Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house
of the legislature
for the Province of Canada
, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada
, then known as Canada East
and later the province of Quebec
, and Upper Canada
, then known as Canada West and later the province of Ontario
. It was created by The Union Act of 1840. Canada East and Canada West each elected 42 members to the assembly. The upper house
of the legislature was called the Legislative Council
.
The first session of parliament began in Kingston
in Canada West in 1841.
The second parliament and the first sessions of the third parliament were held in Montreal
. On April 25, 1849, rioters protesting the Rebellion Losses Bill
burned the parliament buildings. The remaining sessions of the third parliament were held in Toronto
. Subsequent parliaments were held in Quebec City
and Toronto, except for the last session in 1866 of the eight and final parliament, which was held in Ottawa
, the capital chosen for the Dominion of Canada
.
The British North America Act
of 1867 divided the Province of Canada into the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, each province having its own Legislative Assembly, as well as representation in the Parliament of Canada
.
Parliament for the United Provinces of Canada drifted around the cities of Toronto, Kingston, Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa:
.
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of the legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
for the Province of Canada
Province of Canada
The Province of Canada, United Province of Canada, or the United Canadas was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of...
, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
, then known as Canada East
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
and later the province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, and Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
, then known as Canada West and later the province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. It was created by The Union Act of 1840. Canada East and Canada West each elected 42 members to the assembly. The upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
of the legislature was called the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Council of the Province of Canada was the upper house for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the province of Ontario...
.
The first session of parliament began in Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
in Canada West in 1841.
The second parliament and the first sessions of the third parliament were held in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. On April 25, 1849, rioters protesting the Rebellion Losses Bill
Rebellion Losses Bill
The Rebellion Losses Bill was a controversial law enacted by the legislature of the Province of Canada in 1849...
burned the parliament buildings. The remaining sessions of the third parliament were held in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Subsequent parliaments were held in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
and Toronto, except for the last session in 1866 of the eight and final parliament, which was held in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, the capital chosen for the Dominion of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The British North America Act
Constitution Act, 1867
The Constitution Act, 1867 , is a major part of Canada's Constitution. The Act created a federal dominion and defines much of the operation of the Government of Canada, including its federal structure, the House of Commons, the Senate, the justice system, and the taxation system...
of 1867 divided the Province of Canada into the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, each province having its own Legislative Assembly, as well as representation in the Parliament of Canada
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
.
Parliament Buildings
- 1841-1843 three sessions were held at the 3 storey Kingston General HospitalKingston General HospitalThe Kingston General Hospital is a teaching hospital affiliated with Queen's University located in Kingston, Ontario. The hospital is a partner within Kingston's university hospitals, delivering health care, conducting research and training health care professionals.As the oldest public hospital...
- 1843 Parliament moves to Montreal and sites at renovated St. Anne’s Market; burned down in 1849; rebuilt as market only and burned down again in 1902; site later as parking lot and now public square called Place d'Youville.
- 1849 temporary sites for Parliament at Bonsecours MarketBonsecours MarketBonsecours Market , at 350 rue Saint-Paul in Old Montreal, is a two-story domed public market. For more than 100 years, it was the main public market in the Montreal area. It also briefly accommodated the Parliament of United Canada for one session in 1849....
and the Freemason's Hall, Montreal for single session. - 1849-1850 Parliament returns to Toronto to the site of the Third Parliament BuildingsFirst Ontario Parliament BuildingsThe first Ontario Parliament Buildings were built between 1829 and 1832 near Front, John, Simcoe and Wellington Streets in Toronto, Canada. Architects of the buildings were J.G. Chewett, Cumberland & Storm , Samuel Curry, John Ewart, John Howard and Thomas Rogers...
at Front and Simcoe Street. - 1851 Parliament relocates to Quebec City in 1851 to the Quebec Parliament BuildingOld Parliament Building (Quebec)Old Parliament Building was the site of the seat of government of Lower Canada, Canada West, Province of Canada and Quebec.It was located in what is Parc Montmorency today, the site of two Parliament buildings from 1791 to 1883.-History:...
until fire in destroys the building in 1854. - 1854-1859 Parliament remains in Quebec and relocates to Quebec Music Hall and Quebec City Courthouse.
- 1859 Parliament return to Toronto to the site of the last parliament held there in 1849-1851 sessions.
- 1860-1865 Parliament returns to Quebec and new Parliament Buildings, QuebecOld Parliament Building (Quebec)Old Parliament Building was the site of the seat of government of Lower Canada, Canada West, Province of Canada and Quebec.It was located in what is Parc Montmorency today, the site of two Parliament buildings from 1791 to 1883.-History:...
at Parc Montmercy; re-used as Parliament of Quebec 1867-1883 - 1866-1867 Parliament locates in Ottawa on Parliament Hill to the completed and original Centre Block, as well as the East and West Block; Centre Block was later destroyed by fire
List of Parliaments
- 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada1st Parliament of the Province of CanadaThe 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from June 15, 1841 to 1843. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in April 1841. All sessions were held at Kingston, Canada West....
1841–1843 - 2nd Parliament of the Province of Canada2nd Parliament of the Province of CanadaThe 2nd Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from November 28, 1844 to December 1847. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in October 1844...
