IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // C^^°4i. 1.0 !f i- i^ I.I 1.25 2.2 U 11.6 vl ^ /a ^>. fliolDgraphic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 V iV "% V '^ \ \ 6^ '^^ ^'i% ,f^4^^ %> CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques ii Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ D D D D D D D Couverture endommag^e Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur6e et/ou pellicul^e I I Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes g^ographiques en couleur □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bieue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re llure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmdes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl^mentaires; This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a M possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculdes □ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages ddcolor6es, tacheties ou piqu6es □ Pages detached/ Pages ddtachdes r~?| Showthrough/ ^ Transparence Quality of print varies/ Quality indgale de I'impression r~~| Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible D Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 film^es d nouveau de fapon & obtenir la meilleure image possible. Ce document est filmd au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X / 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of : IMetropolitan Toronto Library Canadian History Department The images appearing here are the best quaiity possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire filmA fut reproduit grAce A la gAn^rosit* de: IVIetropolitan Toronto Library Canadian History Department Les images suivantes ont AtA reproduites avec le plus grand soin. compte tenu de la condition et de la nettett de l'exemplaire f ilmA. et en conformit6 avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol •^►(meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimis sont filmfo en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmte en commenfant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparattra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those 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, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre fiimAs d des taux de reduction diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est filmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 a 4 5 i ■ • 1 1) .^-f> iS'''i|®?i|^ >','^J.. k't' ..^^1 ■#^ ^W' m &'• nr «^l I'l::" *-*!v r^t^fer '^^^■'^^■■^m.i.Mm^^^ f,.s?c^v'fs?:f', i-^' 'm^ ') 0^ PROVINCE OF MANITOBA Second Session— Fifth Legislature. >?'; if* ( BUDGET SPEECH — IIKI.IVKIIKII IIV — HON. JOHN NORQUAY PREMIER AND PROVINCIAL TREASURER APRIL 16th 1884. WINNIPEG, HAN BUDGET SPEECH — hl.i.lS Klii:i. \:\ — HON. JOHN NORQUAY Premier and Provincial Treasnn AI'JUL Klin |^i^i WINNIPEG, MAX. , < Hon. John Xorquay, > rovincial Treasurer, rose, amid cheers, and moved, seconded by Hon. M. LalJiviere, that the House resolve itself into Committee of Supply to consider the Messa-e of His Honor, tog-ether with'the estimates and the statements acTompanying- the same The motion before the House, he said, will, no doubt, evoke a wide range of discussion ; and Hon. members will need to have ample explanations both as to the course to be pursued by the Government in the future, as well as a defence of their actions in the past. In moving the House into Committee of Supply, Hon. membersT will observe that the estimates placed before them rauo-e very n.?arly equal to those voted a year ago for the public expenditure of the Pro vince,-giving color to the view that our normal expenditure, as a Province, has about arrived at that stage when it may be considered in a m 'asure stationary,— or, at least, the normal expendi- 4 — luvt' ol' last yi'ur uiul the i>ri»s»'nt may l)i' ronsitlcrcd, I think. v«'iy uockI iiuliccs ol" ouv lutun' lU'tcssitics iii tliat ositioii to-day us a I'roviiuc in ronlV'doratioii, it will l)o m'(«'ssary lor us to tak«' a ri'trospiMtivc view ot" «>vi»uts. It will l)t' necessary to lookback to the time when we he- cameconlederated, and were starti'd intopolitical existence in 1870 by investment with th«' constitution uiven us. known as the Manitoba Act. In that year we w«'re placed, linancially, in a position which miuht have appeared to be ii liood one in the eyes oi'thoseunac(piainted with the res- ponsi})iliti«'s of sell-iiovernment. But it was an illusion soon to be dispelled. W«' lind by r«'l'erence to the terms on which we entered coniederation in ISTO. that the iinancial j)osition actorded us was such that our revenui', when all its sources were reckoned up. reached $07,204.50. To a community accustomed to meel all its necessities out oi'amuch smaller sum. this appeared to be a very extravaiiant and ucnerous provision made by the Parlia- ment of Canada. Innocent as they were of the complica- tions and cost of responsible Government, the people who received this subsidy ibr theiirst time misiht well be excused for thinkinn' it a handsome one. They were, it is •true, accustomed to a Crovernment and had to pay for it, too ; but it was a (rovernment as simple a.s it was efl'ec- tive and inexpensiv(». IJy a reference to the early records of the old Colony of Assiniboia, wi' lind that, as far baek as 1835, Government obtained in this country to an extent not ueiun-ally known. In that year the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, Sir George Simpson, callinii- to his aid some of the most influential settlers to assist more fully in carrying- out the object of Government here, made them a speech which, in the light of present events, has a good deal of interest for us. It appears to have been the first of the kind ever delivered here of which any record is handed down to its ; and its tenor indicates . , uiimistakiihly that tho.st'oklt'olonists uiultTstooduml won* ivsolvi'd to innintain li-ood «»()V»'nua«Mit. IL'iv' is th«' speech, which coiicspoiuls to that delivered at the open- ing' oi' each session ol* the Leuishitive Assembly now-a- days : <;i;ntlkmi;n,~ III (irdiT In ^niftnl its iinii'li ;is |H)s>ili|i' .iviiiiisl iiiisiiii|ii'i'lii'ii>i(iii williiii (Idors or miMip|iri'ln'iisi()ii mil ol' ildors, I >li,ill lirii'lly imlu'i' llir siiliji-i-i wliirli 1 jiiii now III liriii^r iinilrr ymir (■iiii>ii|i'iiiliiiii. I'niiii till' i|i'i'|i •Mill liiin'ly inli'i'i'sl ymi will I'l'i-I in iIh' wi'll'iiiv iiinl I'liisjii'iilN (pfllii' iMiliiiiy, I mil salisJH'il \iiii will iitlnni iiii' IIh' Im'iii'III nC wuir ii>si>liiiiri' ami su|t|i(ii'l l(i\vfir>ls r.iri'yiiiLr iiilu I'il'i'rl surli nii'Jisiiri'-. ii- lli;i\ il|i|ii',ii' III yiiil lii'sl rillrillalril. lunli'l' i'\i.