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7/^
SPEECH ^^'-^
QUEEN;S UMVERSITV tlBRARr
IT
HON. A. Mlf^SS
IN THE v^»
-5/
/
%>. /
ONTARIO LEGISLATURE,
ON MOTION FOR CONCURRENCE IN RESOLUTIONS OF QUEBEC
CONFERENCE, MARCH 7TH, 1888.
PRINTED BY WARWICK & SONS, 26 AND 28 FRONT STREET WEST.
The EDITH and LORNE PIERCE
COLLECTION of CANADI ANA
ilueerCs University at Kingston
I-
^^
ON
I..:
l^'iT^T. .-.. 1 'W i '•''■"■ "''V'- ■ '
-^^.:. c
"•^' ;,-;'*
SPEECH
OF
HON. A. M. ROSS,
IN THK
ONTARIO LEGISLATURE,
ON MOTION FOR CONCURRENCE IN RESOLUTIONS OF QUEBEC
CONFERENCE, MARCH 7TH, 1888.
ioranto:
f^NTED BY WARWICK & SONS, 26 AND 28 FRONT STREET WEST.
1888.
■ fi "*iM> I '*■'•
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u
Ho
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i spirit
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ieavoi
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Ir tru;
S P E E C H
OF
HON. A. M. ROSS,
IN TPIE ONTARIO LEGISLATURE,
ON MOTION FOR CONOURHENCE [N RESOLUTIONS OF QUEBEC
CONFERENCE, MARCH Ttii, 1888.
Hon. A. M. Ross, rising amid cheer?, said : — I think, Mr. Speaker, it is much to bo
Regretted, that the hon. leader of the Opposition, in leading the criticism on the proposi-
tions for the amendment of the Constitution, should have sought to impart into this debate
A spirit of partisanship and acrimony, altogether out of place in the consideration of the
[Uestion before the House. (Hear, hear.) I am ghvd to see that, with the exception of
Is second lieutenant, the hon. member for Toronto (or perhaps I am doing the hon. gentle-
|bn an injustice. I perhaps ought to have said fiist lieutenant, as it looks as if the lion.
bmber for North Grey had been deposed) — I say .1 am glad to see, that with the oxcop-
mn of the hon. member for Toronto, the other Opposition speakers have had the good
rose, to refuse to follow in the unworthy path of criticism marked out for them, and have
jweavored to discuss the propositions in a logical and temperate manner. I think I may
■ecially compliment the hon. member for East Durham as being the first to lead off in
Bb much more appropriate manner of dealing with the subject. His speech, both in tone
Si argument, was much better than that of his leader. It may not have been so fluent
■frothy, but it was more argumentative, and dealt Avith the proposed amendment in a
■nner more befitting the subject. I think I may extend the same compliment to that
■the hon. member for Granville, who, in the main, applied his criticisms in a business-like
By, befitting a deliberative body called upon to deal with a subject as grave and momen-
Ks as the amendment of our Constitution.
H The fact is, that the older members of the House are getting a little tired of this old
Bfalty speech of the hon. gentleman from London ; they have heard it almost verbatim
wBiteratim, session after session. When first delivered, some eight or ten years ago, it
Hs amusing and piquant, but after frequent repetitions it becomes stale and uninter-
■nng. It is like witnessing a play when you have been a dozen times at the rehearsal.
®siughter.) You thoroughly know the plot. You know when the colored fire is to be
nlroduced. You know when the particular studied and well-rehearsed attitude of raising
tt hands and bowing to the mimic company of rustics on the stage is assumed, it is the
mconcerted signal for these rustics to throw up their paper hats, the village band to blare
Wmv trumpets, and the little boys to frantically beat their big and little drums. (Cheers
P
and laughter.) Indeed, the stage character of the performance does not cease upon thedrn .
of the curtain. No matter how tedious and hackneyed it has been, we know from past expei'^^ljl^ ®
ence of years, that next morning, in the paper which gets the adverti.sing of the corned j '*''''' *^
company, tue okl familiar complimentary notice will appear. That the actor carried tli^" . '^^
house by storm, That he electrifi«l the audience. That the exhibition was the grande.'P'*^^"^*'®.
attraction of the day, and the performer the greatest living actor of the age. (Grei^' consti
laughter.) Tliat all the subordinate.s, even to the local scene shifter — (laughter) — playc'*^" y^ ^
their iiarts to perfection, and bid fair to become stars in the profession. (Cheers an?P'! ^1
laughter.) Where,]
Jjut ^vhile this lOyalty farce has its comic side, it has also its serious aspect. Docf^^'^f^'^'j;''
it never occur to the member for London ; that charging a majority of the people of thW contei
Province with disloyalty, and the fostering of rebellion, is a very serious thing, and to t"'^ ^
true son of Ontario ought not to be indulged in for the mere purpose of pointing an argumenjl'^''^^' ^'j
padding a speech, or having a fling at a political opponent. (Hear, hear.) If the leadi^f'^. ^ .
of the Government is disloyal, and if his colleagues are disloyal, the majority of the peopl^*^^ .^V
of this Province are disloyal, because, although the hon. gentleman, election after electioi *'^^*''.^^**
has appealed to the electors on every hustings on this loyalty cry, charging the Libers*!' ^"^"^'^U
party with disloyalty, the people of this Province have repeatedly, again and again, e}**^^''^"*^
pressed their confidence in the Government by increased majorities, and have indignantljf^^"'^^ ^
cast the slander back in his teeth. "^"-^ ^^ ^'
What is now the immediate cause of the reiteration of this charge ] It is parti** '^'^'' ^''
because the Government have presumed to attend a conference of the chosen represent; "'^'^p*^' *^'^
tives of the Provinces, to consider patriotically what are the evils in the present relation "^^^"^ ''^^
between the Provinces and the Dominion which are causing irritation and discontent, an ^'"^'^^^ ^'^
how these could be removed to make the Federal Union work more smoothly. This i Speaker,
called a " conspiracy, and hatching rebellion." The hon. gentleman who had just sat dow^P^*^ .
had complained that the leader of the Opposition and leading Conservatives had not bee: *^p°'^ ."^ ^
invite<l. Was not the true and only leader of that party, Sir John Macdonald, togethe divinity i
with all his Cabinet, invited 1 (Hear, hear.) Was not every Conservative Provincia ("e.'x:, h
Government invited ? (Hear, hear.) Would the hon. leader of the Opposition himsel ®^^ ^^.
have attended ? He would not have got permission. But if he had attended, would hor, ^^^^^^xati
gentlemen opposite and their organs, have branded him as a conspirator and being there t-®^^^'^'
hatch rebellion] (Hear, hear.) But the circumstance,Mr. Speaker, that has more immediatel ™**'*^'' *
called forth this exhibition of thentrical horror is, that the representatives of Nova Scoti *'®* upon
in taking part in the conference desired to be understood, that while cordially joining ii "^8" P"
the deliberations of the conference, and endeavoring to find a remedy for the evils of whic •^''^^^g
that Province complains, their action in taking part in this deliberation, was not commit *"^y ^^^'
ting the Province to an abandonment of the right of the people of that Province to agitat ^^^ ^'^'"
for a repeal of the union, if the evils under which they felt they labored were not removet Sp^^^^^'"
(Hear, hear.) tne wai
Now, in the first place, the circumstances under which that Province was brough I»^gi'''l^^
into Confederation must be borne in mind. It is well known that they were coercei *** ^^^^
against their 'will into the Union — that by blandishments and bribes the Federal Goverr ^^^^^ ^
ment secured a majority of the Legislature in favor of the Union, but the people at th W'^^^*^^^
first opportunity unanimously repudiated their action. With one solitary exception, tb P"^'"3,ls
representatives, who had so misrepresented the Provincial feeling, were defeats ^ }^^^ 1
on an appeal to the people. We know that to allay the bitter animosity with whicl ^^"o \
the union was viewed by the Nova Scotians, the sanctity of the original compact, an( Union
the B. N. A. Act was invaded, and better terms given to Nova Scotia, and the head an( "^"^ ^.
front of the repeal agitation, the Hon. Joseph Howe, was captured by a seat in th Jf ""^p* J
Cabinet ; but the people of Nova Scotia have never yet cordially accepted the situation Sjf.^'^T
The question of repeal of the union, and a return to their original position as a separat J^'^^®^ 1
province, was directly put to them at the late general election for the Legislature, and tb ^?y*l!^yJ
Local Government— committed to agitation for repeal unless relief conld be had fron *^® }"}}
the burden which oppressed them— was sustained by an overwhelming majority o: ^ ^"°^i
the people. Was it improper for this Government, so committed, and so feeling tb I
r
i|Jon thedni . . , . , ,
Ij past ex pel '4)"'^*^^^ under which they were .sufforiiig, to say at \
rthn pnmPii'VWo are willing to meet the representatives of the
the opening of the conference,
the coinetl"i^**^ '*''*^ wimng to meet tlie representatives of the other provinces to discuss any
carried tli'^"^^*^^*^^ ^'^'^^ "'^y '**^ proposed, hut it must he understood that the people of our
the grandeJ'F'*^^"^*^*^ must not be debarred, if these remedies are insutHcient, to still seek reliel'
acre. (Grei% constitutional means in a withdrawal from the union." And hon. gentlemen call this
U°i.) pijjy^.di^'loyalty, and incipient rebellion, and say those who met with them to seek how the dis-
(Oheers an"^"*^*'"*' *^<^"1^^ ^^ removed were "disloyal," "conspirators," " shaking hands with rdnds."
