1st Parliament of the Province of Canada

The First Parliament of the Province of Canada was summoned in 1841, following the union of Upper Canada and Lower Canada as the Province of Canada on February 10, 1841. The Parliament continued until dissolution in late 1844.

Parliament of the Province of Canada
Parlement de la Province du Canada
First Parliament, 1841 - 1844
Type
Type
HousesLegislative Council
Legislative Assembly
Term limits
Four years, subject to earlier dissolution
History
FoundedFebruary 10, 1841 (1841-02-10)
New session started
2nd Parliament of the Province of Canada, 1844-1847
Leadership
Samuel Harrison, 1841-1842 (Reform)
William Henry Draper, 1842 (Upper Canada Tories)
Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, 1842-1843 (Reform)
Sir Dominick Daly, 1843 (Acting premier)
William Henry Draper, 1843-1847 (Upper Canada Tories)
William Henry Draper, 1841-1842 (Upper Canada Tories)
Charles Richard Ogden, 1842 (Chateau Clique)
Robert Baldwin 1842-1843 (Reform)
Denis-Benjamin Viger 1843-1846 (Groupe canadien-français)
Robert Sympson Jameson, 1841-1842
Peter McGill, 1842-1847
SeatsLegislative Council: 24
Legislative Assembly: 84
Elections
Legislative Council voting system
Life appointments
Legislative Assembly voting system
Single member constituencies
First-past-the-post voting
Open ballot system
Adult male franchise with property qualification
Constitution
Act of Union 1840

The Parliament of the Province had two chambers: the elected lower house, the Legislative Assembly, and the appointed upper house, the Legislative Council. The first general election for the Legislative Assembly was held in April, 1841. Canada East (formerly Lower Canada) and Canada West (formerly Upper Canada)) each had forty-two seats in the Legislative Assembly. The members of the Legislative Council, twenty-four in number, were appointed by the British Governor General, Lord Sydenham.

All sessions were held at Kingston, Canada West, with the first session of the Parliament called on June 1841. The Parliament had three annual sessions, but then was prorogued for close to a year due to a political crisis in the relations between the Legislative Assembly and the Governor General. The Parliament was dissolved in September, 1844, triggering the second general election for the Province.

In 1841, the District Councils Act was passed which established a system of local government in Canada West based on district councils. Prior to 1841, local affairs were dealt with by the District Court of Quarter Sessions.

First government and election

The Governor General, Lord Sydenham, appointed the first members to the Executive Council on February 13, 1841.[1] All of the members were anglophones, with no francophones. They were appointed as advisors to the Governor General, who continued to exercise the executive powers of the government.

The first general election for the new Legislative Assembly was held in the spring of 1841. There was no single election date. The returning officer in each electoral district chose the date for the election in their district.

The Governor General, following the policy of assimilation set out in Lord Durham's Report, drew boundaries and chose the location of polling stations in Canada East in anglophone areas, in an effort to favour voters of British stock and to make it more difficult for francophone voters to exercise their franchise.[2]

There was electoral violence during the elections. In one case, the threat of riots at the polling station forced Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, a proponent of responsible government, to withdraw his candidacy from the riding of Terrebonne in Canada East. In response, Robert Baldwin in Canada West, also a supporter of responsible government, proposed to his father, William Warren Baldwin, that they should assist Lafontaine's election. Baldwin senior was a candidate for a riding in the Toronto area. He withdrew his nomination to allow Lafontaine to stand for election. Lafontaine was elected.[2] This was the beginning of the Lafontaine-Baldwin alliance which ultimately led to responsible government in the Province of Canada.[3]

Candidates at this time would be loosely affiliated in early political parties, but party structure was not strong, and there were different party groups in Canada East and Canada West. The election resulted in a Legislative Assembly with no single party group with a majority.

Legislative Assembly

Members elected in the general election

The following members were elected to the Legislative Assembly from Canada East in the 1841 general election.[4][5]

