1st Quebec Legislature

none September 2019 September 2019 #6495ED Legislature of Quebec Législature du Québec First Legislature, 1867 - 1871 File:Coat of arms of Québec (1868–1939).svg Bicameral Legislative Council Legislative Assembly Four years, subject to earlier dissolution 1867 07 01 Second Legislature of Quebec, 1871-1875 Monarch Victoria Lieutenant Governor Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau Premier Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau Conservative Speaker of the Legislative Council Charles Boucher de Boucherville Conservative Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Joseph-Goderic Blanchet Conservative Leader of the Opposition Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière (from 1869 onwards) Liberal Legislative Council: 24 Legislative Assembly: 65 Legislative Council Legislative Assembly Conservatives 21Liberals 3 Conservatives 51 Liberals 12 Independent 1Vacant 1 Life appointments Single member constituenciesFirst-past-the-post votingOpen ballot systemAdult male franchise with property qualification British North America Act, 1867 The First Legislature of Quebec was summoned in 1867 when the new Canadian province of Quebec was created, as part of the new country of Canada. The legislature 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 August and September, 1867, and returned a majority for the Quebec Conservative Party led by Premier Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau. The Liberal Party of Quebec formed the Official Opposition. The Chauveau government then appointed the first members to the Legislative Council in November, 1867, who were sworn into their positions in December, 1867. The Conservatives had a strong majority in the Legislative Council. The first session of the legislature was called on December 27, 1867. The legislature had four annual sessions, until its dissolution on May 27, 1871, triggering the second general election. Creation of the Legislature The province of Quebec was created on July 1, 1867, when the British North America Act, 1867 came into force, splitting the old Province of Canada into the new provinces of Quebec (formerly Lower Canada) and Ontario (formerly Upper Canada).British North America Act, 1867 [now known as the Constitution Act, 1867], s. 6. That Act also created the Legislature of Quebec, composed of the Lieutenant Governor, the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.British North America Act, 1867, s. 71. The Act provided that the Lieutenant Governor was to be appointed by the Governor General of Canada for a term of five years, subject to dismissal for cause.British North America Act, 1867, s. 58. The Legislative Assembly was to consist of sixty-five members, elected in single-member constituencies.British North America Act, 1867, s. 80. The Legislative Assembly was to last for four years, subject to being dissolved earlier by the Lieutenant Governor.British North America Act, 1867, s. 85. The Legislative Council was to consist of twenty-four members, appointed for life.British North America Act, 1867, s. 72. Each Legislative Councillor was appointed to represent one of the twenty-four divisions which had formerly been used in the Legislative Council of the Province of CanadaBritish North America Act, 1867, s. 22. Elections and Qualifications The first election was conducted under the electoral laws of the former Province of Canada, which had been continued in force until such time as the Quebec Legislature enacted electoral laws specifically for Quebec.British North America Act, 1867, s. 84. Right to vote The right to vote in elections to the Legislative Assembly was not universal. Only male British subjects (by birth or naturalisation), aged 21 and older, were eligible to vote, and only if they met a property qualification. For residents of cities and towns, the qualification was being the owner, tenant or occupant of real property assessed at three hundred dollars, or at an assessed yearly value of thirty dollars. For residents of townships and parishes, the requirements were either an assessment of two hundred dollars, or an assessed yearly value of twenty dollars.An Act respecting Elections of Members of the Legislature, Consolidated Statutes of Canada, 1859, c. 6, s. 4. Women were expressly prohibited from voting, "for any Electoral Division whatever".An Act respecting Elections of Members of the Legislature, s. 3. Judges and many municipal and provincial officials were also barred from voting, particularly officials with duties relating to public revenue. Election officials