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- .^~^. .^

W. C. EDWARDS, Esq., Ex-M.P., \

The Manitoba School Question.

Taken from Hansard, March 19th, 1896,

In the discussion of the matter before the
ouse, we have listened to many long and able
leeches. Of the hon. gentleman who has just
iken his seat (Mr. Costigan) I will say this,that
thoroughly believe in the sentiments he ex-
essed in his closing remarks. I believe he is
man of broad guage. I have always respected
im.and I hope I always shall respect him Mr
peaker, the hon. gentleman who opened this
eoate, theSecretaiy of State, also made his
losing speech to-day, and what did we expect
n such an occasion ? We expected some sum-
ary of the debate, some argument, and some
road discussion of the question. Rut after
ulogizing the hon. member for Sothwell ('Mr
lills) he devoted himself to the leader ,.. .he
>pposition, and what did he say ? He said
lat his speech was eloquent, and he very pro-
erly congratulated him on the eloquence of his
|reat speech ; but he said at the same time that
was ^nothing more o- less than a bundle of
ontradictions from beginning to end. Did he
Ike up that speech, and show wherein the
!ader of the Opposition was chargeable with
ne single contradiction ? No, sir, not at all.
le devoted himself to an exultation of his own

''u^'u u? ^''1'^ ^'■'^^''y deplored the discord
hich this debate would create in this country
s the result of turning nationalities and creeds
gainst each other. Was there ever a speech
elivered in this House more calculated to turn
lass and creed against each other than th^
leech of the hon. gentleman ? He is the great
am. According to his own statement, he
ladc- Nova Scotia ; after he made Nova Scotia
e created the Dominion ; he is now engaged in
le unification of the Empire, and when he has
)mpleted that work, he is going to tackle the
iiverse. The hon. gentleman claims thai in a
cture he delivered as a youth he laid the
undations of confederation. I have always
iderstood that the Hon. Joseph Howe and
r Alexander Gait were the first men who
troduced that question, they being followed by
on. George Brown, and to Mr. Brown more
an to any other man confederation is due I
ive stated that the speech of the Secretary of

State was calculated more than any speech to
which I have ever listened to turn c?eed against
creed and nationality against nationality. He

reL^T^rJT ""'""^ tothecountr in that
regard. But there is a party in this 1 ,use to
whom the country owes a gratitude for the
manly position they have taken. I refer to the
French Liberals of the Province of Quebec.
But for them we might have a war of races •
owing to their noble conduct, however, they
have averted such a disaster. What did the
hon. Secretary of State do ? He took position,
af.er position to show how the Liberal parted
had been unjust from confederation forwards t?
the Roman Catholic minority. Lj the hon
gentleman aware that there is a Conservative
party in Ontario ? What has been the conduct
of that party for many years past ? Is that not
the party which has attempted to wreck the
cons itution, to destroy separate schools in that
province, ^o put down the French language
Three successive elections have been run on
those lines m Ontario, and the chief of the
party who ran the elections in the interest of
the Conservatives has received his reward, and
is now Chief Justice of the province. From
whom has he received his reward ? From the
very men who are now claiming that they are
defending the rights of the Catholic minority.'
So far as the rights of the Catholic minority are
concerned, their defence is more largely to be
credited to the Liberal party than to any other
party in the country. Hon. gentlemen opposite
have asserted that the leader of the Opposition
was making a great bid for power. The Minister
of Finance said the other day that my hon
friend was playing a bold game ; he even referr-
ed to cards up his sleeves, but the hon. Minister
knows more about matters of that kind than I
do. The Conservative party to-day, driven into
a corner, are making a desperate bid for the
entire Roman Catholic vote of the Dominion.
But they are not going to obtain it, for the
Roman Catholics well know that the present
Government have made this school question a
political one throughout. They have simply
...^ »\uman L.atriuUi;s,ana rhey in turn

't;

Nfc.— -'

■\J

}

do not trust the Government. The Liberal

t)arty ave a party that will not do more for
Roman Catholics than for Protestants, but wili
mete out equal-handed justice to al'. As re-
gards the question before the House, I am not
afraid, as I have never been afraid, to state my
own views and position upon it. My views no
doubt differ to a considerable extent from those
held by some hon. gentlemen who will vote as I
will vote upon this question. From the speech
delivered by the Minister of Finance a tew days
ago,it was evident that a great change had come
over the position of certain parties in this
country. I was highly amused to hear a Con-
servative argue exactly on the same lines so
far as the rights of the minorities are concern-
ed as we in Ontario have been arguing for
many years past. As I understand the ques-
tion, separate schools are guaranteed to the
province of Ontario under confederation ; dis-
sentient schools in Quebec are in exactly the
same position. I have always understood that
the separate school system originated at the
instance cf the Protestants of Quebec. I know
this from an acquaintance with dissentient
schools in Quebec, that the Protestants of that
irovince will not be willing to surrender them ;
...*d I further believe that the Roman Catholics
in that province have done even handed justice