Wliere, I ask, was the true loyalty to the Dominion 1 Was it not with those wlio,
spect. Do('*^°f^'^'^'^'^" ^^"**' ^"ch irritation and dissatisfaction must proceed from some cause, souj^dit
leople of th^ conference and discussion to remove the iiritation and consolidate the union, rather
n" and to W^^ ^vi*'^^ those who, wilfully shut their eyes and closed their ears to the representations
an annimen'^'^'^*^' and although respectfully invited to discuss these causes of dissatisfaction, abso-
If the load(^^''"^y '''^^^^^'^^^ *^^*^^^ *'" (consider them ? Was it not bettei- to discuss the causes of dis-
of the peopl^f ti^^^ction, and seek an equitable path for their removal, rather than to allow that
ifter electioi*^'^''^^^^*^^'^*^'^^^^^ ^'- ^'^^^^^^' '^'^'^^ grow under contemptuous indilTerence until it culmiiiated
the Libers*^ disruption, or through " callous neglect " drive a suffering jieople into rebellion, as
id ao'ain e^^'^^ done in the North-west. ((Ireat applause.) But these kid-gloved loyalty gen^^lemcm.
e indignant] ^"^^^^"^^ ^^ contaminated forsooth, by sitting at the same taV»le with those who wouM even
tent at such a thinr; as disunion. They could not tolerate, that a man like Mr. Fielding
It is nartl *^ ^^''' ^^'^^Tglyi should believe that his Province would thrive b(3tt<;r as a sisparate Pro-
n represent, '''^'^'''^i connected direct with the Empire, as before Confederation, than under the sway of
sent relation ^^^^^ benign, honest, moral, truthful, satin-breeched* political deity at Ottawa. It wis intol-
iscontent an •'^'^^^^^ t'^'it such a fellah should come between the wind and their nobility. (Laughter.) Mr.
hly. This i Sl'^^^^ker, they were not always so squeamish. Their party god has not always frowned
just sat dow ^po*^ those who have thieatened secession. Nor has he refused to raise to the priest-
had not bee ^^^"^ "^ ^-^^ party, those who openly advocated annexation. (Hear, hear.) Nay, that
nald toiiethe *^^^^'^^*'y himself has not hesitated to serve under those red-handed from open rebellion.
7e Provincia (Hear, hear.) The hon. member from Essex has already shown that three of the promin-
•sition himsel ^^^ leaders of that party to-day — Gait, Mac))herson and Abbott — were open advocates of
id would hor. ^i^nexation ; and all, after this grave offence, taken to the bosom of the party as chiefs and
being there 1 1®^^^^''''* ^.nd two of them knighted on the recommendation of the Tory chief. It is
6 immediatel ^^^^^r of history that Sir George Oartier was in open rebellion, proclaimed, and a price
E Nova Scoti "^^ upon his head. Yet he was not thought unworthy to be raised to the position of
lly ioinin» ii ^^S^ priest of the super-loyal party, nor did Sir John's sensitive loyalty prevent him from
evils of whic ■®'^vir^g under him ; and yet these gentlemen Avish the public to believe that the nausea
they profess to feel, for those who desired to leave the way open to constitutional agita-
tion for the redress of grievances, is genuine, and not the veriest clap-trap. But, Mr.
Speaker, we have a case where a Conservative Premier not merely desired to leave
the way open for constitutional agitation, but actually secured the acceptance by a
was brou"h iJegislature directly under his control, of a resolution, assorting the right of the Province
were coerce ^ withdraw from Confederation, and threatening to do so unless certain grievances, of
ieral Goverr ^^ich the Province had, in his opinion, a right to complain, were redressed. Hon. Mr.
Jeople at th "^^1^^™? Conservative Premier in British Columbia, in 1878 placed upon record on the
xception tb j*^^^''^^^^ of ^he Legislative Assembly "that he felt compelled, in the defence of the interests
defeate( ^^ *'^^ people of British Columbia, in the event of the grievances of that Province not
being removed, to ask that the Province should have the right to withdraw from the
Union and have the right to collect their own customs and excise duties." (Applause.)
And T never heard that he or his Conservative followers, were ever read out of the Con-
servative party. On the contrary, that exhibition of independence being in the interest of
ihe"situatioD *^® Conservative party, he was rewarded by Sir John, by being raised to the position of
Chief Justice of the Province. Mr. Speaker, is it not time that this cant of super-
loyalty on the part of hon. gentlemen opposite, and charging disloyalty on the part of
the Liberal party, was put an end to and frowned down 1 1 do not charge, notwith-
all the instances in which they have toyed with annexation and reV)cllion
s not commit
nee to agitat
not removet
3re
with whicl
compact, anc
'he head an(
seat in th
IS a separat
lure, and th
be had fron
majority o:
3 feeling tb
standing
Vifio frrip's carto >n of Sir John a>! ;i (1. C B.
G
\
%
ht
already rofcrred to, tliat the Oonsorvatlve party aro disloyal. It would be criminal b
do so. I l)olit)ve thoy aro as loyal as the Reform party —
Mr. Mkukdith — Hoar! hear!
Mr. Ross. — No le.ss, no more. (Ministerial cheers.)
The only difference is, perhaps, that the Conservative l)arty are more apt, when t\\<
clouds i>f political adversity overshadow them, to seek relief in little petulant ebullition
of temper, such as burning Parliament buildings, rotten-egging a (jlovernor-Genoral, o '
insulting an heir apparent. (Olioers.) Rut when the political sun shine.^ out again, witl,
patronage and pap in his beams, the cockles of ^heir hearts are warmed, they don theii
loyal toggruy. Haunt their coloured ribbons, shoulder their wooden gun, and swaggc
like any F^ilstHlK (Loud applause and laughter.) That description of lip-loyalty is cheap
it costs nothing, and its value is less than its cost. Its value is arrived at by the oli
school-boy rule of "take nothing from nothing and nothing remains." This dcscriptioi
of loyalty., for which the hon. gentleman seems to have taken out a patent, is of th*
sarsaparilla pop variety — a little noiso, a little froth, a littto gas — and all the life am
vitality are gone when the cork is drawn. The residue is dishwater. (Laughter.) Now,
I do not say that the whole of the hon. gentleman's speech was made up of this fustian
Home of it was legitimate argument, and he can be argumentative and logical when hi
likes ; but I do say that the leading characteristic of the speech, was not an effort tc
consider the propositions on their merits, but a set determination to lead the discussion
into party lines, and to have the resolutions treated in a partisan spirit ; and this loyalt)
cry, and waving of the flag episode, was either merely a device to draw a herring acrosi
the scent, or an involuntary drop into an old rut which, from force of habit he could not
resist. So much for this loyalty cry. Let us now get down to business. And before
entering upon that ])ranch of the subject which I intend mainly to deal with — the finan
cial — let mo for a moment touch upon one other of the resolutions. I mean thai, regard
ing reform of the Senate. The Hon. the Attorney-General has frankly admitted that
instead of tlie proposition contained in the resolution, he would have preferred to abolish
the Senate altogether.
In that view many on this side of the House, and no doubt some on that woulc
concur ; but one Province cannot get everything its own way. The Senate was designed
for the protection of the smaller Provinces, not the larger, and for that purpose thev
were given a proportionately larger representation in it. The question is. Is it fulfilling
as now constituted, this main purpose of its existence 1 Is it representative of thf
Provinces 1 No one would have the hardihood to say it is. It is only representative
of the Government and party, who for the time being has the power of making the ap
pointments, and in making the appointments, there has been a glaring and dishonourable
departure from the express p. ^mises and agreement, upon which the consent of the repre
sentatives of Canada was obtained to this mode of appointment. Let me quote the
fourteenth resolution to show the spirit in which it was proposed these appointment.-
should be made.
14. "llu' first selection of the members of the Legislative Cpuncil shall be made, e.xcept as regards
Prince Edward Island, from the Legislative Councils of the various provinces so far as a sufficient number
be found qualified and willing to serve ; such members shall be appointed by the Crown at the recommenda
tion of the CJeneral Executive Government, npon the nomination of the respective Local Governments, and
m such nomination due regard shall be had to the claims of the members of the Legislative Council of the
opposition in each Province, so that all political parties may, as nearly as pos,Hible, Vie fairly represented."
Now, in that resolution the leading objects are : — First. That the Local Govern-
ments in each Province shall have the nomination of who shall be the representatives ol
the Province, and that is reasonable. These Local Governments are constitutionally
and logically presumed to rightly represent the people of the Provinces, and are the best
fitted, therefore, to nominate the Senators who are to represent the Province. Second,
That both political parties shall, as nearly as possible, be fairly represented. But hon,
gentlemen may say. Oh, that was only to apply to the first appointments. But even if
there had been nothing more, it logically follows'; that if it was right and proper that the
Provinces should have the right of nomination in regard to the first appointment, so that
Sense
have
the ai
no m
they
▼ho
been
for fi
■■■IP
criminal V
)t, wlum til'
t obullition
»r-Gonoral, o '
t again, will,
ley don theii
and swaggo
alty is choap
,t by the oli
[is descriptioi
nt, is of tlif
tlie life am
;hter.) Now,
this fustian
cal when \n
t an effort tc
he discussion
il this loyalt}
herring acros-
he could not
And beforf
th — the finan
m thai, regard
"dmitted thai
rred to abolisli
3n that woulc
e was designed
t purpose thev
Is it fulfilling
mtative of the
representative
naking the ap
dishonourabk
it of the reprc
me quote tlu
appointment^
except as regard*
sufficient number
the recoinmenda
jlovernments, and
ive Council of tlie
y represented."
Local Govern-
resentatives ol
onstitutionall}
id are the best
ince. Secontl,
bed. But hon.
But even it
proper that the
itment, so that
the appointees should be actually rfti)resontative, it is equally right and jnoper that they
should have the same right in future appointments ; nlso, if it was (M^uitai)le and fair that
1 all political parties should be fairly repiusented in the first constitution of the Senate, it
. is equitable and fair that this eiiuitablo principle should be carried out in 8ub.sei|uent
appointments.
The lirst essential was, that the Provinces were to have reprc - itation in the Senate,
. and to be rej^resented by men who were jiresumed to bo truly rei)rr;.sentative of the Pro-
vinces for wliich they were uppointed. Tiie s(!Cond was that all political parties were to
be fairly represented in each Provincial contingtfut. Tlu' jiromiso was distinctly given
tliat this was the princijjle which was to govern future aijpointments. Let me read the
promises made by some of these fathers of confederation. Sir E. P. Tache, in contrasting
the piirtizan appointments made between 1841 and 1848, with the manner in which they
proposed to make the appointment, said : —
"Now, honouraltle gentlenion, what was the spirit which actuated the appointnu.'nts to the Council
from 1841 to 1848? It was a H\nrit of partizanship, and wiicro tliere is jjartizanshij) there can Vx; no justice.