were also barred from voting.An Act respecting Elections of Members of the Legislature, ss. 1 and 2. Voting was done by open ballotting, where the voters publicly declared their vote to the election officials.An Act respecting Elections of Members of the Legislature, ss. 51-54. Qualification for the Legislative Assembly Candidates for the Legislative Assembly had to meet a significant property qualification. A candidate had to own real property in the Province of Canada, worth at least £500 in British sterling, over and above any encumbrances on the property.Act of Union 1840 (UK), c. 35, s. 27.An Act respecting Elections of Members of the Legislature, s. 36. Qualification for the Legislative Council The qualifications for the members of the Legislative Council were the same as for the members of the Senate of Canada.British North America Act, 1867, s. 73. Those requirements were: Be of the full age of thirty years; Be a British subject, either natural-born or naturalised; Possess real property in Quebec worth at least $4,000, over and above any debts or incumbrances on the property; Have a net worth of at least $4,000, over and above debts and liabilities; Reside in Quebec; Reside in, or possess his qualifying real property, in the division he was named to represent.British North America Act, 1867, s. 23. The provisions of the British North America Act, 1867 did not explicitly bar women from being called to the Senate of Canada. However, until the Persons Case in 1929, it was assumed that women could not be called to the Senate, and thus were also barred from the Legislative Council. In any event, no woman was ever appointed to the Legislative Council.Quebec National Assembly: Les membres du Conseil législatif (par divisions). First government and election The first Governor General of Canada, Viscount Monck, appointed Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau, a former premier of the Province of Canada, as the first Lieutenant Governor, effective July 1, 1867.Quebec National Assembly: Lieutenants-gouverneurs depuis 1867. Belleau in turn appointed Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau as premier on July 15, 1867.Quebec National Assembly: Cabinet Chauveau (Conservative). Chauveau had formerly been active in politics as a member of the Legislative Assembly and the Cabinet of the Province of Canada, but he had been out of electoral politics since 1855.Quebec National Assembly: Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau. He was appointed as a compromise candidate to begin the government of the new province.Dictionary of Canadian Biography: Chauveau, Pierre-Joseph-Olivier. The first general election for the Legislative Assembly was held in August and September 1867.Quebec National Assembly: Les élections générales. Chauveau and the Conservatives won a strong majority of fifty-one seats in the sixty-five seat Assembly. The Chaveau government then appointed the twenty-four members of the Legislative Council. Twenty-one of the appointed members supported the Conservative party. Legislative Assembly Party standings The 1867 elections returned a majority in the Legislative Assembly for the Conservative Party, led by Premier Chauveau.Quebec National Assembly: La répartition des sièges aux élections générales. + 1867 Election Results Party MembersQC Conservative (historical) row Conservatives 51QC Liberal row Liberals 12QC Independent row Independent 1 Vacant(1) Total65 Government Majority38 Members of the Legislative Assembly The following candidates were elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 1867 election.Quebec National Assembly: Les résultats électoraux depuis 1867. The Premier of Quebec is indicated by Bold italics. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly is indicated by small caps. Cabinet Ministers are indicated by Italics. NamePartyRidingFirst electedNo. of termsQC Conservative (historical) row Sydney Robert BellinghamConservativeArgenteuil18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Pierre-Samuel GendronConservativeBagot1867 1st termQC Liberal row Christian Henry PozerLiberalBeauce1867 1st termQC Conservative (historical) row Célestin BergevinConservativeBeauharnois18671st termQC Liberal row Onésime PelletierLiberalBellechasse18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Louis-Joseph MollConservativeBerthier1867 1st termQC Liberal row Clarence HamiltonLiberalBonaventure18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Christopher DunkinConservativeBrome18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Jean-Baptiste