Riding Member Party[6]
Beauharnois Dunscomb, John William[note 1] Tory
Bellechasse Ruel, Augustin-Guillaume[note 2] Anti-unionist
Berthier Armstrong, David Morrison Groupe Canadien-français; later Reformer
Bonaventure Hamilton, John Robinson Anti-unionist; Independent
Chambly Yule, John[note 3] Unionist; Tory
Champlain Kimber, René-Joseph[note 4] Anti-unionist; Groupe Canadien-français
Dorchester Taschereau, Antoine-Charles Anti-unionist; Groupe Canadien-français
Drummond Watts, Robert Nugent Unionist; Tory
Gaspé Christie, Robert Anti-unionist
Huntingdon Cuvillier, Austin Anti-unionist
Kamouraska Berthelot, Amable Anti-unionist
L'Islet Taché, Étienne-Pascal Groupe Canadien-français
Leinster Raymond, Jean-Moïse[note 5] Groupe Canadien-français
Lotbinière Noël, Jean-Baptiste-Isaïe Groupe Canadien-français
Megantick Daly, Dominick Unionist; Tory
Missiskoui Jones, Robert Tory
Montmorency Quesnel, Frédéric-Auguste Anti-unionist; Groupe Canadien-français
Montreal
(District represented by two members)
Holmes, Benjamin Unionist; Tory; later independent; later Groupe Canadien-français
Moffatt, George[note 6] Unionist; Tory
Montreal County Delisle, Alexandre-Maurice[note 7] Unionist; Tory
Nicolet Morin, Augustin-Norbert[note 8] Anti-unionist; Groupe Canadien-français
Ottawa County Day, Charles Dewey[note 9] Unionist; Tory
Portneuf Aylwin, Thomas Cushing[note 10] Anti-unionist; Groupe Canadien-français
Quebec City
(District represented by two members)
Black, Henry Unionist; Tory
Burnet, David[note 11] Unionist; moderate
Quebec County John Neilson Anti-unionist; Groupe Canadien-français
Richelieu Viger, Denis-Benjamin Anti-unionist; Groupe Canadien-français
Rimouski Borne, Michel[note 12] Groupe Canadien-français
Rouville de Salaberry, Melchior-Alphonse[note 13] Unionist; Tory
Saguenay Parent, Étienne[note 14] Anti-unionist; Groupe Canadien-français
Saint Hyacinthe Boutillier, Thomas Patriote
Saint Maurice Turcotte, Joseph-Édouard[note 15] Anti-unionist
Shefford Foster, Sewell Unionist; Tory
Sherbrooke Hale, Edward Unionist; Tory
Sherbrooke County Moore, John Unionist; originally Tory; later Groupe Canadien-français (1843)
Stanstead Child, Marcus Unionist; Tory; later Groupe Canadien-français
Terrebonne McCulloch, Michael Unionist; Tory
Three Rivers Ogden, Charles Richard Unionist; Tory
Two Mountains Robertson, Colin[note 16] Unionist; Tory
Vaudreuil Simpson, John Unionist; Tory
Verchères Desrivières, Henri[note 17] Groupe Canadien-français
Yamaska Barthe, Joseph-Guillaume Anti-unionist; Groupe canadien-français

Vacancies during the First Parliament

  1. Resigned on October 8, 1842, following appointment as Warden, Trinity House, Montreal, on July 15, 1842.[7][8]
  2. Resigned on being appointed Registrar of the Rimouski district, January 1, 1842.[9][10]
  3. Resigned September 22, 1843.[11][12]
  4. Seat became vacant on his appointment to the Legislative Council.[13][14]
  5. Resigned on being appointed District Registrar of Leinster on January 1, 1842.[15][16]
  6. Resigned on October 30, 1843, to protest decision to move the provincial capital from Kingston to Montreal.[17][18][19]
  7. Seat automatically vacated on being appointed Clerk of the Crown for the Montreal Sessions of the Peace, July 13, 1843.[20][21]
  8. Appointed to the District Court for Rimouski and resigned seat on January 7, 1842.[22][23]
  9. Appointed to the Queen's Bench, June 21, 1842.[24][25]
  10. Appointed Solicitor General of Canada East on September 24, 1842, triggering a ministerial by-election.[26][27]
  11. Resigned on August 26, 1843 after declaring bankruptcy.[28][29]
  12. Resigned on December 15, 1842 to allow Robert Baldwin, who had been defeated in a ministerial by-election in Canada West, to stand for election.[30][31]
  13. Seat became vacant on January 1, 1842, when de Salaberry was appointed Clerk of the Court, district of Richelieu, an office of profit under the Crown; defeated in the subsequent by-election.[32][33]
  14. Resigned on October 14, 1842 to take appointment as Clerk to the Executive Council.[34][35]
  15. Required to resign seat on May 28, 1842, on accepting two offices of profit under the Crown, Translator of Laws and secretary to the Commission on Seigneurial Tenure; re-elected in subsequent by-election.[36][37]
  16. Died in office, February 4, 1842.[38][39]
  17. Resigned on November 6, 1841, to allow Leslie, James to stand as a candidate.[40][41]

By-elections during the First Parliament

The following members were elected in by-elections during the First Parliament.[42]