(Hear, hear.) Where th<Te is |)artizanship there can he no stability — you can depend ujjon nothinj^. (Hear,
hear.) It is only when justice is rendered to all parties that you can reckon upon stable and peinianent
governinental institutions. (Hear, hear.) To shew the diffin-iMice between the spirit which actuated these
nominations, from 1841 to 1847, and the spirit which exists now, it is only necessary to refer to th(! resolu-
tions of the Conference. Tlie fourteenth resolution says : ' And in such nomination due regard shall be had
to the claims of the members of the Legislative Council of the Opjjosition in each Province, so that all
political parties may, as nearly as possible, be fairly represented.' "'
The Hon. Mr. Oauchon said :—
" The Conference has engaged, by the terms of the scheme, to respect the rights of the Opposition, and
any Government who should fail to o rry out so solemn i.n engagement would well deserve to lose the public
confidence."
Sir Hector Langevin was also indignant that any suspicion should exist that
the appointments v/ould be made from partizan or political motives. Hear what he
eays : —
"That honourable gentleman objects to the appointment of the Legislative Councillors by the Central
Government, and adds that those councillors will be appointed by a Tory Government, and will necessarily
be selected from among the Tories. In making that assertion the honourable member did not act with that
frankness which we are entitled to expect fn^m him. (Hoar, hear.) He hardly alluded, if he did so at all,
to the clause in the resolutions by which the Opposition, in the different parts of the Confederation are pro-
tected. In that clause it is provided that the Central Parliament, in making the appointments ui (luestion,
ahall be careful to watch over the interests of the Ojtposition as well as ovu- those of the Ministerial i)arty.
Now, Mr. Speaker, when a Government binds itself in this way, is it reasonable and fair to believe or to
•uppose that it will break its word, which has been so solemnly i)ledged ? For my part, I am convinced
that the members of the present (Government, should they form part of the Central (Jovernnient, would
lulfil what has been promised, and would watch over the rights of the Opposition as over those of the other
party."
Now, Mr. Speaker, Jiow have these piomi.ses been fulfilled ? Let us see if in any
sense the appointments have been non-partizan, or of men who could be fu rly claimed to
have the confidence of the Provinces they were supposed to represent. I have here a list of
the appointments made to the Senate, during the last tenure f office of the gentlemen in
power at Ottawa now, 1878 to the present. It includes only those in the Senate now. It
would have been more striking even, if it included those who had been appointed and
«ither died or vacated office during this time, but as it is, it is amply sufficient for my
purpose. I find there are thirty-one Senators sitting at Ottawa now appointed during
that time, thirty Conservatives and one Liberal. (Cheers.) It is the exception that
proves the rule, and the one Liberal proves that it is the rule to ignore the Liberal
party in these appointments. Then let us see if those appointed, could be claimed to be
men whom the Provinces desired. Surely if it is the Provinces that are to bo represented,
no man ought be appointed that the people of the Provinces have distinctly declared
they have no confidence in. And yet we find that out of these thirty Conservatives,
▼ho were appointed for life to represent the respective Provinces, eight of them had
been distinctly told by the people of the Provinces, that they could not trust them even
for five years. (Hear, hear.)
i^ t *■ •»»■■
8
4
Thus Mr. J. B. Plumb was made a Senator in February, 1883, having been defeated
at the previous general election but a few months past. Mr. O'Donohoe had been made
a Senator after being rejected three times by the peo})le.
Mr. Mkredith — A Grit candidate.
Mr. Ross said that Mr. O'Donohoe was considered a very good Conservative when
he Avas appointed, and until he attacked Sir John for breaking his promises to liim,
and Mr. O'Donohoe was a leading Conservative missionar}'^ in the local elections
of 1883.
Then there was Mr. J. G. Ross, who was raised to the Senate after beimr twice
rejected by tlie people.
Mr. Mkredith — He was not defeated. He was a member of the Legisl.itivo
•Coimeil.
Mr. Ross — The hon. gentleman is mistaken. T find this recoi-d in The Parliamen-
tary Companion, "Unsuccessful candidate; at general elections in 1873 ami 1878."
(Cheers.)
Mr. Merner, of Waterloo, was defeated twice in Parliamentary elections, in 1877
and in 1882, but was thought fit to be a life Senator in 1887.
I need not go over the rest of the list, amongst whom I might name Sullivan, and
Shultz, but I ask can these men be fairly held to properly represent a Province for life
in which they could not find a constituency willing to trust them for even five years ?
Will any man say that a senate so constituted and with sucli a rcjcord does not ro(iuire
reform ? The resolution proposed to the House is not arbitrary. It says, " in o.ise no
other early remedy is provided " the proposed manner of appointment should be adopted,
and the manner in which the Province should choose its quota is not defined, but left
open for consideration and arrangement.
]\Ir. Speaker, I will now proceed to the consideration of the seventeenth resolution. I
regret that the criticisms on the financial propositions in the resolutions, both from the hon-
oural)le member for London and the honourable member from Toronto, have been of tio
frivolous and unsubstantial a character, that I have almost to apologize to the House
for referring or replying to them. What was the honourable member for Toronto's
criticisms 1 That when the population of the Dominion doubled, the Federal Government
would be embarrassed by the enormous amount of $7,819,817, as subsidies under the
proposition in the resolutions instead of the $4,182,000 which is paid now, and that the
Dominion Government would then be charged with extravagance in consequence of this
increase. Well, Mr. Speaker, the date fixed by the honoui-able member is so remote that
neither we, nor our children, nor perhaps our grandchildren, will survive to wrestle
with tlie difficulty. If the population of the Dominion increases but at the same rate
as during the last ten or twenty years, it will be seventy years before we are called
upon to deal with this problem. But if we must look so far into futurity, and exercise
ourselves over the problems our grandchildren may have to solve, I will propound a few
others, which they will have to grapple with. For instance, if the taxation of the
Dominion increases during these next seventy years as rapidly as during the past ten
years, it will then amount to $105,000,000 per annum, instead of the $28,000,000 it is
now. (Hear, hear.) If by i)ersistence in the same folly and extravagance, the expendi-
ture at Ottawa increases at the same rate it has in the past, it will, in seventy years,
amonnf to $122,000,000 a year, and if by continued recklessness the debt goes on piling
up at the same rate, it will amount then to $670,000,000 ; and then amongst all this
taxation, expenditure and debt, the paltry three million or so of extra subsidy will be the
tiniest drop in the bucket. (Cheers.) The fact is that the honourable gentleman's only
criticism is so ridiculous that he is constrained to laugh at it himself. (Cheers.) The
honourable member for London's equally visionary criticism I will refer to later on.
The financial basis of Confederation, and the general principle upon which the
subsidies to the different Provinces was arranged, kept in view the claim of the smaller
Provinces to special consideration. The specific grants for civil government, and
legislation, were not upon a scale of a uniform rate upon po]mlation, but the grants to
the smaller Provinces were made proportionately larger, recognizing that these services
«
gn
suosic
the Ii
violat(
of $5[
to be ]
Scotia
Bruuf
indem
had b
leviecf
St.atef
the ei
to
the
tliis
recii)i|
and il
to$G[
was
this
Was
this
fact
Newi
SUhsj
giveil
yearl
grar
Map
9
n defeated
)een made
itive whfin
es to liiiu,
elections
eiii'j: twice
Legislative
Parlianicn-
and 1878."
would necessarily be higher proportionately to population, than in the larger Provinces
The original grants and subsidies to the four Provinces then confederated were : —
IS. in
1877
ullivau, and
ince for life
I livi^ years ?
; not reciuire
" in e.ise no
be adopted,
led, but left
ssolution. I
TOm the hon-
ve been of tio
to the House
?or Toronto's
L Government
es under the
and that the
nience of this
io remote that
re to wrestle
bhe same rate
we are called
, and exercise
'opound a few
cation of the
the past ten
sOOO,000 it is
, the expendi-
seventy years,
goes on piling
longst all this
idy will be the
iitlenian's onlv
Cheers.) The
later on.
loii which the
of the smaller
vernment, and
■j the grants to
these services
Ontario
Quebec
Nova Hcotia . . . .
New Brunswick
Population.
l,.'^90,0!)l
1,111,5%
.338,857
25-.»,047
Subsidy.
80c. a head.
Allowance for Civil
Government ;ind
Legislation.
Sl,110,872 '
889,252
:^31,085
201,C.S7
$80,000
70,000
G0,000
a
50,000
Thes(! wen; to be final and unalterable. 1 hey were to be lixed liy an Imperial
statute whicli Canada was sujjposed to have no power to alter or amend. This w;is the
promise that was definitely made to Canada's representatives when the scheme was
submitted, and they were accepted as a finality. But hardly was the ink dry, before
demands were made on the Dominion by other Provinces for a readjustment of their
subsidies, and for special grants to individual Provinces, beyond the sums agreed to in
the Imperial Act. These demands were acceded to, and the sanctity of the compact wa&
violated, and set at naught. First we had Nova Scotia in 1869, when a special grant
of ii^59,337 of additional subsidy was granted her for ten years, and this was again declared
to he final, and to for ever free Canada from all claims in the future on the part of Nova
Scotia.
Then in 1873 an increased subsidy of $150,000 per annum was granted to New
Brunswick. It is true this was proposed and granted under the colourable pretext of
indemnity for abolishing the export dues on lumber at St. J ohn, the right to levy which
had been preserved to the Province by the B. N. A. Act. A portion of these duties were
levied upon lumber in transit from the upper waters of the St. John river, situate in the
State of Maine. Under the Washington treaty, New Brunswick was obliged to forego
the export duty on this American lumber, and the opportunity was taken advantage of
to give to New Brunswick a substantial increase of subsidy, far beyond any loss which
the abolition of this ex])ort duty entailed upon her. It was shewn in the debate upon
this question ; that the total amount of duty collected by New Brunswick before the
reciprocity treaty V)f 1854 went into operation was in 1853, $79,000 ; in 1854, $82,000;
and in 1855 after the treaty went into operation, the amount collected was only reduced
to $G5.922, showing only a loss of $17,000. Mr. Tilley estimated the loss at $20,000. It
was also stated that some lumber was cut in the Province of Quebec and floated down, but
this was a very uncertain quantity. The highest estimate of the loss to New Brunswick
was $30,000 yet she was granted $150,000 a year for ever, as indemnity for the loss of
this $30,000, which, in the natural course of a few years, would be exhausted. The
fact was, New Brunswick was in straightened circumstances, the political support of
New Brunswick was desired by the GovcrnnKJut, and some excuse for an increased
8Ul)sidy hati to lie found.
During this same year the balance, of debt of old (Canada (Ontario and Quebec),
$10,500,088 was assumed by the Dominion, and pro|)ortionate increases were carefully
given to all the other Provinces.