-l illLT ril'rillllstfllli'i'S, In illl>\Vfi- >\i'ry i|i'>ii'iiiili' iiliji'i't. Tlir |iii|illliltiii|| nt'lliis I'lijuliy is lii'riiiiiill;j' mi i.'l''''l'- •llllullllliui: In illmlll li\i' i.VdllKi lliiiiisciinl SDiils, llitil IIh' |ii'i'sii!ial iiilliii'iin' iif llic !jii\ crnnr aii'I 111"' lillli- iiKU'i' lliaii iiniiiiiial >ii|ipiirl aironli'il h\ lln- |iuliri' — wliii-li loi-'i'llur Willi III!' jrooil I'l'i'liiii^s III' Ilii- |ii'u|ili' lia\i' lii'i'i'lurni'i' Ihtii lis |n'iiini|ial sad'- j.'iiar(l — ari' no loiij.'i'i' siillii-ii'iil to iiiaiiilaiii llio li'ani|iiilily ami liooii ^o^ imu- iii'Til ol' llii' si'llli'iiii'iil ; so lliul alllioiiij|i rii/lils of |ii'o|ii'i'ly lia\i' ol lali' lii'i'ii iiivaili'il ami ollior sorioiis oH'i'iin's Ih'i'ii i-oniinilli'il, 1 am ninri'i-in'it to say wo ai'i' iimliT llio noccssily ol' aliowinji' llioni lo pass iiniioliri'il. iH'ransi' wo lia\i' nol llii' nivalis al I'oiiimaml of oiirorrinir olii'ilionri' ami (I'll' I'l'spocl iicronliii^' lo tlio oxislini: (a'lli'r of lirni).''s. rmlor such I'iriMimslann's il iiiiisl ho I'viili'iil lo ono ami all of you llial il is ipiili' iinpossilili' socii'lv ran liolil loi;i'llii'i'. ami llial 111" liiiio lia> al |i'ii).'l II arrivril wln'ii il Jn'ooiin's imri'ssary lo pul Ilio ailmiiiislralioii nl jiislici' on a iiion" linn ami n'liuiar ronliiiij' llian lii'ri'tol'oi'i'. Iiniiioiliali' sli'ps iniisl III' taki'ii to iruaril a^aiiisl ilaninTs i'roiii ahroail I'or ililliriillii's al lioiiii.', I'oi' llio niaiiili'iiam-i' n|' j.'ooil onli'i- ami li'am|uilily, ami Ibi' th'' si'i'iirily ami pi'oloi.'liou of li\i's auil pi'opi'rly. Here is evidence to show that, lonq," anterior to Confe- deration, a community existed on the banks of Red Iviver, in which obtained the regular forms of Crovernmeut, not generally known such as they were. They might have bi'en wanting- in some particulars ; but wt' are not h'ft in any doubt of the fact, that, such as thtn'^ were, they served their purpose admirabh'. Law and order were maintained and the interests of the community g'enerally were subserved (hear, hear). As British subjects they had the enjoyment of their rights. )) — — Iht'V t'lijovrd ill a mcasurt' I'Vcrv iii»lit outsith' thost- nuanmlccd l)y elt'ctiv*' niul rcprt'sciitativ*' ill^stitutil>ll^ (hear). And in prcssinu' as we havt' doiu'. and as wi- will continue to do that we. loo, as llritish sul>jt'rts should b»» allowed the lull cniovnicnt ol' our rights, we call tln' attention of the Federal authorities to th(! fact I have ju>i noted, and ask that the precedent established in KastiMii Provincesbe followed now, — weare pressinn Ibrthat which wasours, in t he olden time, and which will be ours y«'t auain (loud cheers). It has been clearly estaldished that nearly lit'ty years ago, law and order wore maintained here on n lirm basis ; and tlie riyhts ai«orded to all civilised, com- munities had been already enjoyed ])y those resident in the heart of the continent here, although they were then cut off from almost all conimuni(;ation with the outside "vvorld (hear, hear). I have ])ointed out that, on enterinu Confederation, the liiunicial condition of the little commu- nity then established here, might have appeared to be ;\. g-ood one under the changv. The exigencies of G-overn- inent had l)«'en met uji to that time by an expenditure of <€200 or X*800 at the utmost ; and hence the allowance with which we s(>t out on our career as a Province — seemed a generous and extravagant one, the eifect of which was to subdue alarm and take away all scruples to enter- ing Confederation (hear, hear). Experienon- sible government began to manifest themselves very fully (hear, hear). In the beginning the improvement of highways along the river banks, — then th«» main arteries of travel, — might l>e said to bi^ the principal item of expen- diture. But with the increase of immigration, with settle- ments radiating from Fort Oarry in all directions, atten- tion had to be paid to highways and bridges in the interior of the Province, stretching far away from the old lines of travel. The expenditure, as a matter of ilt>riniaii'es to Ottawa, to insist on elleelino- such an adjustment ol' their position as wouhl i'Uablo them to eari\ on the work ol' stdl- lioverument. (hear, hear). They made their wants I'ully known at Ottawa : and over and over again pressed for the .settlenu'iit to which thoy were fairly entitled, (cheers). And if these ropresentativos had not boeii met in the spirit in which, on entering «'onfederation, the people had every reason to l)elieve they would be met, — if they had resulted in merely partial measures of relief, — if there had been no full concession of the claims frequently and full)'' urged, — it wa.s because the Ottawa authorities took their stand and refused to go farther. But the people here, having determined that they wouhl not a1)andon their cause, have maintained that stand to the present day, (cheers). Of the frequent journeyings to Ottawa, the result was the increase of the subsidv l)v something like .^.3,000 a year in 1873, so that thereafter our annual subsidy rose to i^l'2,000. In IHTo. owing tt» withdrawals from ca])ital account, our allowance shrunk to $().■), 000 a year, and the necessity for another appeal to Ottaw^a became at once api)arent. An appeal was made by my i)redecessor. lion. Mr. Davis, and therenpon there was a readjustment which gave as a subsidy of s^OO.OOO per annum. These various increases of subsidy, I may add, were made on the constant and reiterated complaints of the people ; and the amounts so doled ont were, in fact, so many acknowledgments of the justice of these claims, (hear, hear). It is evident from a glance at the estimates ])rought down to the House to-dav. that the end of 8 — w \ those visitations to the Capital, is not yet. But now :is then wo are determined to stand by our cause as a just one, — one that w^e must press not only with all the Executive force the Government has, l)ut with all the Legislative authority that this House can couA'ey (loud cheers). And should \ye fail to obtain from the authorities at Ottawa that full measure of justice to whith Ave are entitled, — in other words, should our riiiht as British subjects be denied us, — we intend to ask that an appeal be next made direct from this House to the foot of the Throne, (cheers). The Federal authorities have alreadv taken notice of the resolutions of the House in reference to the discriminating" policy pursued tow ards this Province, to the injury of its best interests, — and they lan be approached again l)y the Legislature (hear. hear). Going on to point out the diti'erent stages in the incri'ase of subsidy, the hon. gentleman said : In 1880, the subsidy went from $00,000 to $105,000 ; and again, in 1882, there was an increase to $227,153.04. I had occasion, as one of the delegat-as representing Manitoba, to urge her claims w^hen the last two increases, w^ere asked and giA'en (hear, hear). In fact, occupying my present position in the Ministry, the responsibility of pressing these questions on the Federal authorities, — urging ProA'incial claims — devolved largely on me (hear, hear). And I will now take the opportunity of asking from the House a A'indica- tion of w^hat I often asserted, — that the terms made by the Executive of the day, in accepting the $227,000, were only temporary, — and were not at all in flie nature of a permanent arrangement (hear, hear, and cheers). I claim it on the authority of one of the Ministers at Ottawa, who, discussing the situation as a Minister, said that the terms made l)etween the Province of Manitoba and the Federal authorities, were only temporary in their cha- racter (hear, hear). The old colony of Assiniboia, — the