The 1st North-West Legislative Assembly lasted from 1888 to 1891. This Assembly was the third in the history of the North-West Territories. It marked a huge milestone, bringing responsible government to the territory for the first time.
Background The 1st North-West Territories Council was dissolved after reaching the quota of elected members prescribed under the North-West Territories Act. This precipitated the 1888 North-West Territories general election.
Despite being an elected body, there were three remaining appointed members left to serve in the Assembly. The three appointees were legal advisers; they could actively participate in debates and move motions, but did not have a vote.
1st Session The 1st Session of the 1st North-West Legislative Assembly began on 31 October 1888. The festivities began in the morning, with music provided by the North-West Mounted Police Band. The session began at 3:00pm with Lieutenant Governor Joseph Royal entering the chamber escorted by Mounties.
The Council opened by electing the first speaker in North-West Territories history. Herbert Charles Wilson was nominated in a motion moved by Hugh Cayley. Wilson was acclaimed with the unanimous consent of the Assembly. The election for speaker was decided in a caucus meeting prior to the opening of the Assembly. There were two candidates for speaker presented. The first vote resulted in an 11 to 11 tie between James Ross and Wilson. Ross asked that his name be withdrawn but his supporters refused. After two more tie votes, Ross withdrew and Wilson was acclaimed as the choice for speaker. Lieutenant Governor Advisory CouncilFrederick HaultainDavid JellyHilliard MitchellWilliam Sutherland
The throne speech outlined five main areas of concern. The first was the need for provisions to deal with and prevent prairie fires. The Lieutenant Governor then called for the repeal of the liquor laws passed by the Temporary North-West Council. The speech also announced the introduction of a bill to provide provisions for collecting vital statistics. Royal also reported on the efforts of his legal committee to consolidate the legislation of the North-West Territories. The last major portion of the speech outlined the upcoming budgetary estimates to be provided to members from the Lieutenant Governor advisory Council.
Members
District of AlbertaDistrictMemberFirst electedNo. of termsCalgaryJohn Lineham18881st termHugh Cayley18862nd termEdmontonHerbert Charles Wilson18852nd termFrank Oliver18881st termMacleodFrederick Haultain18872nd termMedicine HatThomas Tweed18881st termRed DeerRobert Brett18881st termDistrict of AssiniboiaDistrictMemberFirst electedNo. of termsMoose JawJames Hamilton Ross18833rd termMoosominJohn Ryerson Neff18881st termNorth Qu'AppelleWilliam Sutherland18872nd termPrince AlbertWilliam Plaxton18881st termJohn Felton Betts18881st termSourisJohn Gillanders Turriff18843rd termSouth Qu'AppelleGeorge Davidson18881st termWallaceJoel Reaman18881st termWhitewoodAlexander Thorburn18881st termWolseleyBenjamin Parkyn Richardson18881st termDistrict of SaskatchewanDistrictMemberFirst electedNo. of termsBatocheHilliard Mitchell18881st termBattlefordJames Clinkskill18881st termKinistinoJames Hoey18881st termNorth ReginaDavid Jelly18852nd termSouth ReginaJohn Secord18852nd termAppointed legal advisorsJames MacleodHugh RichardsonCharles Rouleau
References
Further reading
External links Election Results and Dates 1876 - 1905 from Saskatchewan Archives