The ‘Dominion of Canada’
From Canadian exchanges we learn that it is reported that the Hon. John A. McDonald will be made Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, or Upper Canada. Hon. John Rose, M.P. for Montreal, is to be Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, or Lower Canada. They will both probably be knighted.
Rose was leader of the annexation movement in 1817. The Montreal Gazette’s special says that the name of the “Kingdom of Canada” for the new Confederation has been changed to the “Dominion of Canada.”
The federal Legislature will be styled “The Parliament of Canada,” The Upper House will be styled the Senate, the Lower House the House of Commons.
The local Legislatures are to be known as the Provincial Legislatures of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, respectively.
Ontario, formerly Upper Canada, is to have but one chamber, to be known as the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The other provinces each have a Legislative Council and a House of Assembly.
The Speaker of the Senate is to be appointed by the Crown, and is to have power to create six additional Senators, beyond the stipulated 72, in the event of necessity.
The House of Commons is to consist of 181 members, 82 from Ontario, 55 from Quebec, 19 from Nova Scotia and 15 from New Brunswick.
The Queen’s representative, presiding over the new kingdom, is to retain the old title of Governor General, with a salary of $50,000. Each province is to have a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Governor General in Council.
The seat of Government is to be Ottawa, subject to royal prorogation. Toronto, Quebec, Halifax and Fredericton are to be the seats of Local Legislatures.
A railroad from St. Lawrence to Halifax, N.S., is to be commenced six months after the union, and completed within three years.
Provision is made for the admission hereafter into the union of Newfoundland, Prince Edward’s Island, Rupert’s Land, the Northwest Territory and British Columbia, on such terms as the Parliament of Canada shall deem equitable, and as shall receive the assent given. The Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle,
April 4, 1867