parent, as we may term it, of the Province of Manito))a, ^ % ' it — r * J I — prior to eiiteriiiii' into th«' Dominion, enjoyod all the privileues that the other Provim os of Canada onjoytnl before they entered Confederation, — minus elective insti- tutions and responsible Government. The four Provinces relinquished some of their privileges on forminii' the confederacy. In the Colony of Assiniboia the authorities had power to levy tustoms and excise duties ; and on reference to early history we iind these imposts to have been very light, a four per cent, duty beinn' found sufficient for all the requirements of Crovernment, such as it was (hear, hear). You, yourself, ^Ir Speaker, know that the Government was not one indiilerent to the wants of the people, for it can be said truthfully that justice was then administered with as strong- and impartial a hand as it has ever been adminis- tered since (cheers). The necessary improvements con- ducive to the interests of the settlers in that old colony were attended to as promptly and efficiently by its Government, — and perhaps even more efficiently than similar wants have ever been attended to by succeeding Governments (hear, hear). The early history of the coun- try was in fact one of contentment. The requirements of the day were all fully met by the then rulers. AVhat do we find now I Instead of a low^ tarilf of four per cent, the people here are subjected to a high tarifi" ranging all the way from 15 to 35 per cent, — and, in many instances, with the addition of a specific duty, reaching even to more than 100 per cent (hear, hear). Was that tremen- dous addition to the burdens of our people, imposed to meet their wants ? No — decidedly not. It was imjiosed to meet the Avants of that larnvr community called the Dominion of Canada, — and more especially the w^ants of the eastern end of that Dominion (hear, hear and cheers). AVe have but to consider the application of the proceeds of the revenue to see how unfair our treatment has been, and that there is ample cause for the dissatisfaction through- ^ « ' 10 oat tht' Proviii((» with tlie small pittance allowed us lor (le\'t»lopineiit (applause). Bel'ore entoriiiQ* Conl'ederatioii the four provinces originally lonning the union had full jiossession of all revenues as sovereiii'u Provinces. — the ri2"ht of levyinii' customs and excise. — the rig'hts of reve- nue accruing- from the ]>oss(>ssion of lands, timber, mines anproached as to the policy of discrimination against this Province — and when it is shown that we have to bear a full share of that hug-e de])t without deriv- ing' the least benefit therefrom, but being- treated, on the contrary, with the g-rossest injustice by these very pro- vinces, when that is jiointed out . we are told — Oh I yes ; Ca- nada did assume t best' debts, but thiMi these are assets. "Well Mr. f^peaker. we are willing' to give them assets, too. if they will furnish us with the money to cremate them, or pay for them after they are cnnited as was done in the case of the other provinces (loud laughter). Do they mean to say that there is any fairness or e(|uity in the present arrang-ement under which we are heavily taxed for the Intercolonial liailway, the "NVelland Canal, the Lachine Canal, the Grand Trunk IJailway. and all those other improvements and expenditures made and kept by the Eastern Provinces for their own sjxMial benelit. — used by them for their own development. — an arranuement bv i 11 — , whirli while l)i'uriiiu- a lull shniv of the !$90.000.00() of debt thus iucurred. this Proviuci' is iil)soluti>ly denied by these Eastern Proviiues the power of inauiiuratiim" .similar i)ul)lic vrorks for the development of thiscountrv ? Is the arrang-ement to ])e, that we must contribute to their benefit, while at the same time they will not allow us to contribute to our own development, but ke«'p a firm hold on these resources, — our own resour(>es. — which would enable us to promote that development ? (hear, hear and cheers), Were we to be dealt with on the basis of a population of only 17,000 so\ils, while other Pro- vinces were credited with having- one million ? Is that to be our position ? Is this to be our status for years ? If that is to be the position of Manitoba in confederation, then I am afraid that confederation will soon be a thing of the past, as far as Manitoba is concerned, (hear, hear). It is impossible that confederation can exist, un- less the Provinces generally are placed in a more uniform position, (hear, hear and cheers). If it is a partnership at all, — and I always understood it was. — we have been always led to understand that our great national high- way was being built as a bond of union between the Provinces, — if, I sa}', there is any partnership at all. it must l)e oiui in which the Provinces are all dealt with fairly, (cheers). In my innocence I believed that the object of the framers of Confederation was to preserve and extend the rights of all ; to accord to all the same treatment ; that there should l)e nothing like allowing one of the sisters of Confederation to eat in the dining room of the establishment, and fare sumptuously, while another sister was conlined to the kitchen, (laughter), without being able to pro("ure enough to eat even there, (renewed laughter). AVe are told in the despatch sent in answer to the resolutions of this House, in reference to our school lands, that. — — 12 — •• Tlux' liiiids lunii till' >nlij('cl ul' a s|M'fiiil Inisl, lur wliicli lln'v wcri' M't ('unvi'yrd to Manil()i)a. Ivotipvocity in compliments being" in order sometimes, I snpi^ose, I may say that I can interpret that statement as nothing" short ol* a want of confidence in the Ministry and Legislature of this Province being" able to properly administer these school lands, — which of rii>ht belonged to us, which I reciprocate most htnxrtily in so far as regards the Federal Ministry, (hear and laughter). Now in demanding" these lands from the authorities at Ottawa, it was not on the ground of mal-administration, — but because they have not been administered at all, (hear, hear). And the Government at Ottawa seems to be powerless to remedy the evil. Instead of being" administered wisely and judiciously, parties were allowed to settle on them without under- taking permanent improvements. Actuated only by the motive of getting all they could out of the land, such people used it without paying any rent, and never ])uilt on it, but allowed it to be overrun with weeds. Of <'ourse in the case of the bonu fide settlers, — and there were such, they ought to get a title from the Government, on pay- ing a fair price for the land; while in the other cases he had mentioned, it was an injustice to allow such persons to go upon the lands and impoverish them, (hear, hear). Taking everything" into consideration, I will venture to say that we have as little confidence that the lands will be administered to the best advantage ])y the Fed(n"al authorities, as they seem to have in our administration of them, (laughter). And so far as that goes, although we do not want to have the last word and cry scissors ! we feel that we are on an equal footing with them, — 13 — (laughter). In aiisw cv to tho dt'iiiaiul made