HL Deb 16 July 1907 vol 178 cc466-9

House in committee (according to Order).

[The Earl of ONSLOW in the Chair.]

Clause 1:—

*The SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (The Earl of Elgin)

My Lords, the first is a small Amendment in order to preserve the rights of certain provinces under the existing law. They are now entitled to receive the highest grant to which their population has ever entitled them although the population itself may decrease. The only practical question arises in Prince Edward Island. There the population at one time was 94,000; it rose to 110,000 and receded to 103,000, but the grant continued throughout. I therefore beg to move that these words be here inserted.

Amendment moved— In page 2, line 4, at the beginning of paragraph (b) to insert the words 'subject to the special provisions of this Act as to the provinces of British Columbia and Prince Edward Island.' "—(The Earl of Elgin.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Drafting Amendment agreed to.

*THE EARL OF ELGIN

then moved the insertion of a new subsection to Clause 1.

Amendment moved— In page 2, line 38, after the word 'subtituted' to insert the following new subsection:—'(8) In the case of the provinces of British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, the amount paid on account of the grant payable per head of the population to the provinces under this Act shall not at any time be less than the amount of the corresponding grant payable at the commencement of this Act; and if it is found on any decennial census that the population of the province has decreased since the last decennial census, the amount paid on account of the grant shall not be decreased below the amount then payable, notwithstanding the decrease of the population.' "—(The Earl of Elgin.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 1, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 2 agreed to.

Schedule:—

*THE EARL OF ELGIN

My Lords, the Schedule which I now move to insert is to meet the desire of the Dominion Government that the Address in which they requested His Majesty to bring in this Imperial Act should appear in its full terms. We had to inform them that it was not possible to incorporate the words of the Address in the text of the Bill, which we maintain unaltered; but we think it is possible to insert the Address in full as a Schedule. In order that that may be done we have also to insert a Preamble, which I will move afterwards. In the meantime I beg to move the insertion of the Schedule.

Amendment moved— In page 2, to insert as a schedule:—'Schedule. To the King's Most Excellent Majesty. Most Gracious Sovereign, We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Senate and Commons of Canada, in Parliament assembled, humbly approach Your Majesty for the purpose of representing that it is expedient to amend the scale of payments authorised under Section 118 of the Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, commonly called the British North America Act, 1867, or by or under any terms or conditions upon which any other provinces were admitted to the Union, to be made by Canada to the several provinces of the Dominion for the support of their Governments and Legislatures by providing that—A. Instead of the amounts now payable, the sums hereafter payable yearly by Canada to the several provinces for the support of their Governments and Legislatures be according to population, and as follows: (a) Where the population of the province is under 150,000, $100,000; (b) Where the population of the province is 150,000, but does not exceed 200,000. $150,000; (c) Where the population of the province is 200,000, but does not exceed 400,000, $180,000; (d) Where the population of the province is 400,000, but does not exceed 800,000, $190,000; (e) Where the population of the province is 800,000, but does not exceed 1,500,000, $220,000; (f) Where the population of the province exceeds 1,500,000, $240,000. B. Instead of an annual grant per head of population now allowed, the annual payment hereafter be at the same rate of eighty cents per head, but on the population of each province, as ascertained from time to time by the last decennial census, or in the case of the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta respectively, by the last quinquennial census or statutory estimate, until such population exceeds 2,500,000, and at the rate of sixty cents per head for so much of said population us may exceed 2,500,000. C. An additional allowance to the extent of one hundred thousand dollars annually be paid for ten years to the province of British Columbia. D. Nothing herein contained shall in any way supersede or affect the terms special to any particular province upon which such province became part of the Dominion of Canada, or the right of any province to the payment of any special grant heretofore made by the Parliament of Canada to any province for any special purpose in such grant expressed. We pray that Your Majesty may be graciously pleased to cause a measure to be laid before the Imperial Parliament at its present session repealing the provisions of Section 118 of the British North America Act. 1867, aforesaid, and substituting there-for the scale of payments above set forth which shall be a final and unalterable settlement of the amounts to be paid yearly to the several provinces of the Dominion for their local purposes, and the support of their Governments and Legislatures. Such grants shall be paid half-yearly in advance to each province, but the Government of Canada shall deduct from such grants as against any province all sums chargeable as interest on the public debt of that province in excess of the several amounts stipulated in the said Act. All of which we humbly pray Your Majesty to take into your favourable and gracious consideration.

'(Signed) R. DANDURAND,

Speaker of the Senate.

'(Signed) R. F. SUTHERLAND,

Speaker of the House of Commons

Senate and House of Commons,

Ottawa, Canada,

26th April, 1907.' "

—(The Earl of Elgin.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Preamble:—

THE EARL OF ELGIN

I beg to move the insertion of the Preamable which stands on the Paper.

Amendment moved— In page 1, to insert as a premable to the Bill the words 'Whereas an address has been presented to His Majesty by the Senate and Commons of Canada in the terms set forth in the Schedule to this Act.' "—(The, Earl of Elgin.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Consequential Amendment agreed to.

Standing Committee negatived. The Report of Amendments to be received To-morrow; and Bill to be printed as Amended. (No. 114.)