.%. ^>. ^ .^^1 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) y / O {/ % f^^ < <^ % :A Ua 1.0 I.I 1.25 25 22 JA lllll 1.6 V] <^ /a o m %^^ '> 7 ^ pc^ CiHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 1980 Technical Notes /Notes techniques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Physical features of this copy which may alter any of the images in the reproduction are checked below. n Coloured covers/ Couvertures de couleur Coloured maps/ Cartes gdographiques en couleur L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a dt6 possible de se procurer. Certains ddfauts susceptibles de nuire A la qualitd de la reproduction sont not6s ci-dessous. n D Coloured pages/ Fages de couleur Coloured plates/ Planches en couleur Th« PO! Of 1 filn Th< COI or ' api Th( fitr ins Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages ddcolordes, tachetdes ou piqudes Tight binding (may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin)/ Reliure serr6 (peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure) D D Show through/ Transparence Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes Ms in ( upi boi fol D Additional comments/ Commentaires suppldmentaires Bibliographic Notes / Notes bibliographiques D Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents n Pagination incorrect/ Erreurs de pagination Pages missing/ Des pages manquent D Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque D Maps missing/ Des cartes gdographiques manquent D Plates .nissing/ Dec planches manquent D Additional comments/ Commentaires suppldmentaires The images appearing here are tho bet*. quaSity possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol —^> (meaning CONTINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les images sulvantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soln, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de I'exemplaire film^, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la der- nidre image de cheque microifiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ^' signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". The original copy was borrowed from, and filmed with, the kind consent of the following institution: Library of Parliament L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grdce d la g6n6rosit6 de I'dtablissement prdteur suivant : Bibliothdque du Parlement Maps or plates too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour dtre reproduites en un seul cliche sont filmdes d partir de Tangle sup6rieure gauche, de gaurhe d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la mdthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 t^^^^m^^^^ » ■■■» II III ^^^^-^— ■ ■■■■ M l. I I ■ 4 5 6 ■Ml mi. 1(1 No. 3. INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. THE HISTORY OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS. 1887-8. The Parliament which has expired was the sixth since the union of the colonies. After the elections of February 22nd, 188*7, the first Session of the new Parliament was opened on the 13th April. The principiil characteristics of the session were : 1st. — The strengthening of the National Policy by the revision of the Tariff and the imposition of duties, with the object of developing the Iron Industries of the country. 2nd. — The further attempt, in continuance of previous efforts, to develop the country's resources by means of practical encouragement to railways. 3rd. — The encouragement given to the more scientific and profitable pursuit of farming by the establishment and mainten- ance of experimental farms at various points in the several provinces. r^'.'i To the first proposition, i.e., for developing our Iron Industries, Sir Richard Cartwright objected : " To my mind, if we can pro- " duce charcoal iron for einport at all, we could do it just as well " in the past as we are likely to do by reason of anything the " honourable gentleman proposes to do in that direction." — Hans., 1887, p. 417. Mr. Charlton objected to the iron duties on the ground that, as in the United States, they " gave an undue stimulus to the iron business of that country," &c. ■Qmi'u EAILWAY SUBSIDIES. With regard to the railway subsidies, $1,027,041, Mr. McMullen, one of the most active and trusted of the Opposition, said : " I " have to express my regret that the Government have decided " to continue, in a new Parliament, the policy of subsidising " short lines of railways," &c. Sir Eichard Cartwright said : " It " is quite true that if I had the power I would have stopped these " proceedings from the start," i.e., that he was opposed to all such railway subsidies. ,. .,.,., .,u.^.^r'^. /i. ■„»*. To the proposition for the establishment of Experimental Farms ($90,000), the Opposition did not offer any protest as to the principle. . ■-. ^_;_^^j^__ \.wAii^^-u, <\;rLii h i^ (i« l)^J«i»at* During the year ending 30th June, 1888 : • '?l%n^f "^p ^^ '^ ..:-,.--.<> i^r.i^^^ i-u,>ff'j3 ft(-.i.rv»irf< -aia 'if^'t tjo^r 1st. — The interest on the gross debt of the Dominion was still further reduced, the rate in 1867 having been $4.64 per cent., in 1887 $3.54, and in 1888 $3.45. 2nd. — A loan of £4,000,000 sterling was placed on the market at the high figure of £95.1.0 at 3 per cent. This was the first 3 per cent, loan ever placed on the English market by a British Colony, and so good was the credit of the country that whereas we wanted only £4,000,000 the sums offered amounted to £12,000,000. 