In the same year the tempotary increase of $59,337 granted to Nova Scotia for ten
years was made permanent.
In 1876 an increased subsidy of $2G,74G was granted to Manitoba for six yiiars.
And in 1879 Manitoba's subsidy was again increased by $1.^,053 per annum.
Again in 1882 a further annual increase was given to Manitoli.i df $109,347. Her
grant for civil government and legislation, was rn'spd from $13,000 to. $.")(),000, and the
10
4
i
80 cents per head was allowhd upon a fictitious population of 150,000, while the actual
population by the census of the previous year was only 65,954, and an annual grant of
$45,000 j)er annum was given her in lieu of public lands.
In 1884 a return was made to Ontario and Quebec of the interest which tliey had
paid to the Dominion on the surplus debt of .$10,506,000 assumed by the Act of 1873,
and again scrupulous care was taken to give all the other Provinces a full equivalent. —
Hon. gentlemen opposite say much more than a full equivalent. I may here say that the
only modification of the original terms of Confederation, made in favour of Ontario, and
the only advantage she has derived from any such modification is through this assump-
tion of the surplus debt of Canada, for which a full proportionate advantage was secured
to all the other Provinces. While every other Province has, through various pretexts
been granted special allowances and increases, for which no equivalent has been granted to
Ontario. In other words, Ontario has never received any special or exclusive assistance
or allowance., while she has been obliged to contribute to special increases given to eveiy
one of the other Provinces.
During the same year a special grant was given to Quebec of $2,396,000 as reim-
bursement of Provincial aid or bonus, given to a local railroad, on the plea that it was
not purely a local work, but of general advantage to the Dominion, while Ontario was
refused allowance of a single dollar in return of all the aid she had given, both through
the Provincial Treasury and the municipalities to the construction of railroads, which the
Dominion declared by the Act of 1882 assuming them, were also for the general
advantage of the Dominion. The circumstances of the Quebec grant are well known. It
was the result of the celebrated revolt in room number eight, when the Quebec contingent
supporting the Government took the stand, that the Canadian Pacific resolutions provid-
ing for the grant or loan of thirty millions, should not go through unless Quebec got
this subsidy,
By the Act of 1885, Manitoba was again granted important additional subsidies.
1st. She was granted all the swamp lands ii the Province.
2nd. She was granted 150,000 acres of good land to endow her University.
3rd. The allowance for want of public lands was increased from $45,000 to $100,000
per annum.
4th. The 80 cents per head allowed for subsidy was to be allowed on her increasing
population, as shown bv censns every five years, instead of ten, until her population
reached 400,000.
5th. $3,113,333 was added to her capital, upon which she was to receive interest*
This is equal to an additional annual subsidy of $155,666, So that, altogether, besides tha
lands gr.inted, this statute gave her an additional cash subsidy of $210,000 per annum.
Let me say here, that we must iji justice recognize that Manitoba and British
Columbia, new provinces in the embryo state, can hardly be treated exactly on the same
lines as tlie old provinces, but the tinancial concessions made to Manitoba have been more
than generous — they have been lavish. While it was generally recognized that Manitoba
was entitled to some recognition on account of not having been given the public lands in
the province, that recognition by the grant of $100,000 per annum in ppri)etuity in lieu
of lands, has placed her in a far bettor position than if she had been given tiie lands, and far
better than any other province that has the control of its lands. The $100,000 annually
granted by the Dominion is equal to $1.50 per head of her population. Ontario's gross
receipts from her lands only aviirages her about 40c. per head, and out ot this has to be
taken the costs of survey, sale and management; while Manitoba gets her $100,000 clear
without any expenses of management to deduct. Why, if Manitoba had been given all
the lands in the i)rovince, and managed them as the Dominion has done, she would not
have a dollar of clear revenue from thfnn. The same remark will apply to the extravagant
grant of $100,000 per annum given to British Columbia for the land in that Province
taken for the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Lastly, in 1887, an additional annual grant of $20,000 per annum was given to Pr'":;e
Edward Island.
*
was
also
fouii
purJ
revel
the
chan
Prol
4seiu|
whel
und{
fedel
howl
from
Adnif
revf
the
to t|
Oth(
11
the actual
I grant of
they had
ot 1873,
ivalent. —
y that the
itario, and
is assump-
as secured
LIS pretexts
granted to
assistance
,n to every
as reim-
hat it was
)ntario was
)th through
, which the
bhe general
known. It
c contingent
ions provid-
Quebec got
ibsidies.
to $100,000
.er increasing
3r population
jive interest"
ir, besides the
jr annum.
and British
on the same
ive been more
hat Manitoba
iblic lauds in
letuity in lieu
lands, and far
,000 annually
Ontario's gross
this has to be
pi 00,000 clear
been given all
she would not
re extravagant
that Province
riven to Prr ^e
Now, Mr. Speaker, in reciting these various additional grants and subsidies, I am
not arguing, that iii every case they weie unjustifiable, corrujit, or unnecessary. The
impecunious position of some of the provinces, in some cases necessitated relief in some
form from their fin;tiicial embarrassment, and the political exigencies of the Federal govern-
ment made it difficult to resist the demands ; but my purpose is to point out that such a
system of capricious assistance, is pernicious in principle, improvident in its effects, and has
been decidedly unjust to Ontario. (Applause).
Then there has been another system of subsidies that has also been doing injustice to
Ont u'io. I mean railway subsidies. I have on a former occasion directed the attention of
the House to this subject ; but since then, another year's operation of this unjust system
has but aggravated the injustice to this Province. The total railway subsidies for local
raihva}.~=, voted by the Dominion since the assumption of local railways by the Dominion in
1882, has been $21,027,365, of which the votes to Ontario railways amount to $3,641,200 ;
to Quebec, $11,768,505 ; Nova Scotia, $2,711,000; New Brunswick, $3,500,600. From
which it will be seen that the small province of New Brunswick, with a population of but
321,000, has got as much as Ontario, and the Province of Quebec, although less in popu-
lation, nearly four times as much, although it is unnecessary to remind the House that this
province contributes the largest part to the Federal exchequer from which these grants are
paid.
Now, the honourable the leader of the Opposition has taken the ground, that it was
not profitable for Ontario to seek increase of the subsidies, for the reason that Ontario was
now paying two-thirds of the revenue of the Dominion, and therefore she would lose more
than she would gain by such an increase. (Hear, hear, from the Opposition.)
Honourable gentlemen say hear, hear, from which it appears that they commit themselves
■definitely to that opinion. So much the worse for them. (Government applause.) The
honouraiole gentleman had quoted from a speech of the Honourable Mr. Mackenzie in
support of ins statement. Now, the honourable gentleman was not dealing frankly or
candidly with the House. No man understanding the English language could read Mr.
Mackenzie's words and say he was referring in the quotation given, to Ontario's contribu-
tions under Confederation, but to her position in the old union, from which Confederation
is supposed to have f I'eed her. Let me read the quotation. *' It was the constant complaint
of the Upper Province jjrior to 1867 that we were subjected to undue influences as a people ;
we weie, unlike our French friends in the Lower Province, unable to unite when sectional
interests became a matter of dispute, while they were able by their unity to overwhelm a
majoiity from the western division, when aided by a small minority from the west. This
was also the case in other matters besides the merely political measures of the time. It
also placed us in an inferior position financially. We contributed from two-thirds to three-
fouitlis of the taxation of the country, and we were always unable to obtain for local
puipuses such as v»e tax ourselves for now under the present system half of the entire
revenue of the United Province. This teas the condition of affairs that, independent of
the other, and hi my opinion the 2)aramotinf object — the political one — required to be
<:hanged, and I believe the chamje effected in both respects bi/ the Confederation of the
Provinces was one that loas extreinehi henejicial to us as a Province"
Now, I ask, was the hoi.ourable gentleman dealing candiiUy by the House in re])re-
48enting Mr. Mackenzie as saying that we were paying two-thirds under Confederation,
when his remarks were clearly referring to the injustice from which Ontario sufleied
under the old system prior to Confederation, and from which Mr. Mackenzie said Con-
federation had relieved us.
Mr. Meredith. — Does the honourable gentleman say we are not i)aying two thirds'?
Mr. Ross. — Does the honourable gentlemen say we are? He apparently does. If so,
how is it that he has remained quiescent and silent so long under the enormous injustice
from which the province has been suffering? (Cheers.) The honourable gentleman
admits that in his opinion Ontario under Cenfederation has been paying two-thirds of the
revenue, and the accounts show that we have not been receiving even nearly one-half of
the expenditure ; that, according to his own belief, Ontario has been contributing two-thirds
to the enormous expenditure undertaken by the Dominion, mainly for the benefit of the
other province^j and in which Ontario has but a minor interest, and that he has never
a m I i nr ii j t - m i III I II .-..<—
12
raised his voice against this injustice. (Hear,hear.) The honourable gentleman has definitely
taken that position. Let him maintain before the people that he has been doing his duty,
if he can. Let us refer to some of the Dominion expenditures of which, according to the
honourable gentleman's contention, Ontario has been paying two-thirds. First, the nett
debt of the Dominion is placed at $227,000,000, and, according to the honourable gentle-
man's contention, Ontario must shoulder $151,000,000 of that enormous burden saddled
upon the people by the extravagance and folly of <"he honourable gentleman's friemls.
(Hear, hear). Then, for the Intercolonial Railway, in which Ontario had but little direct
interest, $32,000,000 was spent, of which, according to the honourable gentleman's belief,
Ontario contril)Uted $21,000,000. Then the protection of the fisheries on the seacoast cost
lis annually $1:15,000. Although Ontario had no direct interest, yet the hon. gentleman says
Ontario has to pay $270,000 a-year towards this service. Take the Dominion expenditure
for immigration, mainly for the purpose of filling up the North- West, $402,000 annually
is spent ; and although to the Ontario farmer this directly has the effect of bringing large
quantities of cheap western grown wheat in direct competition with his own product jind
forcing down its ])rice, yet, according to the honourable gentleman, the Ontario fann^^r
contributi's $318,000 of this amount to create competition with himself.
Mr. Meheuith here interrupted Mr. Ros.s, and stated that a serious charge had
been made agiinst him to the efl'ect that he had misled the house in regard to Mr. Mac-
kenzie's words which he had quoted, as to Ontario paying two-thirds of the revenue.
