FEDERAL ELECTION (CANADA). (Hansard, 1 May 1913)

§ Mr. GULLAND
I beg to move, "That this House do now adjourn."

§ Mr. HAMAR GREENWOOD
I should like to call your attention, Sir, to a statement made by the hon. and learned Gentleman (Mr. Macmaster) in interrupting the speech of the Solicitor-General.

§ Mr. FIELD
I understood that I had first claim on the Motion for the Adjournment.

§ Mr. H. GREENWOOD
I understood the hon. Member was not going to rise. I was not in the House at the time or I should have taken my objection then. The hon. and learned Gentleman said that he was not only a pluralist in the Mother country, but he had voted as a pluralist in the last Federal Election in Canada. It is quite true that at the last Federal Election in Canada in the Province of Quebec and in that province only there was plural voting. But since the last General Election the Quebec Parliament has passed a Statute 1540 to abolish plural voting, so that at this time—that is the time when the Solicitor-General made his speech this evening—there is no such thing as plural voting in the Dominion of Canada. I will say further that in Canada—and this is where the mistake has arisen on the part of the hon. Member for Chertsey—under the Provincial Parliaments is prepared the register or voters list. Up to and including the last General Election, in the Province of Quebec you could have more than one vote but now there is no such thing as a pluralist in the whole Dominion.

§ Mr. MACMASTER
I was not aware that during the last Session any change was made in the law in Quebec. It is perfectly true that the qualification for voting in the federal election is regulated now by the register prepared under the Provincial Parliaments. I referred to the most recent experience in the federal election in that country, and at the last General Election I voted as a plural voter in two separate divisions. I was not aware that this has been changed. I will verify the Statute, but in the meantime I must assume that my right hon. Friend is right.