JodoinConservativeChambly18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row John Jones Rossnote tenth Seat became vacant on appointment to the Legislative Council, November 2, 1867Quebec National Assembly: John Jones RossConservativeChamplain18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Jean-Charles Chapais (1867)Conservative18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Léon-Charles ClémentConservativeCharlevoix 18671st termQC Liberal row Édouard LabergeLiberalChâteauguay18671st termQC Independent row Pierre-Alexis TremblayIndependentChicoutimi et Saguenay1867 1st termQC Conservative (historical) row James RossConservativeCompton1867 1st termQC Conservative (historical) row Gédéon OuimetConservativeDeux-Montagnes18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Hector-Louis LangevinConservativeDorchester18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Edward John HemmingConservativeDrummond et Arthabaska 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Pierre-Étienne FortinConservativeGaspé1867 1st termQC Conservative (historical) row Louis BeaubienConservativeHochelaga18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Julius Scrivernote fourth Resigned on standing for election to the House of Commons, October 6, 1869.Quebec National Assembly: Julius ScriverConservativeHuntingdon18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row William Cantwell (1869) Conservative18691st termQC Liberal row Louis MolleurLiberalIberville18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Pamphile-Gaspard VerreaultConservativeIslet18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Narcisse LecavalierConservativeJacques Cartier 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Vincent-Paul LavalléeConservativeJoliette1867 1st termVacant (until 1869)Election delayed due to riots: Norman Ward, "Early Electioneering in Canada" (1951), 31:1 Dalhousie Review 65. –Kamouraska QC Conservative (historical) row Charles-François RoyConservative18691st termQC Conservative (historical) row Césaire ThérienConservativeLaprairie18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Étienne MathieuConservativeL'Assomption 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Joseph-Hyacinthe BelleroseConservativeLaval18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Joseph-Godric BlanchetConservativeLévis18671st termQC Liberal row Henri-Gustave Joly de LotbinièreLiberalLotbinière1867 1st termQC Conservative (historical) row Alexis Lesieur DesaulniersConservativeMaskinongé1867 1st termQC Conservative (historical) row George IrvineConservativeMégantic1867 1st termQC Conservative (historical) row Josiah Sandford BrighamConservativeMissisquoi18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Firmin DugasConservativeMontcalm18671st termQC Liberal row Louis-Henri BlaisLiberalMontmagny18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Joseph-Édouard CauchonConservativeMontmorency 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Edward Brock CarterConservativeMontréal Centre 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row George-Étienne CartierConservativeMontréal Est1867 1st termQC Conservative (historical) row Alexander Walker OgilvieConservativeMontreal Ouest18671st termQC Liberal row Pierre Benoitnote fifth Died in office, August 26, 1870.Quebec National Assembly: Pierre BenoitLiberalNapierville18671st term QC Liberal rowLaurent-David Lafontaine (1870)Liberal18701st termQC Conservative (historical) row Joseph GaudetConservativeNicolet1867 1st termQC Conservative (historical) row Levi Ruggles ChurchConservativeOttawa18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row John PouporeConservativePontiac 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Praxède LarueConservativePortneuf18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Pierre-Joseph-Olivier ChauveauConservativeQuébec-Comté 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Georges-Honoré SimardConservativeQuébec-Centre 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Jacques-Philippe RhéaumeConservativeQuébec-Est 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row John HearnConservativeQuébec-Ouest 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Joseph Beaudreaunote third Died in office, October 5, 1869.Quebec National Assembly: Joseph BeaudreauConservativeRichelieu 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Pierre Gélinas (1869)Conservative18691st termQC Conservative (historical) row Jacques PicardConservativeRichmond et Wolfe18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Joseph GaronConservativeRimouski18671st