August 7, 1867
DOMINION ELECTION CALLED; 48-DAY CAMPAIGN
The Dominion elections have been called. The writs are dated August 7, 1867, and due back in Ottawa by September 24, 1867. The House of Commons has been summoned to meet in Ottawa that same day “to have conference and treaty with the Great Men and Senate….”
If the predictions are correct, the prime minister will win a sixteen seat majority, carrying 98 seats to the opposition’s 82.
Official Ottawa was a flurry of activity yesterday as the cabinet met to approve the recommendations of the Prime Minister regarding the elections and summoning of Parliament (1867-0040; 1867-0041).
His Excellency, Lord Monck, the Governor-General, arrived at the wharf in Ottawa accompanied by his private secretary and he proceeded directly to Rideau Hall where he signed the Proclamations as recommended by his Privy Councillors.
The cabinet ministers in attendance at yesterday’s meeting were the prime minister, Hon. George-Étienne Cartier, Hon. Alexander Campbell, Hon. Alexander Galt, and Hon. Hector Langevin.
There will be a single polling day in each constituency but that date is left to the discretion of each returning officer provided the writ is returned by the due date. The exceptions are the constituency of Gaspé and the constituency of Chicoutimi and Saugenay which have until October 24, 1867 for the return of their writs.
Polls cannot be held until the returning officer is in possession of the writ and there is no requirement that all writs be dropped in the mail at the same time. As the Cabinet controls the writs, it is believed that they will be delivered first to ridings where the prime minister expects a friendly result and delayed for ridings where the opposition is expected to prevail.
ELIGIBILITY OF ELECTORS FOR DOMINION ELECTIONS
The qualification for electors in the first Dominion election is governed by the Municipal Act of 1866. To be eligible to vote in the elections just called, one must be the owner or occupant of real property with a value of:
- in cities, $600;
- in towns, $400;
- in villages, $300;
- in townships, $200.
The voters’ list will be prepared from the municipal assessment roll of 1867 if that roll has been prepared and deposited with the Clerk of the Peace one month before the date of the writ. That means the voters’ list will be based on the 1867 assessment roll where that roll filed prior to July 7, 1867. In cases where this did not occur, the voters’ list will be prepared using the 1866 assessment roll.
Once the revisions of the voters’ list have taken place, the lists are final and an elector’s qualifications cannot be disputed. An elector’s identity, however, can be challenged at the polls.
In Ontario, Québec, and Nova Scotia, votes will be cast verbally by electors on enquiry by the Returning Officers. In New Brunswick voters will vote by secret ballot.
QUEBEC APPOINTMENTS
Phillip Jolicœur, Q.C. has been appointed Assistant Provincial Secretary and Henry Hopper Miler has been appointed Recording Clerk of the Council of Public Instruction. Hon John Ross is expected to be appointed Judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench and Okill Steward, Q. C. and Charles Holt, Q. C., will be appointed Superior Court judges for the province.
STILL NO CITY BUDGET
Necessary municipal repairs in Toronto may not get completed before the arrival of winter owing to the failure of the council finance committee to produce a budget. While other departments continue their operations on the expected appropriations but the Board of Works is being delayed. This is the longest it has ever taken the finance committee to produce a budget for the City.
MCGEE ILL
Just a few days after being egged by a Montreal crowd, D’Arcy McGee is said to have fallen ill and is contemplating withdrawal from the election.
FRANCO-PRUSSIAN DIPLOMACY
French media in Paris are denying the existence of a “sharp diplomatic note” reported to have recently been sent by the Marquis de Moustier to Berlin. Local media report that France and Prussia are on “the best of terms”. Observers, however, dispute the account, and point to an “acrimonious tone” towards France emanating from the Prussian Government, coupled with the stockpiling of arms and munitions by the Prussians.
It is reported by Observers that Bismarck is prepared to punish France for its failure to execute Article 5 of the Treaty of Prague, as well as attempts at annexing southern Germany through the extension of commercial interests in the territory.