Riding Members Elected in By-Elections Party[6] Reason for Vacancy By-election date
Beauharnois Wakefield, Edward Gibbon Groupe Canadien-français; later Tory Incumbent resigned following appointment as Warden, Trinity House, Montreal November 9, 1842
Bellechasse Turgeon, Abraham Groupe Canadien-français Incumbent resigned following appointment as Registrar, district of Rimouski June 6, 1842
Chambly Lacoste, Louis Groupe Canadien-français Incumbent resigned seat October 23, 1843
Champlain Judah, Henry Independent liberal Incumbent appointed to Legislative Council September 22, 1843
Leinster De Witt, Jacob Groupe Canadien-français Incumbent resigned to take appointment as District Registrar of Leinster August 8, 1842
Montreal Beaubien, Pierre Groupe Canadien-français Incumbent resigned to protest movement of provincial capital from Kingston to Montreal November 22, 1843
Montreal County Jobin, André Groupe Canadien-français and Reformer Seat vacated when incumbent appointed Clerk of the Crown, Montreal Sessions of the Peace, a civil service position October 26, 1843
Nicolet Viger, Louis-Michel Groupe Canadien-français Incumbent appointed to the bench February 15, 1842
Ottawa County Papineau, Denis-Benjamin Groupe Canadien-français Incumbent appointed to the bench August 17, 1842
Quebec City Chabot, Jean Groupe Canadien-français Incumbent resigned on bankruptcy. September 18, 1843
Rimouski Baldwin, Robert Reformer Incumbent resigned to allow Baldwin to stand for election January 30, 1843
Rouville
(1842)
Walker, William Anti-unionist; Tory Incumbent accepted office of profit under the Crown July 7, 1842
Rouville
(1843)
Franchère, Timothée Groupe Canadien-français Incumbent resigned due to ill-health September 25, 1843
Saguenay Morin, Augustine-Norbert Groupe Canadien-français Incumbent resigned to take government position November 28, 1842
Saint Maurice Turcotte, Joseph-Édouard Anti-unionist Required to resign seat on accepting two offices of profit under the Crown; re-elected in by-election July 8, 1842
Two Mountains Forbes, Charles John Tory Death of incumbent April 18, 1842
Verchères James Leslie Anti-union; Reformer Resignation of incumbent to allow Leslie to stand for election December 28, 1841

Members elected in the general election

The following members were elected to the Legislative Assembly from Canada West in the 1841 general election.[4][5]

Riding Member Party[43]
Brockville Sherwood, George Unionist; Compact Tory
Bytown Derbishire, Stewart Unionist; Moderate Reformer
Carleton Johnston, James Unionist; Compact Tory
Cornwall Chesley, Solomon Yeomans Unionist; Compact Tory
Dundas Cook, John Unionist; Reformer
Durham Williams, John Tucker Unionist; Reformer, then Independent
Essex Prince, John Unionist; Independent
Frontenac Smith, Sir Henry Unionist; Tory
Glengarry Macdonald, John Sandfield Unionist; Moderate Tory, then Reformer
Grenville Crane, Samuel Unionist; Reformer
Haldimand Thompson, David Unionist; Reformer
Halton East Hopkins, Caleb Anti-unionist; Ultra-Reformer
Halton West Durand, James Jr. Anti-unionist; Ultra-Reformer
Hamilton MacNab, Sir Allan Napier Unionist; Compact Tory
Hastings Baldwin, Robert[note 1] Anti-unionist; Ultra-Reformer
Huron Dunlop, William "Tiger"[45][46][47] Moderate Tory
Kent Woods, Joseph Unionist; Compact Tory
Kingston Manahan, Anthony[note 2] Moderate Reformer
Lanark Cameron, Malcolm Unionist; Moderate Reformer
Leeds Morris, James Unionist; Moderate Reformer
Lennox & Addington John Solomon Cartwright Conservative
North Lincoln County William Hamilton Merritt Reformer
South Lincoln David Thorburn
London Hamilton Hartley Killaly [49]
Lawrence Lawrason (1844)
Middlesex Thomas Parke Reformer
Niagara (town) Edward C. Campbell[50]
Henry John Boulton (1842) Independent
Norfolk Israel Wood Powell
North Northumberland John Gilchrist Reformer
South Northumberland George Boswell
Oxford Francis Hincks Reformer
Prescott Donald Macdonald
Prince Edward John Philip Roblin Reformer
Russell William Henry Draper[51] Conservative
William Stewart (1843) Conservative
Simcoe Elmes Yelverton Steele Reformer
Stormont Alexander McLean Conservative
Toronto Isaac Buchanan[52] Reformer
Henry Sherwood (1843) Conservative
Toronto John Henry Dunn Reformer
Wentworth Harmannus Smith
1st York James Hervey Price
2nd York George Duggan Conservative
3rd York James Edward Small Reformer
4th York Louis Hippolyte LaFontaine[53] Reformer

