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CANADA.
(Dominion of Canada.)
CONSTITUTION and Government.—The Dominion of Canada consists of the provinces of Ontario, Quebec—formerly Upper and Lower Canada—Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island. They were united under the provisions of an Act of the Imperial Parliament passed in March, 1867, known as "The British North America Act, 1867," which came into operation on the 1st July, 1867, by royal proclamation, The Act orders that the constitution of the Dominion shall be "similar in principle to that of the United Kingdom;" that the executive authority shall be vested in the Sovereign of Great Britain and Ireland, and carried on in her name by a Governor-General and Privy Council; and that the legislative power shall be exercised by a Parliament of two Houses, called the "Senate," and the "House of Commons." Provision is made in the Act for the admission of Newfoundland, still independent province of British North America, into the Dominion of Canada.
The members of the Senate of the Parliament of the Dominion are nominated for life, by summons of the Governor-General under the Great Seal of Canada. By the terms of the constitution, there are 77 senators, namely, 24 from the Province of Ontario, 2 from Quebec, 10 from Nova Scotia, 10 from New Brunswick, 2 from Manitoba, 3 from British Columbia, and 4 from Prince Edward Island. Each senator must be 30 years of age, a born or naturalized subject, and possessed of property, real or personal, of the value of 4,000 dollars in the province for which he is appointed. The House of Commons of the Dominion is elected by the people, for five years, at the rate of one representative for every 17,000 souls. At present, on the basis of the census returns of 1871, the House of Commons consists of 206 members, namely, 88 for Ontario, 65 for Quebec, 21 for Nova Scotia, 16 for New Brunswick, 4 for Manitoba, 6 for British Columbia, and 6 for Prince Edward Island.
The members of the House of Commons are elected by constituencies, varying in the different provinces. In Ontario and Quebec a vote is given to every male subject being the owner or occupier or tenant of real property of the assessed value of 300 dollars, or of the yearly value of 30 dollars, if within cities or towns, or of the assessed value of 200 dollars, or the yearly value of 20 dollars, if not so situate, In New Brunswick a vote is given to every male subject of the age of 21 years, assessed in respect of real estate to the amount of 100 dollars, or of personal property, or personal and real, amounting together to 400 dollars, or goo dollars annual income. In Nova Scotia the franchise is with all subjects of the age of 21 years, assessed in respect of real estate to the value of 150 dollars, or in respect of personal estate, or of real and personal together, to the value of 400 dollars. Voting in Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island is open; but in New Brunswick votes are taken by ballot.
The Speaker of the House of Commons has a salary of 4,000 dollars per annum, and each member an allowance of 10 dollars per diem, up to the end of 3o days, and for a session lasting longer than this period, the sum of 1,000 dollars, with, in every case, 10 cents per mile for traveling expenses. The sum of 8 dollars per diem is deducted for every day's absence of a member, unless the same is caused by illness. There is the same allowance for the members of the Senate of the Dominion.
The seven provinces forming the Dominion have each a separate parliament and administration, with a Lieutenant-Governor at the head of the executive. They have full powers to regulate their own local affairs, dispose of their revenues, and enact such laws as they may deem best for their own internal welfare, provided only they do not interfere with, or are adverse to, the action and policy of the central administration under the Governor-General.
Governor-General.—Rt. Hon. Sir John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, Marquis of Lorne, K.T., G.C.M.G., born August 6, 1845, eldest son of the eighth duke of Argyle; educated at Eton, and Trinity College, Cambridge; returned to Parliament for Argyllshire, February, 1868; married March 21, 1871, to Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain and Ireland. Appointed Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada and of British North America, October 14, 1878; assumed the Government, December 7, 1878.
