under difficult circumstances to insure so far as possible the success of the movement. The thanks of this country are due to the district directors who earnestly and sincerely laboured to make their work a success and particularly to Mr. C. W. Peterson the unpaid secretary of the board to whose zeal, patience, persistence and energy in no small degree the success of the work that was undertaken is due. Nothing, however, could have left with me a mere las:ing or a more pleasant memory than the recollection of the sympathy which all who are in this House have extended to me in the work I was unfortunate enough to have been induced to undertake. I shall never forget the kindliness of their criticism, and their willingness to appreciate and understand the difficulties under which the work was carried on. THE WAR-TIME ELECTIONS ACT. Mr. D. C. ROSS (West Middlesex): There is some difference, on this side of the House at any rate, as to whether an elector who is on the voters' list of the province of Ontario, who has left the electoral district, is entitled to vote. Section 32 of the Wartime Elections Act, provides that: The qualifications necessary to enable any male person to vote at a Dominion election in any province shall, except as by this Act otherwise provided, be those established by the laws of that province as necessary to entitle such male person to vote in the same part of the province at a provincial election. Under the law of the province of Ontario a male person, in order to vote, has to be a resident on the day of polling domiciled in the district in which he is voting. I should like to ask the Minister of Justice (Mr. Doherty) whether that rule will still prevail under this Act. Mr. DOHERTY (Minister of Justice): I can only give my opinion of the interpretation of the provisions of the Act, but I am very clear in that opinion. Under the first paragraph of section 32, it is made quite clear that the qualifications to vote, prescribed by the law of any province are to be the qualifications of male voters under this Act, save in so far as they may be modified by the provisions of this Act. There are but two provisions which I have heard it suggested might be said to modify what I understand to be the requirements of the Ontario law, that in order to be entitled to vote a person must be a resident in the constituency at the time he voted. The two provisions that have been suggested as possibly modifying that are subsection 2 of section 32 and section 143. As regards subsection 2, a perusal of it will make it perfectly clear, I think, that it deals with the subject of residence only from the point of view of the operation of preparing or adding to the lists. Its purpose is merely to fix a date in relation to which the period of time required in any province for residence within the province and for residence within the constituency, shall be fixed, and it fixes the period of residence essential to entitle a man to be placed upon the list as one year within the provinces, as I understand the amendment of the Senate, and thirty days within the constituency, such periods to be fixed by reference ot the date of the writ of election. That deals only with the question of residence so far as it is to be considered in preparing or adding to lists, and its purpose and effect are merely to determine the period, and the date in relation to which that period shall be fixed. Section 143, as I read it, is intended to, and does, simply determine, not what is the qualification to vote, but the place at which a person having all the qualifications to vote shall be entitled to vote, and the only place at which he shall be entitled to vote. The section provides: Except as otherwise provided in this Act, each elector shall be entitled to vote at the polling station of the polling division, or of one of the polling divisions, upon the list of voters for which his name is There is a misprint in the Bill, but at all events the man's name figures on the list. I would point out that the section does not create the right to vote, and I say that, because it deals only with a person who is an elector, and the definition section of the Elections Act defines an elector as a person who is entitled to vote. So that it means simply that any person entitled to vote shall be so entitled at a particular time. Mr. CARVELL: In connection with the subject under discussion, I would, like to put a concrete case before the minister in order to have his judicial opinion on it. I take it for granted from what he has stated that under the provisions of section 143 a man can only vote at the place from which his name is upon the voters' list. Accord ing to the laws of the province of New Brunswick a man can only vote at that place in which he is a resident, but we have a very simple provision by which, if a man's name is properly added to the list, say in the city of St. John, and he moved before the election to, say, the city of Moneton, his name could be easily transferred from the list for the city of St. John to that for the city of Moncton, and he would vote in the city of Moncton. Would the minister think that section 143 would override the provisions of our Act as