He l)egg(!d to quote again from Mr. Mackenzie, who, in his budget speech in 1872, said,
'• There can i)e no question that the larger and wealthier portion of every country will
always have to contril>ute c ansider.ibly more tlian its share towanls the public expenses
involved in the administration of its affairs."
Hon. Mr. Ross. — Well, upon my word, Mr. Speaker, I sat down with fear jind tremb-
ling, thinking I was to be squelched and annihilated by some conclusive quotation from
Mr. Mackenzie, (Loud cheers). Had anybody ever disputed that Ontario being the
larger Province was [)aying a larger share to the dominion revenue than any other Pro-
vince ■? I have myself again and again found fault with the manner in which Ontario
was treated, that being the largest Province it was contributing more than the others,
and getting less in proportion than they, and while we on this side were protesting
against this injustice, the honourable gentleman was dumb and gave us no assistance,
but excused his friends by reminding us that we were building up a great Domin-
ion. But the quotation which the honourable gentleman now gave, did not
help him out of the awkward position he had placed himself in. It did not
relieve him from the charge ; that he had quoted Mr. Mackenzie ari stating that
the Province at the present time contributed two-thirds of the revenue of the Dominion,
though he must liave known when he did so that the quotation had reference to the
position of the Province before Confederation. (Cheers). When I was inteiTupted by the
hon. gentleman I was giving some instances of how Ontario was being bled if the hon.
gentleman's two-thiid estimate was correct. I have a few more to give. Take the case
of the Dominion Li(|U(»r License Act, uuder which the Dominion sought to deprive this
Province of its jurisdiction and revenue. The abortive attempt cose $150,000, and
according to the hon. gentleman, Ontario had to (iontribute $100,000 of it towards the
attempt at her own despoilment. (Hear, hear.) Then the Franchise Act, condemned even
by hon. gentlemen opposite, cost $400,000. Ontario's contribution on the two-thirds
rule would be $200,000 of that. The North-West rebellion co.st $5,000,000. Ontario
was obliged to pay $3,300,000 of that as the result of the " cruel neglect and incom-
petence which brouglit that about." The Canadian Pacific Railway liad received in cash
$62,000,000, mainly for the opening up and benefit of Manitoba and British Columbia.
If the hoa. gentleman's calculation was correct Ontario had contributed $40,000,000 of
that. Then in the matter of the present subsidie.s, accordinar to the hon. gentleman's
contention, of the $4,182,000 now paid to the several provinces, Ontario was contributing
$2,788,000, and as she was only receiving $1,339,287, fihe was actually, under present
arrangement, paying more than two dollars for every dollar she received. And yet the
hon. gentleman has been criminally silent, and never raised his voice until now on behalf
of Ontario. Has the hon. gentleman acted as a •' true son of Ontario]" (cheeis) i.i re-
otH
rei
amd
the!
turf
If
in
Gol
hal
peif
lo|
arl
13
nitely
dvity,
to the
le uett
gentlo-
addled
Vieuils.
e (lireot
. belief,
ist cost
nan says
nditure
in nil ally
w^ lar^e
net itud
fanii'^r
avge had
Mr. Mac-
revenue.
872, said,
mtry will
expenses
nd tremb-
ition from
being the
other Pro-
ch Ont;»rio
the others,
protesting
assistance,
;at Domin-
, did not
;t did not
bating tliat
Dominion,
3nce to the
pted by the
if the hon.
ike the case
deprive this
50,000, and
towards the
iemned even
? two-thirds
)0. Ontario
and inoom-
(ived in cash
ih Columbia.
3,000,000 of
tientleman's
contributing
nder present
And yet the
ow on bidialf
;heei's) ii re-
maining silent and dumb, and not making any effort or jjrotest to have his Province
relieved of this terrrible burden? But now, forsooth, that they had a proposition, that
if accepted and acted upon, would place Ontario in a better position than ever before,
which would for the first time give recognition of her larger and increasing population,
he asks, " Is it politic for you to ask for or consent to an increase because you are
already [)aying more than you receive 1 " (Applause) Now, considering the proportion
which he believes Ontario pays, either the long continued silence of the hon. gentleman
was criminal, or he is insincere in raising his voice at the present time. (Cheers.) Now,
Mr, Speaker, coming back to the consideration of the manner in which year after year
the original terms of Confederation have been interfered with, I desire to say that these
repeated breaches of the original compact, are in direct opposition to the pledges made
when the Provinces were invited to accede to the terms of Confederation. The Pro-
vinces were given clearly to understand that the terms proposed were to be final. The
hon. gentleman had quoted the Hon. George Brown in favor of the Provinces meeting
increased expenditure from local sources, but he never quoted him when the special
grants were being made to the other Provinces. I will read to the House the same
quotation, showing Mr. Brown clearly conceived the subsidies fixed and final, and if
Provinces were extravagant they had tc take the consequences. Mr. Brown had said : —
" We have also complained that immense sums of public money have been sy.steniatically taken from
the jniblic chest for local purjioses of Lower Canada, in which tlie people of Upper Canada had no interest
whatever, though compelled to contribute three-fourths of the cash. Well, sir, this scheme banishes all
that. All local matters are to be banisiied from the general Legislature; Local <iovernments are to have
control over local affairs, and if our friends in Lower Canada choose to be extravagant, they will have to
bear the burden of it themselves. No longer shall we have to complain that one section pays the cash while
the other spends it; hereafter they wlio pay will si)end, and they who spend more than they ought will have
to bear the brunt. Let this, too, ever be kept in mind that the §2,0.30,000 to be distributed to the Local
Governments from the federal chest is to be in full and final extinguishment of all claims hereafter for local
purposes ; and that if this from any cause does not suffice, the Local Governments must supply all deficien-
cies from direct tax on their own localities. "
Now, Ontario would not have objected if the Provinces had all been thrown on
their own resources. What Ontario did object to was, that when the other Provinces
got into difficulties, the Dominion had granted them relief out of the common capital.
And thoughtful men in all the Provinces are beginning to recognize that this state of
things cannot continue, that fliis capricious system of aiding the Provinces is improvident
and demoralizing. That if Confederation is to be maintained, the aid granted ir^.n the
Dominion exchequer must be based upon some well defined, fixed and equitable principle,
which in some measure will accommodate itself to the growth of population, and the
relative positions that the different Provinces occupy in the partnership, and which
will be absolutely final.
To show clearly that the original terms were intended to be final, let me quote two
others of the promoters of Confederation. Mr. Gait, the then Finance Minister, said, as
reported in the Confederation debates : —
"And it must be observed that the agreement does not contemplate any future extension of this
amount. It is hoped that being in itself fixed and permanent in its character, the local government will see
the importance— I may say the necessity — of their exercising a rigid and proper control over the expendi-
ture of their several Provinces."
Hon. D'Arcy McGee also gave assurances of finality in the following words : —
" These details are before you. It is not in our power to alter any of them even if the House desires it.
If the House desires, it can reject the treaty, but we cannot, nor can the other Provinces whicli took part
in the negotiation, consent that it shall be altered in the slightest particular. * * We go to the Imperial
Government, the common arbiter of us all — we go there to ask for our fundamental charter. We hoi)e by
having that charter, that can only be amended by the authority that made it, that we will lay the basis of
permanency for our future government. "
Ontario would, I believe, have been content to abide by the original terms of the
Confederation Act, if it had been adhered to in regard to the other provinces. She has
been prudent and economical in the administration of her finances. She has educated her
people to a large measure of local municipal government, and provision by local taxation for
local needs, and has thus relieved the provincial treasury from many expenditures v, hich
are defrayed in other provinces from provincial revenues. The result is, that she has not
14
i
undertaken obligations that have involved her in debt, and she has been able to restrain
her expenditure within the limits of her resources ; while nearly all the other provinces
have been in financial difficulties through their almost entire assumption of all local expen-
ditures by the province, and instead of seeking I'elief by an extension of the municipal
system, and local taxation, as is in operation in Ontario, they have sought relief by drafts
upon the Federal treasury. The fact is, that Ontario's prudent management and her self-
reliant system has been used against her to her detriment. She is the frugal partner who
has confined her personal expenditure within her allotted allowance, who has compelled
every member of her family to contribute to the household expenses, and has thus been
able to pay her way. While her more improvident partners, through an over-indulgent
paternal liberality, have not only fed and clothed the grown-up members of the family,
but supplied even the pin money from the partnership allowance ; and when financial
difficulty and debt result, ask special relief out of the partnership capital.
It seems to be believed by many in the other provinces, that Ontario's better financial
position to-day, as compared with the other provinces, is in some way due to some advan-
tage which she obtained in the Confederation scheme. A comparison of what is done by
the Government and municipalities respectively, in this and the other provinces, may help
to dispel this erroneous impression ; and I think, therefore, it will not be amiss to
direct the attention of the House to what our people in Ontario do through their munici-
pal councils, and the amount of local taxation they impose upon themselves, and also try,
if possible, to gain some idea of what is done in the other provinces in the same way. I
confess that the information 1 have been able to obtain in regard to the other provinces is
limited, and not as satisfactory as I could wish. 1 should have been glad if I had been
able to give the House some full and accurate information, as to the municipal expenditure
in the other provinces. I have made an endeavour to find that out, but the information
obtained is, I must say, meagre and incomplete. I have not been able to find any pub-
lished reports of municipal receipts or expenditures in any of the sessional papers of the
other provinces, but I addressed communications to a number of the treasurers of
counties in Quebec and the maritime provinces, asking for copies of any published or
printed statements of their municipal receipts and expenditures. The response has been
very meagre. In most cases the reply has been, " No such reports have been printed or
arc on hand." In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick they sefim to have county municipa-
lities, and a few of their more important towns and cities have municipal organization, but
they do not appear to have any township municipalities. The whole municipal manage-
ment, outside of the cities and towns, appears to be through the county council, and covers
— so far as they are covered at all — all the classes of expenditure dealt with in Ontario
both by county, township and village councils.
I have not much information as to the municipal system in operation in Quebec. It
must, I think, be very limited as compared with Ontario, as the only response to a number
of requests for copies of receipts and expenditures addressed to treasurers of counties, was
from the County of Le Islet, the treasurer of which says, " they have no printed reports,
but that last year the receipts of the county ware $90, and the expenditure the same."
In Piince Edward Island they have neither county or township municipalities. The
only municipal corporations in the province are the towns of Charlottetown and
Summerside.