1844–1847 - 3rd Parliament of the Province of Canada3rd Parliament of the Province of CanadaThe 3rd Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1848 to 1851. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in January 1848. The first session was held at Montreal, Canada East. In 1849, rioters protesting the Rebellion Losses Bill burned the parliament buildings...
1848–1851 - 4th Parliament of the Province of Canada4th Parliament of the Province of CanadaThe 4th Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1852 to June 1854. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in October 1851...
1852–1854 - 5th Parliament of the Province of Canada5th Parliament of the Province of CanadaThe 5th Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1854 to November 1857. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in July 1854. Sessions were held in Quebec City until 1856 and then in Toronto....
1854–1857 - 6th Parliament of the Province of Canada6th Parliament of the Province of CanadaThe 6th Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1858 to June 1861. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in December 1857. Sessions were held in Toronto in 1858 and then in Quebec City from 1859...
1858–1861 - 7th Parliament of the Province of Canada7th Parliament of the Province of CanadaThe 7th Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1861 to May 1863. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in 1861. This was the first election in Canada to use a list of eligible voters prepared before the election. All sessions were held in Quebec City...
1861–1863 - 8th Parliament of the Province of Canada8th Parliament of the Province of CanadaThe 8th Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1863 to July 1866. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in August 1863. Sessions were held in Quebec City until 1866; the last session was held in Ottawa....
1863–1866
Speakers
The role of speaker began a tradition of alternating between English and French Canada. This tradition carried onto the role of the Speaker of the Canadian House of CommonsSpeaker of the Canadian House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Parliament of Canada and is elected at the beginning of each new parliament by fellow Members of Parliament...
.
| Speaker | Term | Parliament | Affiliation | Residency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Cuvillier Austin Cuvillier Austin Cuvillier was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada and Canada East.He was born Augustin Cuvillier in Quebec City in 1779 and was hired by a Montreal auctioneer, eventually taking over the business when his employer retired. After he formed a partnership with two other men, the... |
1841–1843 | 1st | Parti canadien Parti canadien The Parti canadien or Parti patriote was a political party in what is now Quebec founded by members of the liberal elite of Lower Canada at the beginning of the 19th century... |
Canada East Canada East Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region.... |
| Sir Allan Napier MacNab Allan MacNab Sir Allan Napier MacNab, 1st Baronet was a Canadian political leader and Premier of the Province of Canada before Canadian Confederation .-Biography:... |
1844–1847 | 2nd | Reformer | Canada West |
| Augustin-Norbert Morin Augustin-Norbert Morin Augustin-Norbert Morin was a lawyer, judgeBorn in Saint-Michel, Lower Canada, into a large Roman Catholic farming family, Morin was identified by the parish priest at a young age as a boy of exceptional talent and intelligence. The parish priest therefore arranged for his education at the... |
1848–1851 | 3rd | Parti patriote | Canada East Canada East Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region.... |
| John Sandfield Macdonald John Sandfield Macdonald John Sandfield Macdonald, QC was the first Premier of the province of Ontario, one of the four founding provinces created at the confederation of Canada in 1867... |
1852–1853 | 4th | Liberal-Conservative | Canada West |
| Louis-Victor Sicotte Louis-Victor Sicotte Louis-Victor Sicotte was a lawyer, judge and politician in Lower Canada.He was born Louis Cicot in Boucherville, Lower Canada in 1812. He studied law and was called to the bar in 1839... |
1854–1857 | 5th | N/A | Canada East Canada East Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region.... |
| Sir Henry Smith Henry Smith (Canadian politician) Sir Henry Smith was a Canadian lawyer and political figure. He represented Frontenac in the 1st Parliament of Ontario.... |
1858–1861 | 6th | Tory Tory Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada... |
Canada West |
| Joseph-Édouard Turcotte Joseph-Édouard Turcotte Joseph-Édouard Turcotte was a lawyer and political figure in Canada East.He was born in Gentilly, Lower Canada in 1808. He studied at the Séminaire de Nicolet. In 1831, he lost his right arm in an accident. Deciding not to pursue a future in the priesthood, he studied law with Elzéar Bédard and... |
1862–1863 | 7th | Reformer | Canada East Canada East Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region.... |
| Lewis Wallbridge Lewis Wallbridge Lewis Wallbridge was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Canada West. In 1882, he was appointed Chief Justice of Manitoba.... |
1863–1866 | 8th | N/A | Canada West |
See also
- Legislative Assembly of Lower CanadaLegislative Assembly of Lower CanadaThe Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
- Legislature replaced by the Legislature of the Province of Canada - Legislative Assembly of Upper CanadaLegislative Assembly of Upper CanadaThe Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
- Legislature replaced by the Legislature of the Province of Canada - Legislative Assembly of OntarioLegislative Assembly of OntarioThe Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
- succeeding legislature for Canada West - Legislative Assembly of QuebecLegislative Assembly of QuebecThe Legislative Assembly of Quebec was the name of the lower house of Quebec's legislature until 1968, when it was renamed the National Assembly of Quebec. At the same time, the upper house of the legislature, the Legislative Council, was abolished...
- succeeding legislature for Canada East - Canadian House of CommonsCanadian House of CommonsThe House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
- succeeding parliament replacing the Legislature of the Province of Canada
External links
- Ontario's parliament buildings ; or, A century of legislation, 1792-1892 : a historical sketch
- Assemblée nationale du Québec (French)
- CBC.ca - Canada's 1st Parliament dig - unearthing of the old building in Montreal