to residence and the right of a man to have his name transferred from his former residence to his present residence? Mr. DOHERTY: That question has just been brought to my attention. I have not had an opportunity of giving any thought to it, and I would not like to pronounce an offhand opinion on the point. I think my hon. friend will recognize that this is a different question from the one put by the hon. member for Middlesex (Mr. Ross). Mr. CARVELL: Yes, it is. Mr. DOHERTY: The hon. member for Middlesex (Mr. Ross) had spoken to me about the question during the course of the afternoon, and thus I had an opportunity of looking into it. Mr. CARVELL: In view of the great difficulties that may arise in our province, may I suggest that the minister give a decision OL this point, which decision should be made public. I am satisfied if this were done it would be in the interests of everybody. Mr. DOHERTY: I shall be glad to do so. PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT. Mr. SPEAKER read a communication from the Governor General's secretary, announcing that His Excellency would proceed to the Senate Chamber this afternoon at 5.30, for the purpose of proroguing the present session of Parliament. An Act to amend An Act in aid of Provincial Legislation prohibiting or restricting the sale or use of Intoxicating Liquors. An Act providing for the acquisition by His Majesty of the capital stock of the Canadian Northern Railway Company. An Act to incorporate the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire and the Children of the Empire (Junior Branch). An Act respecting Live Stock. An Act to amend the Criminal Code (respecting Insurance). An Act to authorize the levying of a War Tax upon certain incomes. An Act to incorporate The Army and Navy Veterans in Canada. An Act to amend The Companies Act. An Act to amend The Dry Docks Subsidies Act, 1910. An Act respecting Insurance. The Military Voters Act, 1917. An Act concerning the payment of salaries or wages of employees of railway companies, and to otherwise amend The Railway Act. The War Time Elections Act. An Act to amend the Judges Act. An Act relating to War Charities. To these Bills the Royal Assent was pronounced by the Clerk of the Senate in the following words: In His Majesty's name, his Excellency the Governor General doth assent to these Bills. Then the hon. the Speaker of the House of Commons addressed His Excellency the Governor General as follows: May it please Your Excellency: The Commons of Canada have voted the Supplies required to enable the Government to defray the expenses of the Public Service. In the name of the Commons, I present to Your Excellency the following Bills: "An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of the financial year ending the 31st March, 1918. An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of the financial year ending the 31st March, 1918." to which Bills I humbly request Your Excellency's assent. To these Bills the Clerk of the Senate by command of His Excellency the Governor General did thereupon say: In His Majesty's name, His Excellency the Governor General thanks His Loyal Subjects, accepts their benevolence, and assents to these Bills. After which His Excellency the Governor General was pleased to close the Seventh Session of the Twelfth Parliament of the Dominion with the following Speech: Honourable Gentlemen of the Senate: Gentlemen of the House of Commons: Important measures for the effective prosecution of the war have engaged your close attention during a long session, and I am now happy to release you from further attendance. Since your labours began, the high and worthy character of our cause has been confirmed by two significant events. Our allies, the Russian people, are engaged under trying circumstances, in establishing institutions which shall fully conform to their ideals of liberty and order. In the midst of inevitable difficulties, which command our sympathy, they have affirmed their determination to remain faithful to the Alliance. The United States of America, refusing to tolerate the arrogance and menace of Prussian Militarism have made common cause with the Allies and are vigorously co-operating in the struggle for freedom and humanity. Already the Canadian people have given many expressions of the warm welcome with which they greet their great kindred neighbour as a comrade in arms. The meetings of the Imperial War Cabinet and Imperial War Conference in the early part of the year have very materially facilitated the thorough co-operation of the Dominion, both in the prosecution of the war and in preparation for the future. They constitute also an important step in the development of constitutional relationships between the nations of the British Commonwealth. Notwithstanding the increasing military strength of the allied nations, the stubborn resistance of the enemy in all important theatres of the war demonstrates the need of throwing our utmost effort into the struggle and thus hastening the day of abiding peace. In the western theatre the Canadian Army Corps, by its capture of the coveted Vimy Ridge and by its recent operations at Lens, has sustained its distinguished record and