I to the Protestants and will continue to do so.
So far as Ontario is concerned, I believe the
same conditions will prevail, and to my mind it
is not a question as to whether we like separate

; schools or not, but the question is what has
been guaranteed under the constitution to the
minorities in those two provinci in that re-
spect. Those conditions we are bound to
maintain. So far as I am concerned public
schools would satisfy n^e, and 1 want nothing
more ; but I am not disposed to ask other men
to take my medicine. As I understand it, the
only difference between Protestant and Catho-
lic on this question is one of degree. In Que-
bec, the Protestants want separate schools, and
in Ontario the Catholics want separate schools.
It is true the Protestants are satisfied with a less
degree of religion in their schools, I believe,
than the Roman Catholics are, and it is only in
this respect that they differ.

Now, Mr. Speaker, my views on this question
are as follows : In so far as the maritime prov-
inces are concerned, I do not think that the
Dominion Government would have any right at
all to interfere. These provinces had their
legislatures before confederation, and no change
was made at that time. I believe, that in so
far as these provinces are concerned, it is with-
in their own jurisdiction to continue their
school affairs as they please. In so far as the
provinces of Ontario and Quebec are concerned,
we have the separate schools as a fixture, and I

do not believe that they will, or can be changed.
Now, then, in so far as Manitoba is concerned,
and in so far as any provinces that may in the
future come into confederation are concerned,
I believe that the same rights should be ek
tended to these new provinces as exist in the
provinces of Ontario and Quebec. In so far as
the minority in the province of Manitoba are con-
cerned, I am perfectly willing that they should
have well regulated separate schools. I be-
lieve that a grievance exists, and I believe that
that grievance should be remedied. But, Mr.
Speaker, I am not prepared to vote for a law
that coerces Manitoba. I believe that that ques-
tion can be settled in a far quicker way than by a
resort to such means. I believe in the proposi-
tion of the hon. leader of the Opposition.
An hon. member. Of course you do.
Som« hon. gentleman says "of course you
do '■ Well, whether my leader propounded
that doctrine or not, I would certauily believe
in it. I have said, Sir, that a grievance exists,
and that that grievance should be remedied.
But, Mr. Speaker, I further believe that the
Government have been playing with this
question for the last six years. I am not a
lawyer, and I do not pretend to know anything
about constitutional law, but there is one thing
which appers very strange indeed to me, and
that is, that this very Government which
allowed the Manitoba School Act to become
law, asks us to day to wipe out that Act by
legislation in this House. Why did they ever;'
allow the Act to go into force when they could
exercise the veto power ? So far as I am con-
cerned, their course seems to me to be devoid
of reason and common sense. It seems to nie
perfectly absurd, that this Government which
allowed the Act to go into force, and who put
themselves under the shadow of the courts of
the land, until finally they are driven into a
corner on the question, should come and ask
this Parliament to restore the school laws of
Manitob i'hich existed before 1890, and which
they the selves allowed to be abolished. Al-
though I do not believe in disallowance
generally, I do believe that this Act^ of 1890
should have been disallowed. Strongly as 1
believe in restoring their rights to the minority
of Manitoba, I am not prepared to vote to-day
for this Bill, because I believe that a joint
commission appointed by this Government and
by the Manitoba government would arrive at a
solution of the question, and would settle it in a
manner far more satisfactory to the countr)
than by making it a political question, as has
been done Mr. Speaker, I will not delay tht
House any longer. There are several other
gentlemen who wish to speak. I have expressed
my views upon the subject and I have nothing
more to say.

V-1

;an be changed.
1 is concerned,
lat may in the
are concerned,

should be eic
s exist in the
c. In so far as
anitoba are con-
lat they should
chools. I be
I I believe that
ied. But, Mr.
vote for a law
e that that ques-
it way than by a
! in the proposi-
pposition.

you do.

'of course you
2v propounded
srtauily believe
rievance exists,
i be remedied,
lelieve that the
■ing with this
. I am not a

know anything
ere is one thing
;ed to me, and
ernment which
Act to become
lut that Act by
ly did they ever
yhen they could
Far as I am con-
ne to be devoid

It seems to nie
i^ernment which
:e, and who put
of the courts of
e driven into a
1 come and ask

school laws ol
1890, and which

abolished. Al

n disallowance

lis Act of 1890

Strongly as I

to the minority
i to vote to-day
ve that a joint
jovernment and
rould arrive at a
)uld settle it in a

to the countr)

question, as ha;
ill not delay the
re several other
I have expressed
I I have nothing