But even the material we have, meagre although it is, affords some dati for compari-
son. Taking the counties of Kent, in New Brunswick, and Pictou, Lunenburg and Inver-
ness, in Nova Scotia — the only ones from whom I have received statements of receipts and
expenditures — as examples of county financial operations in these provinces, a mere state-
ment of their expenditures, as compared with Ontario counties, will aflford a striking illus-
tration of the extent and magnitude of the work doue through our municipalities, as
contrasted with the limited scope and application of the system of municipal government
and expenditure in these provinces.
The County of Kent, with a population in 1881 of 22,618, shews a total municipal
expenditure of $12,231, of which over one-half, or $6,693, is for schools, but nothing for
roads and bridges. There are no minor municipalities in this county ; and here let me
ask you to bear in mind, that the expenditure which I quote for these counties is the total
not in
$29,0(
given
safely
appar
Ontar
to, qi
the
unor^
shewj
contir
Provj
9243
Ph)vi
and
15
restrain
■ovinces-
expen-
unicipal
ly driifts
lier self-
ner who
mpelled
us been
[idulgcnt
e family,
inancial
financial
le ad van-
done by
may help
amiss to
r munici-
also try,
e way. I
ovinces is
had been
:penditure
iforraation
any pub-
ers of the
asurers of
iblished or
J lias been
printed or
mnnicipa-
zation, but
il manage-
and covers
in Ontario
juebec. It
a number
unties, was
ted reports,
e same."
ities. The
3town and
lor compari-
f and Inver-
reseipts and
mere state-
riking illus-
ipalities, as
government
1 municipal
nothing for
here let me
I is the total
municipal expenditure in the counties, and is not supplemented by any township expendi-
ture within the county, as in Ontario. It represents the total county or rural taxation.
The expenditure of the County of F'ictou, with a population of 35,53r), is $32,849, of
which $10,660 is for schools, and nothing Tov roads and bridges. Included in this county
are two town municipalities, Pictou and Xew Olasgow, the local assessments of which,
apart from the county, I have not been able to ascertain. If we assume these as $10,000,
we have .$42,819 as the total municipal expenditure in this county.
The County of LunenVmrg, in N. S., having a population of 28,583, gives a total
county expendit- ve of $12,249, of which $6,780 is for schools, and $232 for roads. This
county contains one minor municipality, the district of Chester, with a population of 2,974.
I do not know what its municipal expenditure is, but I see in the county statement, Chester
credited with its proportion of the county expenditure for administration of justice, as
$149 out of $798, and I should therefore suppose .$4,000 a liberal allowance for its local
taxation. This would give a total for that county of $16,249.
My information from the County of Inverness, N. S., merely gives the total municipal
expenditure as .$18,248, with no other detail. Its population is 25,651.
Now, taking the County of Kent, in N. B , as illustrative of the municipalities in that
province, it would indicate a municipal expenditure of 54 cents per head of the population,
outside of city expenditure, which I eliminate from my comparisons.
The three counties in Nova Scotia, in the same way, would indicate a total municipal
expenditure, outside of citie^^, of 86 cents per head, and the average expenditure for each
county would be $25,782.
Let us see, now, what the municipal statistics of Ontario show, and for this I take
the municipal returns of 1883, as we have no tabulated returns of a later date.
Our total municipal expenditure foots up $14,325,000, equal to $7.50 per head of our
population, but this includes cities. Deducting city expenditure, $4,679,000, leaves
$9,646,000 as the expenditure in the counties, which gives an average municipal expen-
diture to each county of .$219,227, equal to $5.94 per head. But as our counties are larger
in Ontario, averaging a population ot" 38,000, while those in Nova Scotia and New Bruns-
wick, with which we are making comparisons, average about 30,000, the comparison would
give $170,000 as the municipal expenditure for a county of the same size as those in these
provinces, against their expenditure of $25,000 for a similar county, and a rate per head
of only 86 cents against ours of .$5.94.
The two largest items of municipal expenditure in Ontario are for schools and roads
and bridges. It may be instructive to see the expenditure for these two services
relatively in Ontario and the L:,wer Provinces, both by the Provincial Government and
by the people through local municipal taxation.
First as to roads and bridges. The municipal expenditure in Ontario for these,
not including city expenditure is $1,176,878, equal to an expenditure in each County of
$29,000, or 61 cents per head of the population. I think from the information already
given as gathered from the statements received "/rom the Maritime Provinces, it may
safely be sa'.d they have practically no municipal expenditure for this purpose. The only
apparant local contribution to roads and bridges is by statute labour, but as we in
Ontario htue a statute labour system outside of the municipal taxation above referred,
to, quite as onerous as in the other Provinces, I do not include that in the comparison.
Secondly, let us see what is the Government expenditure for roads and bridges in
the several Provinces.
In Ontario the expenditure is confined exclusively to colonization roads in new and
unorganized districts, and was last year $123,000. In Quebec, the last public accounts
shews an expenditure by Government of $161,205 mainly for colonization roads but not
contlned to these wholly, but embracing expenditure on roads in old settled parts of the.
Province.
In Nova Scotia the expenditure by the Provincial Government in 1886 wa»
$243,803, which apparently covers all road and bridges expenditure in rural parts of the
Province both for construction and repairs.
In New Brunswick the Government expenditure was $165,609 for local roads
and bridges.
16
i
I
In Prince Edward Island §40,000 was similarly expended by thu Government.
Taking this expenditure on the basis of population, it shews an expenditure Uy
Government for roads and bridges of 6J cents per head in Ontario. In Quebec 1 1^ ccmts.
In Nova Scotia, 55 cents. In New Brunswick, 53 cents, and Prince Edward Island,
37 cents. Taking the average of the Maritime Provinces it shevvs a Government expendi-
ture of 50 cents, and no municipal ; against a Government expenditure in Ontario of G^
cents, and a municipal expenditure of 61 cents. Now, if Ontario had been s]>ending 50
cents a head for local roads and bridges as in the lower Provinces, it would have added
$846,000 annually to her expenditure, and I fear her position would be similar to that
of the other Provinces. She would have no surplus and a respectable debt. (Hear, hear).
Let us now examine the expenditure for schools under the Public School system
which does not include colleges, or universities in any of the Provinces. The total
educational expenditure in Ontario is given in the Educational Report for 1885, as by
Government, 8533,564 ; by local contribution, $3,451,989, or a total of $3,985,553; but
the information in the educational reports of the other Provinces only enables me to
make a fair comparison of the amounts contributed by Government and local assessment
respectively, directly for Public School purposes. Within this limitation Ontario's con-
tributions have been : Government grant to Public Schools, $350,587 ; municipal
assessment, S2, 922, 003 ; or taking the population basis, the Government in Ontario
contributed 18 cents per head towards the support of Public Schools, and the munici-
palities $1.52, or in the proportion of 1 to 8.
In Quebec, the total Government grant to education is $344,735. The direct allot-
ment of this to Public Schools is $249,417. The municipal contributions $777,178, or
on the basis of population the Government grant is 18 cents per head — the same as in'
Ontario — and the municipal assessment 57 cents, as against $1.52 in Ontario.
In Nova Scotia, the total educational expenditure disbursed by the Province i.s
$209,833. The direct grants to Public Schools, $199,119; and the local assessments in
support of the same $442,331, equal to 45 cents per head by Government and $1 by
the municipalities.
In New Brunswick, total to education is, Government, $153,925 ; of which $132,493
is direct grants to Public Schools, and the assessments or local aid is $94,507, or
Government 4 1 cents per head ; municipal 30, cents.
The Government of Prince Edward Island devote $111,992 to support of education,
^101,335 of which goes in grants to public schools, and the municipal assessments amount
to $36,786. The government contribution equaling 93 cents per head, and the muni-
cipal 33 cents. The average government contribution in the Maritime Provinces is
therefore 50 cents per head, and the average municipal, 65 cents. The government
grants in Ontario being but 18 cents a head, it will be seen that the grants in the
Maritime Provinces are 32 cents a head larger than in Ontario.
Now if Ontario had since Confederation been pursuing the policy of these lower
Provinces, and relieved the people of their municipal taxation for schools by 32 cents
a head more than she has already done, instead of being in the position she is in to-day
with a surplus in her treasury, she would have found that surplus wiped out years ago,
and would have saddled herself with a debt of five or six millions instead. It is but
just to say, however, in this connection, that no charge of extravagance in excenditurt
can justly be made against the people of the Maritime Provinces. They are economical
and careful both in provincial and municipal expenditure. Their error has been in the
Government assuming too large a proportion of purely local work. It is also but just
to say that in one particular, the maintenance of the insane, both in Nova Scotia and
in Quebec, they have made provision for throwing a portion of the cost upon the munici
palities, while we in Ontario throw the whole cost on the Government.
I have thought it opportune to bring these comparisons before the notice of tht
House, because it seems to be accepted as a settled belief by the people of the other
Provinces that the terms of Confederation were exceptionally favorable to Ontario, anti
that her better financial position to-day is due more to some advantage which she ob
tained over the other Provinces rather than to her economical administration, hei
prudence in limiting her expenditure to her revenue, and to the more thorough appreciatioi:
and ac
luie, \*
|n the
ihared
could
unfairi]
to one
as she
this syi
relati')]
€onfe i
jbeople
I belie
if any
at the
to reac
vincial
scale ol
of the
existin;
workin
dissatis
res pons
at the (
and tli(
require
adopte(
proval
and at
arrang
the oi-f
to e icl
federal
of tht
Provii
these
these
after til
the an if
could
Fikiand
vices al
the totf
mentsl
thein,f
the ml
causiil
dang<r
hand J
be mj
.«Ourc
■Qppl
Ocall
«du|
Jrea
•rtl
ibcel
17
Inment.
idituro by
llj c<;nts.
t,rd Island,
it ex|»eiicU-
Itario of 0^
jpendinjj 50
Ihave added
liir to that
[ear, hear).
lool system
The total
1885, as by
»5,553; but
ibles me to
|l assessment
itario's con-
; municipal
in Ontario
the munici-
direct allot-
$777,178, or
e same as in'
o.