term QC Liberal row Victor RobertLiberalRouville 18671st termQC Liberal row Pierre BachandLiberalSt. Hyacinthe 18671st termQC Liberal row Félix-Gabriel MarchandLiberalSt. Jean18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Abraham Lesieur DesaulniersConservativeSt. Maurice 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Michel-Adrien BessetteConservateurShefford 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Joseph Gibb Robertsonnote sixth Accepted a Cabinet position, a triggering a ministerial by-election.Quebec National Assembly: Joseph Gibb RobertsonConservativeSherbrooke 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Dominique-Amable CoutléeConservativeSoulanges18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Thomas LockeConservativeStanstead 18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Élie MaillouxConservativeTémiscouata18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Joseph-Adolphe ChapleauConservativeTerrebonne1867 1st termQC Conservative (historical) row Louis-Charles Boucher de Nivervillenote second Resigned on appointment as sheriff for district of Trois-Rivières, September 30, 1868.Quebec National Assembly: Louis-Charles Boucher de NivervilleConservativeTrois-Rivières18671st termQC Conservative (historical) row Sévère Dumoulin (1868)note first Resigned on being appointed sheriff for the district of Trois-Rivières, September 16, 1869.Quebec National Assembly: Sévère Dumoulin Conservative18681st termQC Conservative (historical) row Charles-Borromée Genest (1869) Conservative18691st termQC Conservative (historical) row Antoine-Chartier de Lotbinière HarwoodConservativeVaudreuil1867 1st termQC Conservative (historical) row André-Boniface CraigConservativeVerchères18671st termQC Liberal row Louis-Adélard SénécalLiberalYamaska 18671st term Reasons for Vacancies note By-elections There were eight by-elections during the term of the First Legislature.Quebec National Assembly: Les élections partielles. + By-elections, 1867-1870 Name Party Riding Reason for Vacancy By-election DateQC Conservative (historical) row Jean-Charles Chapais Conservative Champlain Incumbent appointed to Legislative Council December 16, 1867 QC Conservative (historical) row Sévère Dumoulinnote first Resigned on being appointed sheriff for the district of Trois-Rivières, September 16, 1869.Quebec National Assembly: Sévère Dumoulin Conservative Trois-Rivières Incumbent appointed sheriff of Trois-Rivières October 16, 1868QC Conservative (historical) row Charles-François Roy Conservative Kamouraska Election deferred to 1869 due to riots February 11, 1869QC Conservative (historical) row Charles-Borromée Genest Conservative Trois-Rivières Incumbent appointed sheriff of Trois-Rivières October 19, 1869QC Conservative (historical) row Pierre Gélinas Conservative Richelieu Death of incumbent October 26, 1869QC Conservative (historical) row Joseph Gibb Robertson Conservative Sherbrooke Accepted a Cabinet position, triggering a ministerial by-election; re-elected. November 5, 1869QC Conservative (historical) row William Cantwell Conservative Huntingdon Incumbent elected to House of Commons November 6, 1869QC Liberal row Laurent-David Lafontaine Liberal Napierville Death of incumbent October 11, 1870 Reason for Vacancy note Legislative Council Party standings Following the election, the Chauveau government appointed twenty-four individuals to the Legislative Council. The result was a Council with a strong Conservative majority. + Standings at First Session, 1867 Party MembersQC Conservative (historical) row Conservatives21QC Liberal row Liberals3 Total: 24 Government Majority: 18 Members during the First Legislature The Speaker of the Legislative Council is indicated by small caps. Cabinet members are indicated by italics. + Members 1867-1871 Legislative Council Divisions Member Party Term Start Term End AlmaBeaudry, Jean-Louis Conservative November 2, 1867 June 25, 1886 Bedford Wood, Thomas Conservative November 2, 1867 November 13, 1898 De la Durantaye Beaubien, Joseph-Octave Conservative November 2, 1867 November 7, 1877 De la Vallière Proulx, Jean-Baptiste-Georges Liberal November 2, 1867 January 27, 1884 De Lanaudière Dostaler, Pierre-Eustache Conservative November 2, 1867 January 4, 1884 De Lorimier Rodier, Charles-Séraphin Conservative November 2, 1867 February 3, 1876 De Salaberry Starnes, Henry Liberal November 2, 1867 March 3, 1896 Grandville Dionne, Élisée Conservative November 2, 1867 August 22, 1892 Gulf Le Boutillier, John Conservative November 2, 1867 July 31, 1872 Inkerman Bryson, George (Sr.) Conservative November 2, 1867 January 13, 1900 Kennebec Thibaudeau, Isidore Liberal November 2, 1867 January 21, 1874 La Salle Panet, Louis Conservative November 2, 1867 May 15, 1884 Lauzon Chaussegros de Léry, Alexandre-René Conservative November 2, 1867 December 19, 1880 Mille-Isles Lemaire, Félix-Hyacinthe Conservative November 2, 1867 December 17, 1879 Montarville Boucher de Boucherville, Charles-Eugène Conservative November 2, 1867 September 10, 1915 Repentigny Archambeault, Louis Conservative November 2, 1867 June 6, 1888 Rigaud Prud'homme, Eustache Conservative November 2, 1867 April 25, 1888 Rougemont Fraser de Berry, John Conservative November 2, 1867 November 15, 1876 Saurel Armstrong, David Morrison Conservative November 2, 1867 April 14, 1873 Shawinigan Ross, John Jones Conservative November 2, 1867 May 4, 1901 Stadacona McGreevy, Thomas Conservative November 2, 1867 February 2, 1874 The Laurentides Gingras, Jean-Élie Conservative November 2, 1867 December 10, 1887 Victoria Ferrier, James Conservative November 2, 1867 May 30, 1888 Wellington Hale, Edward Conservative November 2, 1867 April 26, 1875 Qualifications of the Legislative Councillors Fifteen of the individuals appointed had previously been involved in the government of the Province of Canada, sitting in either the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council: Beaubien, Proulx, Dostaler, Le Boutillier, Bryson, Thibaudeau, Panet, Boucher de Boucherville, Archambeault, Prud'homme, Armstrong, Ross, Gingras, Ferrier and Hale. Nine of the individuals had been involved in municipal politics: Beaudry, Rodier, and Starnes had all been mayors of Montreal (and Beaudry would continue to be); Wood, Bryson, Lemaire, Archambeault, McGreevy, and Ferrier were all involved in other municipalities. Five of the individuals were involved in business or their seigneuries: Dionne, Thibaudeau, Chaussegros de Léry, Fraser de Berry and McGreevy. First Quebec Ministry: Chauveau Cabinet, 1867-1873 thumb|upright=0.5|left|Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau, First Premier of Quebec, 1867-1873 The first Cabinet for Quebec consisted of Premier Chauveau and six other Cabinet ministers.Quebec National Assembly: Les titulaires de ministères depuis 1867: Cabinet Chauveau (Conservative), July 5, 1867 to February 27, 1873. Chauveau and four of the ministers were Members of the Legislative Assembly, while two were Members of the Legislative Council. Chauveau held other ministries, in addition to being premier. + Members of the Executive Council Position Minister Term start Term end Premier and President of the Executive Council Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau 1867 1873 Agriculture and Public Works Louis Archambeault* 1867 1873 Attorney General Gédéon Ouimet 1867 1873 Crown lands Joseph-Octave Beaubien* 1867 1873 Public Instruction Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau 1867 1873 Secretary and Registrar Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau 1867 1873 Solicitor General George Irvine 1867 1873 Speaker of the Legislative CouncilCharles-Eugène Boucher de Boucherville* 1867 1873Treasurer Christopher Dunkin 1867 1869 Joseph Gibb Robertson 1869 1873 * Members of the Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition thumb|upright=0.5|Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière: First Leader of the Opposition, 1869-1878 When the legislature first met, the Liberals did not have a formal party structure or leader. As a result, there was no official Leader of the Opposition for the first session of the legislature. Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière gradually emerged as the leader of the Liberals. Late in the second session held in 1869, he was formally elected Liberal leader and took the position in the House opposite to the Premier, as the Leader of the Opposition.Dictionary of Canadian Biography: "Joly de Lotbinière, Sir Henri-Gustave".Quebec National Assembly: Les chefs de l'opposition officielle depuis 1869. Legislative sessions The legislature had four annual sessions: First session: December 27, 1867 to February 24, 1868, with thirty-nine sitting days. Second session: January 20, 1869 to April 5, 1869, with forty-eight sitting days. Third session: November 23, 1869 to February 1, 1870, with thirty-eight sitting days. Fourth and final session: November 3, 1870 to December 24, 1870, with thirty-eight sitting days. The legislature did not meet again prior to its dissolution on May 27, 1871.Quebec National Assembly: Les législatures et leurs sessions depuis 1867. References 001