l)y this House for the control ol' the i)u])lic lauds of tho Provinrc. we iin^ told from Ottawa, that. — '• Till' IVri' liDiin'sli'iiil anil |ii'i'-i'iii|iti{iii jtiiiii'v nl' Ihr Diiiniiiiiiii ('iiinitii- mriil has iii'i'ii proclaiiiii'il llirouiilioiil Imii'u|m' ami rai'rii'il (nil williaihaii- laiji' In MaiiiUtlia. and lliis (Invoriiini'Ml is (if riiiininn Ilia! Iln- ' .1 nl' Hi' I)i»ininiiiii, as wi-ll as tin' ln'Sl iiitiTi'sis i)\' Maiiitoha. ari' pli'il;:. .1 tn il> hi'iiifj' lii'i'inancnllx adiii'i'i'il 1(1. Hi'vunil iliis ami liuw I'ai' il may ln' I'Xpi'- ilii'iit to ciianjri' lln' arranjji'im'nl rxislinf:' hi'twi'i-n Manitolia ami tin' iJuminion in ri's|ii'cl cil' tin' lands of tli<' Doiniiiidn, silnati'd within tlir l'r()\ inci's is om- of tlidSf i|ni'stions involving' linanrial considerations wliii'h. I[is Kxci'llcncy is advisi'd. could advanta^'i'on>l,\ hi' i'ni|iiiri'il into in III'' niannoi' contcniiilati'd )»> I lie Lfgislatiu'c of Manilidia in the lirst ol' thr I'i'soiutions aJiovi' n'l'i'i'i'i'd to in n'lrard to lln' tinancial n'lalion> of the I'rovincc with the Doiniiiioii." I Ui'ed scarcely say that, under any «ircumstances. we would not deem it a disadvantag\3 to this Province to receive a large accession to its population. We are suHi- ciently patriotic. I hope, to receive cordially all good settlers coming here ; and, while, as a member of the Dominion, w^e feel a pride in seeing her swell into larger proportions, we cannot at the same time avoid looking carefully into the effect that increase has on the internal economy of this Province (hear, hear). Nobody welcomes more heartilv than I do. the settler coming here, but it is obvious that this increase of numbers entails increased responsibility, — increased outlay on our part (hear, hear). Additional road-making and repairing are incurred. — educational institutions must be furnished the new- comers, the maintenance of law" and order has to be extended to them. Our wants are increased at an alarm- ing rate. Are the ways and means increased also '? This is a question which must force itself on the atten- tion of every member. And I say here from my place in the House, as leader of the Government, that we do not receive that consideration from the Federal authorities to which w^e are entitled. Their immigration policy, w^hile tending to build up the Dominion, does so in an — 14 — • siK'riiil inainit'r at the cxix'iise of this rroviiue. l*]a(h )nnv settlor within our limits becomes at once a revenu*'- jModuei'r lor Canada, and a tax on the resources of Mani- t(»l)a, which has not heon I'nabled to carry out the objects of government rxs the other Provin(M\s ari^ enabled, by the assistante of the Federal authorities, to carry out (hear, hear) Who gets the fees from the sale of our land ? The Fe- deral GoviM'nment. Who pockets the customs and ex<'ise duties raised by the Province, diities largely increased, as I have said, by I'very additional settler ? The Federal Government, AVe bear the burden. They draw the revenue, — an arrangement altogethor too one-sided for us (hear, hear). Ther«' should, surely, be some sort of proj^ortion be- tween our revenue and our responsibilities, — as our popu- lation increased, so should be our power of providing for the w^ants of that jiopulation (cheers). That is one of the objects for which the resolutions brought dow^n to this House in the early part of the session, were submitted, — to elicit from the Legislature a full expression of opinion as to the policy that should be adopted in dealing with this ProA'ince, (hear, hear). We ask that w^e should be dealt with as the other provinces were on entering con- federation. We ask no extraordinary privileges. Were we to seek for more than the other provinces, the demand might be refused. But we are doing nothing of the kind. All w^e request is fair play (cheers). We are Canadians, and as such wq require that we shall be placed on an equality with the other Provinces (cheers). Give us equality, — fair^play, — and we will work out our ow'n destiny (renew^ed cheers). It may not, perhaps, be out of place to remark here on some of the projects that engag- ed the attention of the four Provinces originally confede- rated, to show how they expended pretty largely their revenues and for w^hich they obtained their credits. In 1 > 1.3 — y I V Jf Qiu'Imt \]\i' abolition oi" thf Sfiiiiiioiial Tfiiuri' was iw romplishi'd at a coi^t ol' $.).000.(M)(). JJut this outlay being- of no material interest to Ontario, she had to set Iroin the (reneral Government, as a quid pro quo $o,0C0,- 000 also, whii'h eonstituted what is generally known as Municipal Loan fund. This represents $10,000,000 of the debt assumed by Canada, on which we are taxed. Besides this, the am])ition of Ontario led her to uiulertake the construction of important public works. There w^as the Welland Canal, costing- |oO,000,000,— which canal cost the Dominion annually .$10,000 beyond the receipts. These properties, defined by the term assets, should yield a revenue were assumed by the Dominion, and all put into a common pot, as it were. I might go on also to in- ohule the Grand Tnmk Kail way, which cost the Domi- nion in the neighborhood of $25,000,000 ; and also the Intercolonial. We have to bear a full and large share of all this burden (hear, hear). Swelled from the sources I have enumerated, the debt of Canada to-day ranges be- tween $150,000,000 and $250,000,000. Taking- it at the latter Hgure and it would represent $50 a head on the whole population of Canada (hear, hear). This is a matter that will strike every member of the House very seriously^ —even though w^e should be told that we have no busi- ness to discuss federal matters (hear). Again, w^hat do we iind latterly? By recent legislation, another $9,000,000 has been added to the public debt of Canada to subsidise roads in the Eastern Provinces (hear, hear). Innocently enough, we believed at one time that the C. P. E. being a national institution, would be the only railway to be subsidised by the nation ; and it is often cast up to us that it w^as built directly in the interests of this Province ; and that we ought to be very thankful for the boon. Now^ a new theory prevails downi East. When the idea was broached as to Manitoba's share of this $9,000,000, the public prints are the authority for the statement that the Minister of Railways said that Mani- 10 — tolm's shuiv ol' thi^i £»Teiit railway simnt toiisistt'd in the constvuctioii oi'thc C. 1*. IJ. and in the aid granted to th«' Hudson's l»ay liaihvay (laughter). Verily we are a highly iiivored community (hear, and laughter). I hav«' belbre ititated that a eontinuancf of the present Dominion policy must compel a resort to direct taxation, — not a pleasant prospect ])y any means (hear, hear). Looking ahead. \vc feel it to he our duty, by every means in our i)o\ver, to prevent the Province from drifting into such a state of circumstances. AVe have to enquire, what sources of revenue will remain to Manitoba when the public lands within her borders are all disposed of? AVhen we look to the large sums realised from mines, minerals, timber and land sales y«'arly by the other Provinces, we cannot dou])t that their rights were