contributed in important measure to the ascendancy which the Allies have gained in that theatre. In order to secure the reinforcements essential for the support of our forces further steps have become necessary, and the authority you have granted for compulsory military enlistment on a selective basis will meet the urgent need for reinforcements. At the same time it will provide the means for conserving more effectively the essential agricultural and industrial activities of the Dominion. You have recognized your duty in providing the best possible safeguards for enabling those engaged in the defence of their country to have their voice in the decision of national questions which vitally affect them. For this purpose, as well as to give due recognition to service and sacrifice in the affairs of the State, the necessary adjustments which you have made in the legislation relevant to these matters will doubtless prove effective. The legislation you have passed for the purpose of assisting returned soldiers to settle upon the land will not only aid materially in restoring these gallant men to their rightful status in the community but should greatly increase the agricultural production of the country. The appointment of a Food Controller and of a Fuel Controller invested with important powers and duties is founded upon the impressive need of the utmost economy and saving in order that our national strength may continue unimpaired. In order that our industries may be equipped to cope with the intricate problems of the future, provision has been wisely made for promoting scientific and industrial research. Important progress has been made in solving our difficult problems of railway transportation, and the means have been provided whereby a great railway system shall become the property of the people of Canada and be added to their national undertakings; Gentlemen of the House of Commons: In the name of His Majesty I thank you for the liberal provision you have made for the needs of the public service and for the prosecution of the war. Hounourable Gentlemen of the Senate: Gentlemen of the House of Commons: Although the stress of the war becomes increasingly severe, the people of Canada, resolute in the supreme purpose of achieving through victory an abiding peace, have not faltered; and I am confident that whatever further efforts are necessary will be unhesitatingly put forth in the stern determination that the vast sacrifices already made shall not be in vain. The Speaker of the Senate then said: It is His Excellency the Governor General's will and pleasure, that this Parliament be prorogued until Thursday, the 1st day of November next, to be here holden, and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued until Thursday, the 1st day of November next. INDEX SEVENTH SESSION-TWELFTH PARLIAMENT, 1917 Abbreviations.-1r., 2r., 3r.=first, second, or third reading. Amdt. Abbotsford postmaster, 608 Achim, Mr. Honoré (Labelle) Address in reply to the Governor General's Address to His Majesty the King. See Par- Mr. Pardee, returned soldiers, 459 Mr. Lemieux, liquor in military camps, 806 Mr. Devlin, conservation of grain, 1176 Department of the Secretary of State, 656 Aeroplane. See Air service and Aviation Aetna Explosives Company, 4508 Agriculture-Con. Dairy industry, 953, 2075, 2256 Estimates, 654, 2062, 2255, 2924, 3744, 4677 Staff and salaries, 4924 Exhibitions, 2260, 2270 Experimental farms, 2055, 2063, 4682 Hay Embargo on, 1222 Imports and exports of, 1574 Inspection and grading of, 3402 Purchases of by British Government, Hogs Inspection of, 2271 Cholera, 2273 Insect pests, 2066, 2075 Horses, compensation for destruction of, Live stock British embargo on, 918, 987, 1535 Pure bred, purchase of, 2276 Shipments, inspection of, 1841 See also Live stock and Produce Bill Noxious weeds, 2068 Parcel post shipments, 2072 Plant diseases Rust in wheat, 2063, 2067 Powdery scab in potatoes, 2269, 5991 Accumulation of on railways, 607 Duty, proposed removal, 703, 5274, 5777, Exports and imports of, 2267, 5982 Powdery scab, 2269, 5991 Prices and supply of, 936, 1087, 1189, 1437, Seed, 1473 Straw, utilization of, 4683 Volume II: 1125-2138. 44 V: 4243-5270. A Angers, Captain, dismissal of, 758 Apples, embargo on export of, 5776 1. Bill No. 20 (for 1916-17, $9,127,777.42; for 2. Bill No. 108 (for 1917-18, $24,054,845.38). 3. Bill No. 128 (for 1916-17, $4,821,217.80). 4. Bill No. 135 (for 1917-18, $51,096,767.05). Archives, Public Expenses, 5791 Records, 3742 Armstrong, Mr. J. A. M. (North York) Railway mail service, 2244 Armstrong, Mr. Joseph E. (East Lambton) Fuel, 1405 Government Railways Act amendment, 4350 Armstrong, S. A., position of, 802 Allowances Dependents of men joining British Army. London offices, to soldiers employed in, Separation, 336, 382, 383, 387, 1191, 3075, Subsistence, 4001 Assigned pay, 383 Badges of identification, 5953 Bands, regimental, 4044 Forestry List of, 4509 Recruiting for, 5703 Wages paid in, 3950, 3509 60th, 525 105th. Supply Officer Lieut. R. J. Moffat, 5361 122nd, 5083 156th, 523 167th, 5272 Camps Aldershot, 3295, 3419 Borden, 96, 100, 101 Volume 11: 1125-2138. Volume III: 2139-3186. V: 4243-5270. 66 VI: 5271-6094. |