Province is
jsessments in
t and $1 by
hich $132,493
} $94,507, or
of education,
nents amount
ad the muni
Provinces is
3 government
grants in the
3f these lower
s by 32 cents
le is in to-day
)ut years ago,
,d. It is but
a expenditure
,re economical
las been in the
3 also but just
va Scotia and
on the munici
notice of tht
) of the other
) Ontario, and
which she ob
nistration, hei
jh appreciatiot
and acceptance by her people of the principle of self help and local municipal expendi-
iUie, which has rendered this limitation of Government expenditure possible. This belief
|n the supposed advantage to Ontario in the scheme of Oopfederation, appears to be
Ihared in by the Federal authorities, as it is only on that supposition that they
could have justified the special grants to the other Provinces, and hence the
unfairness with which Ontaiio has been treated. This system of special grants
to one Province is an injustice to the others, more especially is it an injustice to Ontario,
as she is the largest contributor to the Federal treasury. She desires to put a stop to
this system, and althouj^h she has not received justice in the past, and although the
rtlati ms between the peo|)le and the Federal Government have been greatly changed since
€onfe leration, the increased taxation imposed by that Government renderinjr the
people less able to meet the requirements of the incrt'asing Provinci;tl expenditure.
I believe Ontario might even have been willing to accept as final the present situation,
if any assurance could be given that the finality would be observed. Her representatives
at the late conference found that these assurances could not be given, and the only way
to reach a finality and preserve Confederation, was by some re-arrangement of the Pro-
vincial subsidies, which would by a small increase, make provision for the pr-^sent increased
scale of Provincial expenditure, resulting from increaseil population, without which, some
of the Provinces would bis obliged to resort to direct tuxitioi ; a measure which, from the
existing feeling of irritation and dissatisfaction in some of the Provinces in regard to the
working of the confederation plan, it was represented would very seriously intensify that
dissatisfaction, and tend to a disruption of the union. Such were the conditions and
responsibilitiBS und<ir which the Ontario representatives, an I ind^ed all the representatives
at the conference, approached the consideration of the financial relations of the Provinces
and the Dominion, and endeavored to formulate some scheme which would nceet the
requirements within reasonable limits, and do justice to all. The scheme which was
adopted, and which in the 17th resolution is now submitted to the Legistature for ap-
proval involves no new feature, or introduces any new principle. It is merely an extension
and adaptation of the principles — and on th-^j lines — U|)on which the original financial
arrangements were based. Tlxere is no doubt but it was the intention of the fraraers of
the oiiginal Confeileration scheme to provide from the Fe leral treasury a sufficient sum
to eich Province to mnet its necessary local expenditure. We know this from the con-
federation debates, and we know, that in view of what was then the prospective revenues
of the Dominion, that the allowances were cut down to tht^ lowest fi.jure ; below what the
Provinces thought they ought to receive, and we know also that the danger of making
these grants inadequate was then forshadowed. Let me quote from Mr. Brown on
these points :
" We asked the representatives of the different Governments to estimate how much they would require
after the inauguration of the federal system to carry on their local machinery. As at first presented to us,
tbe annual sum reiiuirel for all the Provinces was something like five millions of dollars — an amount that
OQuId not possibly have been allotted. The course we alopted then was this : We formed a committee of
Finance \Iini.sters, and made e.ich of them go over his list of expenditures, lopping off all unnecessary ser-
vices and cutting down every item to the lowest possible figure. By thin means we succeeded in reducing
the total annual subsidy required for local government to the sum of $2,630,000."
Let me also give what Mr. Gait said on the same subject : —
" I now propose, sir, to refer to the means which will be at the disposal of the several Local Govern-
ments to enable them to administer the various matters of public policy which it is proposed to entrust to
them, and it is evident that unless ample provision is made in the arrangements, great danger will arise that
the machinery whereby the local wants of the people are intended to be met will speedily become impaired,
causing complaint on the part of the inhabitants of the respective localities, and involving considerable
danger to the whole machmery of government."
And again :
•'In transferring to the general government all the large sources of revenue, and in placing in their
hand, with a single exception, that of direct taxation, all the means whereby the industry of the people may
be made to contribute to the wants of the state, it must be evident to everyone that some portion of the re-
.gpurces thus placed at the disposal of the general Government must in some form or other be available to
«!ll)p!y the hiatus that would otherwise take place between the sources of local revenue and the demands of
Ocal expenditure. The members of the conference considered this question with the most earnest desire to
iduce to the lowest possible limits the sum that was thus required, and I think the figures that I have
Jready given to the House afford the best possible evidence that no disposition existed, at any rate on the
»rt of our friends from the Lower Provinces, to take from the public exchequer one shilling more than the
fecessities of their respective communities absolutely demanded."
2
18
It waa clearly also the intention of the Act, that the cost in the Provinces of Civil
Government and Le<,'islation, should bo provided for by a specific grant tor those services.
The grants made for this purpuso in the Act were for Outiirio $80,000, Quebec '$70,000,
Nova Scotia $60,000, and New Brunswick i^SO.OOO. These grants are found to bo totally
inadequate to meet the services. The very first year i Outiirio under the admittedly
economical administration ot Sandtield Macdonald, the expenditure was found to be double
the amount allowed. Last year the expenditure in Ontario for these services was
$312,000, and in Quebec $397,000. The proposal of the conference is to make a moderate
increase in those allowances, extending in favor of the sm dler Provinces, the admission
in the original scheme, that the expenditure for thf^se services must in these be, propor-
tionately to population, greater than in the larger. These allowances are graded upon a
scale of increasing population governing the future, so as to close the door against special
allowances outside of the scale of increase provided for. (Hear, hear.)
Let me give that portion of the resolution governing the allowances : —
(A) Instead of the amounts now paid, the sums hereafter payable yearly by Canada to
the several Provinces for the support of their Governments and Legislatures, to be
according to population and as follows :--
(a) Where the population is under 150,003 $100,000
(6) Where the population is 150,000 but does not exceed 200,000. 150,000
(c) Where the population is 200,000 but does not exceed 400,000. 180,000
{d) Where the population is 400,000 but does not exceed 800,000. 190,000
(e) Where the population is 800,003 but does not exceed 1,500,000. 220,000
if) Where the population exceeds 1,500,000 240,000
Then again the principle of population governing the subsidies, was recognized in the ori-
ginalscheme. It was recognized that a more populous provinceshouKl receive a largersubsidy
than one having a smaller population. But if a subsidy is to be based on population at
all, it seems logical that it should be on that population as it increases. The only
condition under which such would not be equitable would be, if the Federal revenues hail
not increased with the increase of population. No sui;h conditions exist to bar the exten
sionof ajust j)rinciple. On the contrary. Federal revenues have largely increased, whdc
our provincial subsidy has remained stationary. It must not be forgott-'n that the provinces
in entering Confederation voluntarily gave up to the Dominion, their Cusrouis, Excise and
other revenues, with the condition that out of these, provisiim should be made for theii
local wants. These revenues amounted at that time to $13,710,000. In the words of tlu
resolution —
(2) " The revenue of the Dominion, at the inception of Confederation, waa $1 3,7 1 6,78(i.
of which 20 per cent., or $2,753,906 went to the provinc s for provincial purposes, 80 per
cent., or $10,962,880, going to the Dominion ; that by increased t.^xation, on an increased
population, the Dominion revenue has been raised from $13,716,786 to $33,177,000; that,
while this increased taxation is paid by the people of the provinces, and the increase of
population imposes upon the piovinces lar^gely increased burdens, no corresponding increase
of subsidy has been granted to them, 13 only, instead of 20 per cent, of the increased
revenue of the Dominion, or $4,182,525, being now allowetl to the provinces, while,
instead of 80 per cent., 87 per cent., or $28,994,475, is retained by the Dominion."
The honourable leader of the Opposition objected to the total revenue being taken
instead of customs and excise only, claiming that the other revenues were in no sense
taxation or had been increased by taxation. He said it was grossly misleading to say that the
$33,000,000 were taken out of the pockets of the people, and he instanced the post-office
revenue as included in that which was not taken out of Lhe pockets of the people. Well,
let us consider the honourable gentleman's objection.
But first, let me say, that if we had desired only to make an eflfoctive contrast between
the proportion allotted to the province at Confederation and now, we could have done it
more effectively by taking the customs and excise alone, than by taking the whole rsvenue.
19
V
ces of Civil
use s'Tvices.
)ec .i?70,0()0,
o bo totally
admittedly
;o he double
ii'vices was
a moderate
e admission
be, propor-
led upon a
ainst special
Canada to
tui-es, to bi!
0,000
0,000
0,000
0,000
0,000
0,000
zi'din theori-
aigersubsidy
lopulation at
I. Tlie only
revenues hail
ar the exten-
reased, vvhdr
the provinces
•!, Excise and
lade fur theii
words of tlu
$13,716,78(1
poses, 80 per
an increased
7,000; that,
e increase of
ding increase
ihe increased
inces, while,
lion."
! being taken
in no sense
o say that the
/he post-office
iople. Well.
;>-ast between
have done it
hole rsvenue.
Taking these revenues alone it would have shown an allotment of 23 per cent, to the
provinces then, and 15 percent, now ; to the Dominion 77 per cent, then, and 85 per cent,
now, or a difference of 8 per cent, less to the provinces, and 8 per cent, more to the
Dominion, instead of a difference of 7 per cent, as stated in the resolution. It was not
from a desire to exaggerate, therefore, that it was so stated. (Hear, hear.) And now for
the post-office illustration. I find that the receipts from the post-office in 18G7 were
^525,691 ; they are now .$2,020,623, an increase of $1,494,932. That increase has been
secured by largely increased outlay. The post-office expenditure has increased from
$616,802 in 1867 to — including the ocean mail 6ub>idies— $3,092,403, or an increase in
expenditure of $2,475,601. Who has paid that increrstd revenue, and that increased
expenditure which has secured it? Have both not come out of the pockets of the people 1
(Cheers.)