duly conserved when they cast in their lot with the Dominion. Manitoba, unluckily, lound herself in far difFi'rent circumstances. — a state ol' things for which the people of this Province cannot be blamed if the truth must be told. — Manito})a was forced into C^on federation, liguratively speaking, at the ]>oint of the l)ay()net. and the people submitted to the conditions imposed on them, not knowing the extent of the responsibilities they were assuming, and confident that in any event they would be treated with full and impartial British justice in dealing with the Federal authorities. They knew that as the last resort there was the appeal to the foot of the Throne : and if that step has not yet been taken, it is because of the reluctance of the people to take that final step in order to assert their rights (hear. hear). They believed that, on becoming part of Confederation, the utmost justice would be conceded to them ; and that belief was justiiied by the utterances of a i^rominent statesman of the day, the late Hon. Jos. Howe, who at that time was visiting the Province, and said : — " I haA'e conversed freely with all classes of the commu- nity, from Governor Mactavish downwards, and to all held the same lansuase " that the same constitution as the other I'ntviiiccj* hosscn^mI would ulliinatcly he (•oiir«'ir('(l upon ilic roimtry." They cxpctl to ciijov the .siuiic roiiNtituiioii ;is the lour IVovinccN nireailv (•ourrdcralcd. All ^V(' dcNirc now is lull roniplftioii ol' the i)roiiii.s»',s then and since held out to u.s. (cheers). Thill is till' ])osition Ave are strivinii- to attain. It is. I honestly believe, the aim and ambition oi' every man in Manitoba to have this Province placed — not in an inferior position — but on j. looting of equality Avith the other Provinces in Confederation, (cheers). It is oft«'n uru'ed by persons in the I<]ast that Manitoba and the Northwi'st are a heavy burden on Canada, — that in fact Ave would soon ruin the Dominion, (hear, hear). Talk to an liiaslern statesman to-day. and he immediatelv tells you. — You are a discontented lot. — a ''spoon-fed" lot. (loud laughter). Look, they tell us. at the C. P. !{., to be built at a cost of ^120.000,000— all for you ! Those who arg'ue in this fashion nevor stop to consider that they entered Confederation with $00,000,000 of a debt. Avhereas Manitoba had always had a full treasury and had no debt, (hear, hear). They forget, too, that they have taken away our means of leA'enue to a large extent. Had we the enjoyment of our local resources to-day, A'ery fcAV of us, I am sure, Avould ])e found to grumble, (hear, hear). One of the questions frequently brought before the Privy Council Avas "the control of our public lands ; "" and latterly. I observe, the Federal authorities have taken to shielding- themseh'es by reference to the policy obtain- ing- in the United States. This had been pleaded as a justification of Dominion policy toAvards us. They say: — " Folldwiiiii in tliis rosjioct tlio t'xnmpli' of Hip United States, wlioro all ]uil»li(; lands in new tcmtories remain the property oI' the nation, (lie Crown lands in Manilolia ir-j. vested in Her Majesty, as represented by tin.' Government of the Dominion. Tliey lia\i' lieen freely granti'd in aid of tin- Canadian Piieilic and other railways, of coloinzation companii's, aidnal settlers, and towai'ds other ohjfots ealenlated to dcxi'lup and auuineiil il^ |population."" ;; — is — ir the Ft'dt'Val imtlunilii's really dcsirt' to ly iill incaiis let iheiii do so. Let tlieiii adopt in eral a jtoliey as Coiiun'^s adopted towards at least some oi" the States, and we Avill he satisfied. Take as an exaiiiph' which Wf may urg'e on the ]"\'deral authorities, the adjoining State of Minnesota. Situated immodiately to thi' south ol" VIS. oeeupying- a largt* and lertilo prairie territ(n"y, and lyiny contiiiuous to Lake Sui)erior, ]\riniie- sota occupii's apo.siti<»n correspond inu' to that occupied ))y Manitoba north of the International ])oundary. Her ])hysical features and mode of devidopment are similar, and she otl'ers, too, similar faciliti«'s for railway construction. Takinu" these thinus into ac- count, we may fairly contlude that the policy under which hi'r dev«dopment was effected, would, if tried here, jnoduc*' like results. We find Con- gress granting that State 11,«)00,200 acres to aid in rail- way construction. In the United States, the State CTOvernments possess chartering" powers similar to those supposed to l)t> conferred on Canadian Provinces. Minne- sota, exercising" this privileg"e, has chartered railways and granted them aid (under a regular system of State rail- way aid within her limits) to the extent of the 11,099,200 acres. This grant has been g"iven towards the construc- tion of 1 ,828 miles of railways. In fact, the State invested the congressional grant in companies organised under State charters. These companies are superintended by a State railway commissioner, and the State exacts from them three per cent of their gross earnings, yielding a revenue of $614,000 in 1882 and $622,000 in 1883, which is increasing every year (hear, hear). So that the Congress- ional hind grant has been so judiciously applied as to be a yearly-increasing source of revenue to the State ; until, wathin a few years, it may be that all the State institutions will be supported by the revenue derived — lit i -ed iVoiii tlif ).iil\viiy compiinics. Imsfd oji llic lii'imt «tiiuinally obtaiurd IVdiii llu' l-'cdfral aulhoritics (licar, licar). I say that il'ihc Dominion (ntvcnmn'nt will only carry out in Manitoba the ai)i)lirati()n of llic sain«' })rin(iplt' such as 1 have illustrated, — even it" \vt' arc not i)hiccd ou the saun* I'ootiiiir as our sisters in Con l'ed« ration, we will not ])edis- posed to urunible very loudly (hear, hear). IT they w^ll only adopt towards us a lilxMal, li'cnerous policy lik«» that adopted by tin' American Federal authorities towards the f^tate adjoininii' our borders, w»' would not only be the gainers as a Province, but the whole Dominion would eVi'iitually be the liaiiU'r also. AV'eare alaru'e proiit to the Dominion now, but, less hampered, and with i'ull oppor- tunity lor development, our worth to the Dominion would be greatly enhaiu,'«»d (cheers). Or, it' they will only leave off meddling- with the charters grant«'d by this House for the promotion of local railways, we might reasonably expect in a few years to be deriving a large revenue from from these sources (cheers). The railways might be made to contribute towards the expense of (Tovernment as had been don»' in the case of the railways south of the line (hear, hear). In addition to the liberal gift Just mentioned, (.'ongress has granted a, 000,000 acres of swamp lands — not needing a large exi)enditure for their reclama- tion. This grant is given towards the support of State institutions such as asylums, with an occasional grant in aid of railways. In addition they have from Congress a grant of 0,400 acres in aid of public buildings. They have also one-eighteenth of the state lands for purposes of education ; for University pur])ases they get 92,100 acres ; towards the maintenance of an Agricultural College ir)0,000 acres, and 46,000 acr«»s of salt lands are handed over to the State ; and for internal improvements other than railways, they have 500,000 acres of the choisest lands that can be selected by the Grovernor of the State, — worth, probably, $8 or i|10 an acre. So that we find ..