establish the members of the Standing Committees.

BANK OF MONTREAL’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT

On a motion from Luther Holton (Liberal, Châteauguay), the Commons has voted to request the tabling of all agreements and correspondence between the Government of the late Province of Canada and the Bank of Montreal relating to the 1866 banking act and the issuing of provincial notes. This follows on accusations by the Globe that the Government had transferred effective control of the banking system to Bank of Montreal.

ROYAL HONOURS

The Liberal papers have spent some time over the last several months making hay over the fact that the honours conferred upon Sir John A. Macdonald and Hon. George-Étienne Cartier upon the creation of the Dominion were of different ranks.

That mischief-making arrived in the Commons yesterday when the Liberal member for Centre Wellington, Thomas Parker, moved that any representations made to His Excellency on the matter be laid before the House.

A significant part of the Globe’s speculation was that the honours came following a request from John A., and that he also requested that Cartier and Galt be given the lower-rank honours.

The prime minister spoke against the motion, arguing that any representations made by the Governor-General to Her Majesty on the question of honours was done so in his capacity as an Imperial official and not in his Canadian role.

The ensuing debate split the parties, with Hon. Christopher Dunkin (Conservative, Brome), the Québec Treasurer, and government front-bencher, who said that the motion ought to pass.

To this, John A., said that the papers did not exist since the Canadian Government played no role in the honours, they had been conferred on the eve of the creation of the Dominion without notice, and he agreed that the honours given to his colleague was inadequate.

The motion was subsequently withdrawn.

WELLAND AND ST. LAWRENCE CANALS

Though important, Hon. William McDougall (Public Works) has said that the public finances do not permit the enlargement of the Welland and St. Lawrence Canals at present.

BILLS TO BE INTRODUCED

The following ministers have given notice of their intention to introduce legislation next week on the following matters:

• Sir John A. Macdonald (Prime Minister, Attorney General): a bill respecting the interpretation and construction of statutes and resolutions respecting the indemnity of members and the salaries of the Speakers of both Houses
• Hon. Hector Langevin (Secretary of State for Canada): a bill respecting his department
• Hon. William McDougall (Public Works): a bill respect the public works of the Dominion
• Hon. Samuel Tilley (Customs): a bill respecting his department