3rd. — The trade of the country showed the following satisfac- tory condition : 8 EXPORTS. 1887 $ 89,515,811 1888 90,203,000 , . , ' IMPORTS. "^ : 1887 $112,892,236 •^•'t J^ 1888 110,894.894 The decreased imports being yet higher than those of 1885 and 1886. " : '■ ■; ^^f^: ■■:,",' :^\'--"-'-: / 1888-9. ' The Principal Features of the Parliamentary Year 1888-9 were as follows: l.JW 1st. — The treaty entered into with the United States for the settlement of the vexatious questions regarding the fisheries. 2nd — ^The improvement in the means of government in the North-West Territories of the Dominion. "With regai*d to the treaty, the Opposition in Ontai'io were disposed to rest their objections to it on the ground that it was entered on at a time of political excitement in the United States (Sir R. Cartwright, in Hansard^ p. 846) when Canada could not expect fair play — an objection which would forever close all negotiations, inasmuch as there is always political excitement in the United States, and one presidential campaign begins as soon as the previous one closes. But Mr. Davies, of Prince Edward Island, objected to the treaty and declared that the British plenipotentiaries had given everything away, although, as Sir John Thompson reminded him, the cry in the United States was that the Canadian and British envoys had captured the Americans. The action of the U nited States Senate and of President Cleve- land rendered all farther discussion on this question useless for the present. i t During the year ending 30th June, 1889, the accounts show a 8U!*plu8 as follows :— ' 1 1 •, . .. ; Eevenue $38,'782,8'70 Expenditure 36,917,834 -'^ Surplus SljSYS.OSe • The sum $4,420,313 was expended on Eailways, Canals and Public works; and the sum of $846,721 on subsidies to railways under the plan of opening up the country so much objected to by Sir Eichard Cartwright and Mr. McMullen. .,. r vmh <{?• > K V The trade of the country shows as follows : ' \-'^ t><''iH'--f^hij>f^'f '.^/. li^:-':,l .'^ EXPORTS '^ ^n.,.^^.yi ,:.,::.. ^.r:V\if*'l^' ■ ^ii''-'- ' ' -.'^ •■- ■ „ , '..'■ -!■ ' ' ■ "■" ^H;^ • fr: ., 1887.... .'.. $89,515,811 ^ ;/ yxaV 1889 39,189,167 '5/ . IMPORTS. :-...'-vvR^ -^^N 'ii»:<>c!.^uA -r •'' 1887 $112,892,236 ; 1889 115,224,931 The year ending June 30th, 1890, was a year full of most interesting public events, every one of which is well calculated to win public respect and confidence for Sir John Macdonald's administration. • .... 1st. The seizures of Canadian vessels by American cruisers in Behring Sea for alleged violation of American laws, gave rise to what is publicly known as the Behriog Sea question ; the dis- cussion of which has been conducted by Loixl Salisbury with ability n-nd vigour, aided by the industrious and vigilant Minis- ter of Mai'ine of Canada, Hon. Mr. Tupper, who has fol- lowed with care and ability the course of the correspondence. No political issue is involved in this correspondence, and the h » lin to lis- 1th fol- Lc6. Government will of course have the fhllest support that the public can give them in maintaining a just view of interna- tional law and the just rights of Canadian sealers. 2nd. The report of the Eoyal Commission on Labour, the appointment of which Sir John Macdonald had promised in his address to the workingmen in Ottawa in 1883, was brought before Parliament. It forms a magna charta of the labouring classes in Canada, and shows the care with which the Veteran Premier safeguards the interests of all classes in the community. No political issue was involved in either the appointment of the Eoyal Commission or in the preparation of its report. In consequence of the report of the commission, an Act to establish a Bureau of Labour Statistics was passed in the session of 1890. This Act was supplementary to the census, the schedules of the latter embodying many important questions relating to Labour, the answers to which will form a basis from which the Bureau can start further investigations into matters of interest to the Labour of the country. The finances of the year ending June 30th, 1890, were especial- ly favourable. , iy^^e The fcum of $l,()'78,i95 was paid as subsidies to those railways to which the Opposition so much object. The rate of interest on the gross debt fell from $3.52 to 63.37 ; the net rate from $3.0'7 to $2.99. The surplus of revenue over expenditure was $3,885,893. ^ ' '..aoiJitTt«in'i«firs ■X 4>.i( A TEN YEARS' RECORD. ^^ viiKy.-i the Since the present Grovernment came into power in 1878, their record with regard to the consolidated fund is as follows, the financial year 1880-81 being the first for which they were res- ponsible, as the estimates and expenditures for 18'79-80 had been ' prepared by their predecessors : — ^ 6 SURPLUS. ^880-81 ^ 4,132,'743 1881-82 6,316,351 1882-83 7,064,492 1883-84 754,255 1886-87 97^313 1888-89 1,866,035 1889-90 3,885,893 Total Surpluses $24,116,082 DEFICITS. 1884^85 $2,240,058 1885-86 5,834,571 188*7-88 810,031 Total Deficits $8,884,660 Total Surpluses ...........:...:...... $24,116,082 Total Deficits 8,884,660 Total Surpluses $15,231,422 SUPPORT m GOVEENINT OF SORPMS. 'I .^ ■ '■■VM^ ..,.. -.•,...^,: ^rA\(^K^.t$ t7t,.th^r,i 'i^i*- - , . ?:«<^' t '.^i:,i-;.>(\ .iiUiT h-^l^'Ui '>:*''f<|Tt» ' li^y iiii :lUi ^i,a^ an 1