^ !>(> — Hi CoJIUTcss iilloW illy llic Slaif ol" Milim',s(»ta oNcr IT.O'MI.OOO avit's. cxfliisivt' <>r llic i^Tiints in aid (»!' flif Noitlicni INuilii' Ivailway and tlic ('diicalional unnil (licar. lu'ar). 11' a similar policy were pursiUMl towanlsas hy llu' I'lMlcral aiilh()iili«'s. how would the case staiul ' W»' would he in possession ,()(»0 acres (hear, hear). — and this, too, ex to us as an example lit for imitation, by themselves, then let thorn give us the status which is ours l)y right, (hear, hear). At this tage. j^erhaps it would be as well that ■we should look back and try and acquaint ourselves with some of the causes that led to the with-holding from the people of the ProA'ince the control of the public land.s. On a reference back to the commencement of Provincial historv the following demands will be found embodied in the Bill of Rights presented to the Federal authorities by delegates from the old Red River settlement, or colony of Assiniboia, — in two of the clauses. — one and eleven : — Clauso I. — '• Tlint llio TiTfUnrics lifM'clororo known .is Rnporl's Land anil the Northwest sliall not ontci' into llio ConlVrlfration of the Dominion of Canada except as a Province, to lie styled and known as llu- Province of — -2] — .\««iiiiIm,i,i, .ni.l w illi .ill III.' ri-lil- .111.1 I'l i\ ill';;"- ■•'Hiiiii.Mi u, \\„- .litli'ivui I'liiMii.'.- i.r III.. |)..iiiiiihiii. ' <:i.iii>" \r ■Tli.il iII'Lii.mI l,i'i.M-liil\ir.' .iI' Ih" I'r.iMii-" nl' ,\«-iiiiliiM;i •ll'lll ll'l\.' lull .iilllrol (,\..|' nil III,' |i|||i|ir hlll'K ..! Ilh' I'|M\ III.',', ;|||i| til,' nvlil In .11111 II I .'ill .1.1- ,,!• .iriiiiiL','iii''iil- iii.hl.'. HI- .-III r '.I I II 1. 1 w Mil r,.r..|'.'ii.',' til till' imlilii' lamls III ||ii|„'ii- |„iiiil, .mi.| Ih.. \..i Ihw.'-l n.iu .mII...! Hi.. I'in\ iiii'c \d' .\>>ilii|piiiii." It is appart'iil IVom this miinil't'st (»ri!jiil iln' p'oplc ihcn. iiiul their r»'|)n«s»'ntiiliv('s, liiul ii v<'i'y t'nir roiirt'piioii (»!" at least OIK' lliimr; — that on ((Miiiim' into C'onrt'ch'ia- tioii they wt'ic cntith'd to pri'. ilcii't's such as tlie other .rroviiiees (A' Caiiadu enjoyed, (heaf, lieiiv). Th" llth « lauseol'tlie liill of Itiiihtsis an extraordinary deuiiind and i»ho\vs that it was intended tliat tlie lioeal I.egishiture sliouM have lull control over all the lands not only ol" ihi* Province but also the riuht to annul arranuoinent that may have ))een mado or entered into with reference t(» the pu))lic lands of Rupert's Land. The two clauses I have cited w«'re, I Hnd, specially referred to ))V Sir Clinton Murdoch, then aitiujj as uicdiator between thi^ Federal authorities and the peoide of Ued Itiver; and he held and riuhtly too I think, that as th • latter clause ]>articularly covered a very wide stret<'h of territory, there would at that stage be sonii» dauuer in •iiving" up the eontrol of the public lands to the Province as the land in( luded in the lUll rtf Kiuhts would extend into the Territories ; and havinL*' control of these, the rrovin(;ial auth(nities niiuht thereby be enabled to hinder if not prevent ininiii»ration into the country and stop the l)uildini2" of railroads. "Whatever reason <'ould be advanc- ed for holdinu' those views then, could not, c(;rtainly. be brouu'ht forward now. Tin; (\ P. Iv. has b 'cn already built bevond the Hunts of the Province, and ininiiuration to a laru'i' extent has llowed into and beyond our bounds. Thus those old reasons, — whatever thei>r val •j\ — for with-holdiuu' the public lands of the Province, cannot ol)titin HOW : and in insistinii" on our riuht to uet oo possession ol' these lands, we can. iniioimst oilier thinus, point 1o the laet lliat these old o])j<'elions have faded out oT sig-ht (hear, hi'ar). In diseussinu' our pctsition as a Province, T have endeavored 1o show that Ave never acquiesc«»d in the partial measures ol' relief accorded to us. l)ut I'roni the very out — set we indicated plainly that our position was at once unlbrtuiuitt* and eminently unsatisliu'tory — a stat«' of affairs residtinii' from our not having got a fair start in the provincial race (hear, hear). The earliest op])ortunity oifered the people of this Prov- ince Avas taken advantaij'e of by them to represent the true state of aifairs and endeavor to set themselves riuht. In the iirst session of the Legislature of Manitoba there was ti motion brought forward by a minority of the House, taking exception to the sjieeeh then delivered. l)ecause it iontained no assurance that a promise of the restoration of the public lands was held out to the people. So that from the very inception of representative institutions here, down to the i)resent time, it is clear that this question was never lost sight of, (hear. hear). There is no missing link in that chain, (hear). And for my part I believe that the justice of our cause is suoh that we will yet triumph, (cheers), — that we will be invested with the full control of the lands not dis])osed ol^ — and also that there will l)e full recognition of our right to that which has been already parted with, (cheers), That, I l)elievo to ])e the claim the Province makes ; she Avill l)e satisiied with no less ; and until her reasonable demands in this respect have been complied with, the present discontent in the Province will go on increasing, (hear, hear). As Ihitish subjects we know and cherish our riii'hts : and Ave believe in the end, right must jn-evail. (cheers). AVe are not dillerent from other British su])jet-ts in believinu' that in the end our righis cannot be with- h(dd from us. On the contrarv. did we tamelv submit to wronii' — did we abandon our riahts, — we would be less than British subjects, (hear, hear and cheers). Per- 2'] haps, ill proportion to our j^pulatioii. \\ f have in Maiii- tobti as many, il'not more men ol' tiilcnt. l)U.siiu»ss (enter- prise and solid ^vort]l than lliey liave in any other Provinee of the Dominion, (hear, liear) ; and these are not the men to tamely suHer \vronu', (hear, hear). Did we do so. we would, in all pro])al)ility. injure others as well as ourselves. The attion taken towards ^Nlaniloba, it must 1).^ reniemherod. may l)e dui)li(ated in the ease oi' tlie remaining Provinces to be carvi'd out oi' the great North- west ; the course we take will 1),' to some extent a precedent lor them, (hear. hear). All the more need then Tor a linn stand on Provincial Piuhts. (cheers). All the more need that we should be careful so to conserve and maintain our i)owors and privileges as a Province, that we will not endanger in any way, by a bad precedent or otherwise, the future of the IM'Ovinces to be <'reated there, (hear, hear). "We have, as it were, not only to maintain firmly our own i^osition for ourselves, but also one which is very likely to influence the future of other Provinces yet to ])e called into existence in this land, (cheers). AYe have, so to speak, to stand in the front of the battle, and to fia'ht not only for ourselves but for the other Provinces yet to ])e created, (cheers). AVhen the House adjouriu'd yesterday (continued the Hon. gentleman, in resuminii" his speech on the following day). I had just concluded, fo41owing out the analoiiy - liberal, we nuiy compute the area oT Prince Edward Island as even lari>vr than they have made it. Com- pany it with the area oi' this Trovince. and it will be found that instead of reci'ivin«>' an annual subsidy of >;4."),000 in lieu of her lands or a capital of siHio.OOO, Manitoba should, — on the showing- of the Ottawa autho- rities themselves, — have had a credit of somethinii- bet- ween iii!.')3,000,000 and $.")