November 7, 1867

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

His Excellency Lord Monck arrived at the Parliament Buildings at three o’clock yesterday afternoon, greater by a guard of honour and a nineteen-gun salute.

Prior to His Excellency’s arrival, fifty-eight senators, and 156 members of parliament were sworn in.

After His Excellency took his seat on the throne in the Senate Chamber, the Usher of the Black Rod proceeded to the House of Commons to summon the members to the bar of the Senate. Upon their arrival, the Speaker, Hon. Joseph Cauchon, announced that His Excellency would not declare the reasons for calling the members together until they had elected a Speaker but that he would announce the reasons at 3 o’clock on the following day (today).

The members of the Commons returned to their chamber where the prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald nominated Hon. James Cockburn (Conservative, Northumberland West) for the position of Speaker. The nomination was seconded by Hon. George-Étienne Cartier (Militia).

Mr. Cockburn’s nomination was objected to by Joseph Dufresne (Conservative, Montcalm) on the grounds that Mr. Cockburn could not speak French. To nominate someone for the position of Speaker who could not speak one of the official languages of the Dominion was an affront to the people of Lower Canada and a matter of national feeling. If, Mr. Dufresne said, the official documents of the Dominion should be printed in both languages, the principal ought to be extended to the position of the Speaker.

Mr. Cartier said that though Mr. Cockburn did not speak French he did understand it and was thus as equally qualified as Speakers in the previous Legislature.

Mr. Cockburn was then elected unanimously and conducted to the chair by the prime minister and minister of the militia.

The prime minister then gave notice to the House that a committee would be struck, comprising members of both sides and all regions, to examine the rules of the Parliament of the Province of Canada and the rules of the assemblies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and to recommend the rules to be followed by the new Parliament. In the meantime, however, the prime minister moved that the rules of the previous parliament be followed. The motion was adopted and the House adjourned.