Vacancies during the First Parliament

  1. Vacated seat September 16, 1842, on being appointed Attorney General for Canada West, an office of profit under the Crown. Defeated in the subsequent by-election in Hastings. Elected in by-election in Rimouski riding, Canada East, January 1843.[44]
  2. Vacated seat on June 14, 1841, on being appointed Collector of Customs for Toronto, an office of profit under the Crown.[48]

By-elections during the First Parliament

The following members were elected in by-elections during the First Parliament.[42]

Riding Members Elected in By-Elections Party[43] Reason for Vacancy By-election date
Hastings Murney, Edmund Tory Incumbent vacated seat by accepting appointment to Executive Council, an office of profit under the Crown November 4, 1843
Kingston Harrison, Samuel Bealey Reformer Incumbent vacated seat by accepting appointment as Collector of Customs for Toronto, an office of profit under the Crown July 1, 1841

References

  1. J.O. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections in the Province of Canada, 1841 to 1860 (Quebec: St. Michel and Darveau, 1860), p. 12.
  2. CBC: 1841 - The First Election after the Act of Union.
  3. James H. Marsh, "Editorial: Baldwin, LaFontaine and Responsible Government", Canadian Encyclopedia, January 24, 2012.
  4. "Return of the names of the Members chosen to serve in the Legislative Assembly of Canada", Office of the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, Kingston, 14th. June, 1841, Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, 1st Parliament, 1st Session, 1841, pp. xi–xii.
  5. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, pp. 43-45: "First Parliament. 8th April 1841 to 23rd September 1844".
  6. For party affiliation, see biographies of individual members: Québec Dictionary of Parliamentary Biography, from 1764 to the present.
  7. National Assembly of Quebec: John William Dunscomb.
  8. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (1).
  9. National Assembly of Quebec: Augustin-Guillaume Ruel.
  10. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (3).
  11. National Assembly of Quebec: John Yule.
  12. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (5).
  13. National Assembly of Quebec: René-Joseph Kimber.
  14. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (7).
  15. National Assembly of Quebec: Jean-Moïse Raymond.
  16. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (16).
  17. National Assembly of Quebec: George Moffatt.
  18. Dictionary of Canadian Biography: "Moffatt, George".
  19. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (20).
  20. National Assembly of Quebec: Alexandre-Maurice Delisle.
  21. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (22).
  22. National Assembly of Quebec: Augustin-Norbert Morin.
  23. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (26).
  24. National Assembly of Quebec: Charles Dewey Day.
  25. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (29).
  26. National Assembly of Quebec: Thomas Cushing Aylwin.
  27. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (32).
  28. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (33).
  29. "Burnet, David", Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
  30. National Assembly of Quebec: Michel Borne
  31. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (36).
  32. National Assembly of Quebec: Melchior-Alphonse d'Irumberry de Salaberry
  33. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (38).
  34. National Assembly of Quebec: Étienne Parent
  35. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (43).
  36. National Assembly of Quebec: Joseph-Édouard Turcotte
  37. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (45).
  38. National Assembly of Quebec: Colin Robertson.
  39. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (48).
  40. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 60, note (50).
  41. National Assembly of Quebec: Henri Desrivières.
  42. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, pp. 43-45, 59-60.
  43. For party affiliations, see Paul G. Cornell, Alignment of Political Groups in Canada, 1841–67 (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1962; reprinted in paperback 2015), pp. 93–111.
  44. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59 note (10).
  45. James McGill Strachan was originally declared the winner of the seat, but the election was overturned for irregularities and Dunlop was declared the winner of the election: Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, 1st Parliament, 1st Session, 1841, p. 387.
  46. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, pp. 44, 59 note (12).
  47. Anette Stewart, "The 1841 election of Dr. William Dunlop as member of parliament for Huron County", Ontario History, XXXIX (1947), 51–62.
  48. Côté, Political Appointments and Elections, p. 59, note (14).
  49. resigned his seat in 1843; Lawrence Lawrason was elected in a January 1844 by-election.
  50. election declared invalid. Edward C. Campbell was appointed judge. Henry John Boulton was elected in a September 1842 by-election
  51. appointed to the Legislative Council; William Stewart was elected in a by-election held in 1843.
  52. resigned in 1843 and was replaced by Henry Sherwood in a by-election held in March 1843.
  53. Robert Baldwin was elected in both Hastings and 4th York; Louis Hippolyte LaFontaine was elected in a by-election in 4th York.

Bibliography

  • Upper Canadian politics in the 1850s, Underhill (and others), University of Toronto Press (1967)
  • Yeigh, Frank (1893). Ontario's parliament buildings ; or, A century of legislation, 1792-1892 : a historical sketch. Toronto, Ontario: Williamson Book Co. ISBN 5518554680.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.