."). OOO.OOO. or an annual interest resultinu' th«nvfrom of $2..')0(),000, (hear, hear). I do not pretend to set up a claim on tin* part of the Proyince to this amount (laughter), but I quote it to show Uie lalso basis on which the financial arrangements with this Pro- vinee have 1)een calculated at Ottawa (hear. hear). I am merely carrying out or extending an analogy expressly cited for our benefit by the Federal authorities ; and dt^monstrating that if they are satisfied with such an arrangement, w^e should be, provided the sum is carried out or extended to its legitimate issue (hear, Innir). The Dominion Government, in its official statements, calls attention to the fertility of our lands, — being, indeed, the most valuable on the continent, and we, most assuredly, are not disposed to imder-rate them. AVith a less fertih* soil, and a paltry area of 1, :]<)"), 120 acres, Prince Edward Island is o'vanted i$80<),000 in lieu of lands, What, then, ought to be the proportionate reeomp(Mise given to a Province such as ours, with an <'Xceptionally fertile soil and an area of somethiim- like l»r).(l()(),(M)0 acres i Our lands.— admitted to be some of the best on the continent, — should haA'e formed a valuable patrimony for the Province, for the advancement of all those public purposes, in aid of which the other Provinces had their lands or an e([uivalent tliercfor (h(\.i', hear), li' a (juid pro (pio was liiviMi to 2.". this rroAiiKH' lor tlic linids to which she is t'litilh'd, — which aro within her l)or(Icrs, I havi' indicated on the basis favored l)ythe Federal authorities themselves, what it should be (hear, hear). They have instituted a ("om- l)arison. I say that if we are to have any comparison at all, it ouuht to be om^ in its entirety. Let it be a real one. AVe can al)ide by any lair comparison (hear, hear). We hav<» urg-ed certain claims. It is al)solutely essential that these claims should 1)e settled once lor all. When T come to spt'ak of the Estimates, I will show how essential these claims are ; and hon. meml)ers will be able to judg-e for tlunnselves when then' observe that the Provincial rcn'enue is absolutely uiuible to mei^t, — and. indeed, is a, long way from meeting th«^ demands made on it for th(^ barest necessities of Government (hear, hear). r referred yesterday to the oft-re])eated exin-essions of eastern statesmen in dealing with the interests of this Trovince, — to the elfect that w^' wtn-c^ a burden on the Dominion. I do not need to go over much ground to expose the al)surdity of these opinions. I have already noticed that before Manitoba became (Confederated, the other provinces forming the Dominion had incurred heavy liTilnlities in the prosiMUtion of local improve- ments, — improvenu'uts similar to thosi? which it is .incumbent on this Legislaturi^ and Crovernment to pro- secuti^ in the interests of this Province. In making like improvements, and in other ways, the Provinces I have alluded to, ran up a joint debt of $!tO,000,000. And now, as I have noted, their position is this : They are relieved of that debt, and they have those improvements the making of which helped to create the de])t, (hear, hear). I desire to call special attention in this connec- tion to th»» subse(pient arrangements wit li Prince Edward Island, in order to disabuse the minds of members of this Leu'islature of the absurd idea, l)roached sonn^ time ago, — and contradicted by me at the time, — that the !$4"),0()0 per annum had been accepted as compensation — 20 — for our i)ii])lic lauds. I miiiutaiiicd ihcii. ns I do now, that the action of the Gov«n'iiin('iit oi' this Proviiico in ae<'optiiig' that >?4"),()00 roiikl not be iiitcrpn'tcd as a tbrrcituri' ol' the riu'hts oi' tiiis rroviiict' in its jniblif lands. AVc then claimiMl, as we do now, that we must ho invi'stt'd with tho lull control and manau'cmcnt oi' our public lands, and bo placed on tho same status in that respect as tho oth(>r Provinces (cheers). To day the intention of the (lovernment is to submit to the House a proposition by which, as a Leo'islature, we will ])e enabled to submit to the Federal authorities, our full claims in this respect ; and it will remain with this House then to accept or reject whatever terms are oli'ered (cheers). In mv reiVrence ycsterdav to the old Colonv of Assiniboia, I forgot to mention that in those early days they were in possession of a homestead law, — a cir- cumstance w^hich will still further illustrate and justifv my i)osition that that colony exercised all the rights of the old Provinces before Confederation. This is the enact- ment, — simply phrased, as the enactments of those days generally Avere. '• On motion of the liishop of St. IJoniface. seconded by Solomon Hamelin, and carried: — That in dilliculties arisinu' between persons who take land outside that part of the Colony already surveyed, or even that exceeding the limits of the Colony, the Magistrates be authorized to take for the principle that ten chains shall be the limit of the pre-emption riu'ht arising from occupation." This enactment (continued the Hon. gentleman) was never set aside bv higher authorit v. Sanctioned bv <'Ustom. it remained in full force (cheers). The very production, I say, of such evidemte of the exercise of authority-, with the evidence already cited, is sufficient to justify us in the premises that that old colony enjoyed rights similar to those exercised by the other provinces prior to Confederation. 27 — And I uo lurthcr. and stale tliat it was a violation ol' thu terms oi' Conli'dcrat ion that those u'entlenien cjicupvin^' ollifial ])osition,s here then weiv' not consulted l)i'fore tlie union with the ])oniinion (hear, liear). Further. I may .state that the o;-eui)ation of the ehiss ol' claims relerred to in this Homestead Law. has ])een recouiiised by the^NEani- toba Act. and conlirmed by uivinu' u'rants to those Avhtj .satisl'actorily established undisturbed occupancy ol' land within the rrovincial limits (ni tlu^ loth July. Is7(), under that very ])rovisi()n (hear. hear). As to this puz/cle to lilastern people, the cost ol' Manitoba to the Dominion, let me bring forward a few facts. Let us take the cost of Manitoba to the Dominion as compared with those Provinces that entered subsequently to ISTO. — as the cost in the case of the other rrovimn's has been very fully discussed of late. In British Columbia, for instance, their receipts during" the last ten years amounted to $2,703,548.80. Manitoba's income from similar sources during- the same period was$Lo41,44S.10 — showing that we received in that time $1, 252, 09"). 