The Constitution of Canada

work on Parliamentary Government in the Colonies has discussed such matters at full length. In the chapter on the Dominion Parliament I have availed myself of the very valuable work of Mr Bourinot on Parliamentary Procedure in Canada.

In the last session of the Canadian Parliament several Acts were passed that modify some of the statements in the text. By the 51 Vic. c. 11 the Dominion Elections Act has been amended as regards the nomination of candidates, the method of voting, and the definition of corrupt practices; by the 51 Vic. c. 17, the organisation of the Department of Public Printing has been modified; and by the 51 Vic. c. 43 appeals in criminal cases to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council have been forbidden.

The most important change introduced into the constitution has been the formation of a Legislative Assembly for the North West Territories. By chapter 50 of the Revised Statutes of Canada the Council of the North West Territories, as soon as its number reached twenty-one, was to give way to a Legislative Assembly'. The new Assembly is to consist of twenty-two elected members and three legal experts, the former to be elected by such male British subjects, other than unenfranchised Indians, as have been resident in the Territories for twelve months, and in their electoral districts for three months, preceding the election; the latter to be nominated by the Governor-General in Council.

The legal experts have the same privileges as elected members, except that they are not allowed to vote: on a dissolution taking place they vacate their offices.

The Lieutenant-Governor is authorised to nominate four members of the Assembly to act as an "advisory council" on

1 See post, p. 36.

matters of finance. At meetings of this council the Lieutenant-Governor is to preside, and he is allowed a vote as well as a casting vote. Before being introduced all money bills must be recommended by him to the Assembly.

Notwithstanding the existence of this Assembly the constitution of the North West Territories differs in several important respects from that found in the provinces. The Territories do not constitute "a Province," and the Assembly has therefore only such legislative powers as the Dominion Parliament confers on it. The Lieutenant-Governor exercises the chief executive power and is not to the same extent as in the Provinces bound to defer to his advisers. No doubt in time the more settled districts in the Territories will be formed into a new province.

I am much indebted to Mr J. G. Colmar, secretary to the High Commissioner for Canada, for valuable assistance during the progress of the work; to Mr J. S. O'Halloran, secretary of the Royal Colonial Institute, and to the Librarian of the Colonial Office for permission to consult their libraries; and to my friends Professor T. N. Toller and Mr R. T. Wright for their kind aid in revising proofs.