The revenue from railways and public works has been raised from $901,000 to
$3,270,780, paid by tolls or taxes from the people, and the increase brought about by an
expenditure of about $140,000,000. Take, amongst the smaller revenues, Fjshery licenses, —
are these not taxation 1 — raised from $19,556 to $25,947 ; r Weights and Measures, — taxa-
tion again ! — raised from nothing in 1867 to $62,600 ; Tonnage dues from $11,918 to $22,
934. Are not these increased revenues, increased taxation ? (Cheers.) 1 might goon, Mr,
Speaker, and enumerate a dozen more items of the same character, all included in the
$33,000,000, but outside of customs and excise. Coming back to the consideration of the
proportions allotted then and now to the provinces and the Dominion, and bearing in
mind that Ontario, being the most populous, is the largest contributor to the Federal
revenue. The Dominion revenue at Federation was equal to $4.16 per head of the
population. Ontario received then 86 cents per head. Now the Dominion revenue is $7.77
per head, or an increrse of $3.61, while Ontario is now only receiving 69 cents, or a reduc-
tion of 17 cents per head. This is because Ontario's increasing population is swelling the
Dominion revenue, without any increase to herself. The proposition in the resolution is,
that Ontario's increase in population shall be recognized by an increase of $581,700. The
leader of the Opposition had in his speech made a little epiyram, which seemed to take
greatly with his followers : That "Mr. Mowat had got the glory, but thit Quebec had got
the money." The little phrase loses its point when it loses its foundation of fact. If the
honourable gentleman had examined the resolution and worked it out, he would have seen
not only that our Premier had got the glory, to which he was well entitled, but that he
had got the money also — (loud cheers.) — for not only would he have seen that Ontario got
absolutely a larger grant than Quebec — Ontario's increase being $581,700. and Quebec's
$347,969 — but that, taking the increase per head of population, Ontario got 30 cents
increase, Quebec but 25 cents ; but this was merely owing to Ontario's laiger increase of
population. The proposed extension of the 80 cents to population put both provinces on
an equal footing. This is the second proposition in the resolution, that the 80 cents shall
be payable on the population as shown every census, with the proviso that after the popu-
lation of a province exceeds 2,500,000, only 60 cents shall be paid upon the excess.
There can be no doubt, but that if the revenue assigned to the ^Dominion at Con-
federation had been as large as it is now, the provinces would have stipulated for a much
larger sum being returned to them for provincial purposes. The former quotation given
from Mr. Brown, that by pressure the demands of the provinces were reduced one-half, 1
think proves that. It is true that the necessary expenses of the Dominion increases with
the increase of population, but that increase of population brings to her treasury an equal
or greater increase of revenue. To the Provinces, on the other hand, the larger population
brings only increase of expenditure, without any increase of revenue. Ontario had in the
past expended large sums for immigration, and to attract settlers on her wild lands. She
had adopted the policy of giving away her lands free for the purpose of inducing settlement.
Every additional settler located by these means, brings to the Dominion increased revenue,
to the Province only increased expenditure. Every head of a family thus located, according
to the present scale of taxation, contributes to the Dominion revenue $29.65 yearly, to
the Province nothing. It is well known, that new settlements are never self-supporting,
and the residents of the older settled districts might with some reason object to direct
taxation being imposed upon them for provincial expenditure in these new districts, and
'"^
to
tho Dominion receive all the benefits of their taxation. A return of the cost of opening
up and (levoloping these new (liHtrif'Ls by the sale of the land might be secured to tho
province, but Ontario had relincjuished such revenue for the sake of building up the
Dominion. A reasonable measure of consideration she is entitled to ask in return.
(Hear, hear.)
The hon. gentleman asserts that Ontario pays two-thirds of the revenue of the
Dominion, and that it is not in her interest to ask any increase of the provincial subsidies ;
that it would be moro profitable for her to raise such additional revenues as may be
reciuirod by direct taxation. That may be to a certain extent true in the abstract. It is
a disidvantaa;e under which Ontario has always been labouring; under which she is suffer-
ing,' today. That was the cause of tho dissatisfaction before Confederation, and which Mr.
Mackenzie hoped Confederation had put an end to ; That while Ontario paid more, she
received less. The same unfairness is still being pursued. It is to remedy that state of
things, the proposal under consideration is made. While the rate per head of customs
duties paid by each province may be a matter of dispute, Ontario would have been satis-
fied if her larger population — about which there could be no dispute — was recognized. The
resolutions of tho Conference is the first occasion in which Ontario's claim in this respect
has been recognized — (cheers) — and yet hon. gentlemen object to it. (Hear, hear.)
It is difficult to ascertain with any degree of accuracy the proportion of customs or
excise duty paid by any province. Both the Maritime Provinces and Manitoba contend,
that the people of these provinces pay more customs duty per head to-day than do the
people of either Quebec or Ontario, and their argument has a measure of logic in it. They
say, " While we admit that the people in Ontario and Quebec are wealthier, better off", a d
spend more per head than our peo|)ie, yet that these are manufacturing provinces, and
that a large portion of that spending, is for goods manufactured in these provinces which
pay no duty into the Dominion exchequer." (Opposition hear ! heirs !) Hon. gentle-
men say hear, hear ; but if these gouus bring nothing into the Federal treasury, they cost
just as much to the consumer as if they did, but the extra price does not go into the public
chest, but, under the operation of the precious N. P., into the pockets of the combines, the
monopolists, the protected manufacturer. (Loud cheers.) The representatives of these
provinces, in furtlier support of their argument, say " that their people, not being a manu-
facturing people, and by rea:;on of distance and cost of carriage being debarred from
profitable interchange of commodities with Ontario and Quebec, are by force of circum-
stances compelled to buy largely of imported goods, and thus contribute more to the
Dominion revenue." That argument is to some extent true. Whether it is true to the
extent claimed by the representatives of these provinces, may be doubted.
Mr. Norquay, in his budget speech in the Manitoba Legislature in 1884, claimed that
the customs collections at the different ports for the period 1874 to 1883 shewed the col-
lections per head of population to be for the nine years : Ontario, $31.4''6 ; Quebec, |51.65 ;
Nova Scotia, 834.89 ; New Brunswick, .$42.10; Manitoba, $107.62; British Columbia,
•1102.76 ; Prince Edward Island, $24.14. The collections at the port of entry did not,
however, by any means shew wl, ?,re the dutiable goods were consumed, for it was wc41
known, that about one-half of the customs collected at the port of Montreal, although
credited to Quebec, were on goods forwarded and consumed in Ontario and the other pro-
vinces. But admitting that Ontario is still the largest contributor per head, and that
provincial subsidies on the basis of population would not be as profitable to her as direct
taxation for provincial purposes, still I doubt if any one will contend that, increased sub
sidies to the other provinces, and direct taxation to Ontario, is for her either profitable or
equitable. (Cheers.) Yet that is the existing condition, and I do not recollect that when
year after year increased grants have been given to the other provinces, hon. gentle-
men ever raised their voice in protest against' a practice so unjust to their own province.
(Hear, hear.)
It could not be denied that grave dissatisfaction existed in some of the other pro-
vinces. One threatened secession, another almost in rebellion. Was it not wise to con
sider whether some moderate scheme could not be devised to relieve the tension. The fact
is, we must recognize the situation, and Ontario must do the best she can under existing
conditions. The other provinces will not consent to cease their demands for better terms,
4
i
opening
bd to the
Ig up the
In return.
6 of the
tibsMies ;
8 may be
ct. It is
is Hijffer-
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state of
f customs
)oen satis-
ized. The
lis respect
ir.)
ustoms or
a contend,
m do the
I it. They
;er off, a c
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nces which j
on. gentle-
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es of these
ng a manu-
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of circum-
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laimed that K
;ed the col-
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Columbia,
ly did not.
t was well
J, although I
} other pro-
1, and that
r as direct
reased sub
rofitable or
i that when
ion. gentle-
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5 other pro-
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. The fact
er existing
stter terms,
I
/
I
21
unless some ro-arrani,'(Mnt!nt is made that will increase their allowances ; and from past
expttrience wc know, that if tin; tiiiio for rnakiiij,' detnanda is judiciously chosen, they will
not be deniod. Ontario (h^sired liiiality, and finality can only be obtained through an
increase of tho present sul).si(lies. Xo doubt Ontario could nKluce her expenditure by shift-
ing the re.spoiisibility of sonm ol' tlio services upon tho municipalities ; her people are edu-
cated in this local responsil»ility and municipal taxation ; a very slight insiease of this
would relievo tlu; pi-ovincial finances. It may bo naid, lot the other provinces do this also,
and relief would be found. To this suy^estion the representatives of the lower provinces
reply ; '* The att(;nipt to 'orce an onerous inuuieii)al taxation upon our people to relieve
the provincial treasury, would create such dissatisfaction that withdrawal from Confed-
eration would be in.>i.->ted on. Our [)eople are not accustomed to it, they are not educa-
•ted to it. The Provincial (Joveiiimeut have always constructed and maintained the roads
and bridges. It did so before Confederation, and was enabled to meet this and all other
necessary expenditure under a ten per cent, tariff; and if the people now under the
union, in addition to luivinq to submit to a 35 per cent, tariff — mainly for the benefit of
manufacturers in other provinces — have also to submit to heavy municipal taxation to
relievo the provincial treasury, the dissatisfaction already existing, would become so inten-
sified, that tho peoplo would become a unit in favor of withdrawal from the Dominion."
Hon. gentlemen know how ditlicult it is, .suddenly to change the customs and habits of a
peoplo, confirmed by generations, or centuries of use and wont.
The conditions and circumstances of these provinces, and the feeling existing there,
cannot be ignored. Xor will the past capricious and unjust system of special grants be
longer submitted to in Ontario. Some common ground had to be sought that would meet
the circumstances and secure finality. That common ground is found in the propositions
of the Conference. It has been accepted as an equitable basis of a final settlement by the
Governments of five of the most populous provinces in tho Union. Finality is secured by
the condition that the Imperial Act shall declare this settlement final and absolute, and not
within the power of the Federal Parliament to alter, add to, or vary. (Cheers.) The
plan, since published, had been discussed by every -ewspaper in the country, and I think
I can say truly that, with the exception of a few partizan she'et^s, which cannot be expected
to concur in anything not proposed by their own party, the Reform pres.s, the Independent
press, and the moderate Con.servative press, have expressed approval of the plan, and sur-
prise, considering the dilficulties that surround such a settlement, tl\at a way has been
found to satisfy the provinces, do ju.stice to all, to relieve the Federal treasury from the
continual raids to which it has heretofore been subjected, and that upon terms so little
onerous to the Dominion. (Applause.)
Hon. gentlemen had charged that the objects and actions of the Conference were par-
tizan in their character. I defy hon. gentlemen to point to a single incident or proceeding
in connection with the calling of the Conference, or a single word or proposition in the
resolutions that would justify such a charge. And I am sure that if hon. gentlemen will,
in the vote they will be called upon to give, as honestly endeavour to divest their judgment
of all partizan feeling, as did the representatives at the Conference, they will unanimously
cast their vote in support of the resolutions. (Loud and prolonged applause.)