20 less than our favored sister Province on the Pacific. To estimate this statt^ of things correctly, we must consider the status of British Columbia in the Dominion. 8he had control of all her public lands --o,Avned valuable mines — and exten- sive timber limits. And she received the revenue I have specified to govern a white i)opulation which is only about a quarter of the population of this Province. For her neces.siti«\s in this direction, she received nearly double as much as we did in the ten years instanced (hear, hear). As evidencing still further the inequality of the terms on which Manitoba was taken into Confede- ration I will cite the state of all'airs financially in Prince Edward Island durinu' the ten years mentioned. She received in that time for her public expenditures $2,240,920.15, as against Manito])a's s^l, 541,448. 10. Thus the little island at the Atlantic end of Confederation heads us olf in financial resources, bv $708,472.05 (hear. ht'iiv). rushinii' the *'ii(|uirv still ruifhcr. it will Ix' sccii that whil' this Province ivceivcd less than rh ' Pi'Dviiu-cs named, she could not obtain the ways and means to carry on li'overnnient, as these two Provinces were enabled by the Federal anthorities to do, — more was exacted ol' us, — heavier burdens were imposed on us than on either of the two favorite Provinces cited (hear, hear). While we v«'ceive de-ade British Columbia's net revtuiue to th3 l).)minion (arising from customs and excise) was !«;2,7o.J,o8S. In the same period Manitoba's net contributions to the Dominion from like source -i, reached $;),r(^litabh' to the Dominion than IJritish Columbia by s;l.()()3,o.")0.!t2. This amount would, as t have said, b,' lara' dy sw>dled. if we were able to take into ac;M)unt the Dominion revenue derived from the land within our limits. As it is, however, the comp.irison clearly establishes thai M initol).i is the. largest contributor to the Dominion Treasury, of the above provinces cited while in icceipt of the snuillest — •".) — 1 .siil)si^T0S.4T-.05 less than Vrince Edward Ishiud. whik' contributinn' >i;3,:)32.;>8:>.To more; and while roceivinu- !^1.2')2.0!t">.'20 less than British Columbia. Mani- toba contril)Uted ^I,l03,8o0.1>2 more than the Tacilic Province (hear, hear) Once more, we make a deduction from these liu'ures for presentation to the Federal autho- rities. It is this : — Prince Edward Ishmd having l)eeu ■subsidised durinu" the period named to the extent of 12.240,920 having yielded a prolit of )i^o8o.o.jo whih' Manitoba's prolit to Canada during a corresponding period was is>-^,->32,->8o.To, n'ckoning Manito])a"s profit to Canada as compared with Prince lildward Island receipts she should have had as subsidy an amount of $14,000,000 (hear, hear). This, it is to be noted, is the result to which the comparison instituted by the Federal authorities leads (hear, hear). In reality our subsidy for the period mentioned reached .Sl,.")41,448.10. Is there equality or justice in a state of atl'airs such as this ? (hear, hear). Mani- toba has ])een, in fact, the most proiitable investment the Dominion ever made in hw whole public existence (cheers). In point of fact, the revenues accruing in Ma- nitoba and the North AVest have been the jn-incipal sources by "which of late the credit of the Dominion has been placed on a firm basis in the money markets of the world, enabling the Federal authorities to pay interest on the large and heavy debt thrown on the Dominion by the Eastern Provinces on entering Confederation (hear and cheers). Canada's western possessions are shown rofitable operation than the acquisition of this portion of Canada (cheers). Is it any wonder, then, that under these circumstances the people of the West should look with anxiety and doul)t into the future, — th«' short exis- tence w*' have had in the Dominion partnership being* sufficient to illustrate to us the necessity of a radical readjustment of our position (hear, hear). I w411 now briefly refer to the estimates which His Honor has trans- mitted to this House, ])ut not with the intention of entering into any detailed explanation as to the applica- tion of the sums required. I will merely say that we ask the sanction of the Legislature to an expenditure of !|144,0J»G.61 more than we show any reasonable hope of being able to meet from any revenue at our disposal (hear hear). The other Hon. gentlemen exercising supervi- sion over departments will be able to give details of the Estimates. In bringing them down, I may also observe that they are merely for the ordinary current exjienses of the Province ; and, while endeavoring to be as economical as possible in the administration of the I I' nl i M imhlif ruiuls. it will he adniitlt'd thnt it Wduld In- had policy on our piirt so 1(» ciirliiil thai <'xpt'iiditun> as to ])rt'V('nt our l)('iim'al)l(' louicct all nct'cssary cxpcnsi's. The VroviiK'c is iu course ol' rai)id dcvidopuuMii, and any undue t'lMMioniy i»t this juntlurc \vould thcrcrorc Ix' I'alsc ciononiy. as tendinis,* to retard that dcvclopnicnt (hear, hear). In rcg'ard to the position of allairs iinanrially. the Uoveruinent have had occasion l>efbro this to state it as their opinion that the present position of atfairs Avas inevitahh'. The whoh' question as to the linan«ial standini (M ^ ^ -f ffi 1-* Oi C ^ <© CI _o r2 O * <» -t l'- X CO 1^ '.o t- CI CI o r. CI X •^ :t.- 3 I"- CI 1— O >0 CO O Ci I— CO 1— c] o 'o X n X X o Ci c; CO X CI o ^ r-t T-l rl o 1-H '" aT o rg O "OO- ^ • ^H h-* -ii o S3 C-. '.T r; T-( i.T -t CI -t o CI CI i 'n -t 'C -t -t* r-i C". X O O -o ^ 'C 't O -O 1- O Cv X 'O Oi 1- o /, T-i CI 1-1 o r^ ^ *^ ri C. «C Cl 1- ^- lO r-i -f rH ^ ^ X !■- O X O O O C. 'C i- r-l CI r^ >^ K* W ai -f-fCOCO'OCOCOCO-t't CI -t o •fH ■iy> >-• cq *,_ i ."" ' ' 1 '' -' "■ #-■. ? ^ _ O ■ CO 'O X iC) -t >0 -f C' CJ -o C- X f^ "O X T-1 CO rH O r-H -t C. i-H X o C5 CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO *^ oo =00 CO S ^ ;h d >0 X X !■- Ci 1- CO -t -t" O >c M w lO CD CI X i- o o c: J- X o >.ti iC 't CO CO CO UO to o o 1—1 >c -4-J ►- ^x* >o ^^ CO a o -4-1 1 1 ^ -. 1- rH J- O -D -t CI CI X •■£' T— 1 M c w CV J^ X Ci O r-1 CO X O -t o -1^ CI CI CI CM CI CO CO CO CO CO 1— ( CO c_, H =•»= CO o X. =0«= H 1 '^^^ *^ P o Pi -f 'C w 1- X r. o r-* CI cc rt •^ 1- 1- 1- 1- 1- 1- ^ oc X X -=^ w X' X X X X X X X X X 1 *^ I f * i Ill « ( 4 ! Comparison botwoon tho Pn.vincos ol Manitoba, Britinli Columbia and riinco Edward I^sland. British Columbia 2,7oo,r.8S 00 Balanri' in iavor ot Manitol)a ^^^0H ]o() t Manitoba >;{8")8'^i' • Princo Edward Island...... ..'.".V..."!!^!^!!"^!'* 'i^\:^' rr . " Balance in liivor of Manitoba !iii.'l,3'7:\:}h8 7;; J)i.sl)urs.'monts mado. by FodtMal Govornmont— Ihitish Columbia ^2,lunM-\ :10 ^^^^"i<^«^'^ 1,541,44« 10 i^l,2')2,0!>r, i>(i Con (ribut ions of Manitoba in oxivsH ol' British Colum- , '*^ , !i;l,10:{,:350 |)2 Koceipts less l,2r)2,00r) 20 >^2,aoo,44(J 12 Manitoba worth more to Canada than British Columbia. J)isl)ursements made by Federal Government— Priiue Edward Island $2,240,J>20 ir, Manitoba 1,541,448 10 >si 708,472 0") Contri])utioii of Manitolia in excess ol'Prince Edward I^l''i»^ !S3,:5;52,:}H:} 73 Ueceipts less 708,472 O;! .'J!i4,040,8;55 78 Manitolja proiit to Canada over Prince Edward Island.