November 30, 1867

MONTMORENCY

A writ has been issued and nominations are being held today for the riding of Montmorency, vacated when Hon. Joseph Cauchon (Speaker of the Senate) was elevated to the Senate. Jean Langlois and M. Lefrancois are the expected candidates.

Meanwhile, M. Cauchon’s friends in Québec City have signed a petition supporting his continuing to serve as mayor for another term. He will be opposed by John Lemessurie.

PETITION ON THE KAMOURASKA ELECTION

The petition submitted by Hon. J. C. Chapais (Agriculture), protesting the actions of the returning officer in Kamouraska and claiming the seat for himself has been accepted in the House of Commons following a ruling by Hon. James Cockburn (Speaker).

The petition had been submitted but was objected to by Liberal members who said that the petition was nonsensical in that it protested an election where no election occurred.

Mr. Chapais argued that the refusal of the Returning Officer to hold the poll despite the issuance of the writs prejudiced his ability as the only candidate who presented himself for nomination to claim be declared the duly elected member.

The Speaker, in issuing his ruling, referred to the case of the Borough of Kanresborough in 2, Pickwell’s Election cases, in which a riot occurred that prevented the nomination of candidates and the holding of elections. The petition in that case was received and the committee hearing the case reported that no election had been held and recommended the holding of a new election.

Hon. Mr. Cockburn ruled that given this precedent it was his ruling that the petition in this case should similarly be accepted.

The irony of the case being, of course, that Mr. Chapais claims he was denied the seat by the Returning Officer following a riot that was precipitated, according to the opponents of Mr. Chapais, by the Returning Officer’s attempts to hand the seat to Mr. Chapais.

ROSE RETURNED

Hon. John Rose (Finance) was re-elected in Huntingdon and has returned to the House of Commons.

RUPERT’S LAND

Two days from now the Hon. William McDougall (Public Works) will move the resolutions relating to the incorporation of Rupert’s Land into the Dominion of Canada and establishing the principle of extending the Dominion to the Pacific Ocean.