January 23, 1868
POLITICIANS AND THE PRESS IN QUEBEC
Members of the Québec Legislature were in an uproar yesterday following the publication of an article in the Journal de Québec complaining that there were too many English MPPs on the Private Bills Committee. A motion to add Louis-Charles Boucher de Niverville (Conservative, Trois-Rivières) and Louis Beaubien (Conservative, Hochelaga) to the committee produced a lively debate.
Mr. Beaubien was outraged that a paper such as the Journal would attempt to inflame national and religious prejudices in the province and, it was all the more objectionable for the fact that it was believed that article was written by a member of the legislature.
Hon. Joseph Cauchon (Conservative, Montmorency) objected to the motion on the grounds that notice was not given. It was beneath the dignity of Parliament, he said, for the House to “notice every time the press appeared to overstep the bounds of propriety.” The article sought only to sow division in the province and in the House and to recognize it through this motion was to raise it to a level it did not deserve.
The motion was adopted.
ONTARIO ELECTION LAW AMENDMENT
One day following the protestations of Hon. Sandfield Macdonald (Premier, Attorney General) about the moving of legislation on matters of government concern, the Government acquiesced to the passage through Second Reading of Bill No. 7, An Act to amend Chapter 6 of the Consolidated Statutes of Canada, respecting elections of members of the legislature , which had been moved by Sir Henry Smith (Conservative, Frontenac).
The amendments proposed by the legislation will restrict polling and nominations for all elections to one day to be held concurrently across province. The amendments are intended to reduce the influence of bribery and corruption on elections.
In debating the Bill, members were unanimously of the opinion that the election law required amending but were of more diverse opinions on just what amendments ought to be made and when. The House referred the bill to a special committee to fill out its details. The committee is comprised of the Hon. Attorney-General Macdonald, Hon. Mr. Cameron (Provincial Secretary), Sir Smith, and Messrs. Blake, Pardee, R. Scott, Ferrier, Tett, and Lauder.