{"http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.14288\/1.0064422":{"https:\/\/open.library.ubc.ca\/terms#identifierAIP":[{"value":"c1c88732-7b9a-4931-88d3-f5a52eae4c93","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/www.europeana.eu\/schemas\/edm\/dataProvider":[{"value":"CONTENTdm","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/isReferencedBy":[{"value":"http:\/\/resolve.library.ubc.ca\/cgi-bin\/catsearch?bid=1198198","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/isPartOf":[{"value":"Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/creator":[{"value":"British Columbia. Legislative Assembly","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/issued":[{"value":"7\/8\/2015","type":"literal","lang":"en"},{"value":"[1912]","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/www.europeana.eu\/schemas\/edm\/aggregatedCHO":[{"value":"https:\/\/open.library.ubc.ca\/collections\/bcsessional\/items\/1.0064422\/source.json","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/elements\/1.1\/format":[{"value":"application\/pdf","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2009\/08\/skos-reference\/skos.html#note":[{"value":" BEPORT\nSubmitted to His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor by the Hon. Kichard McBride,\nthe Hon. W. J. Bowser, and the Hon. W. E. Ross on their mission to Ottawa\nas a Delegation from the Government of British Columbia.\nBy Command.\nHENRY  ESSON  YOUNG,\nProvincial Secretary.\nProvincial Secretary's Office,\n12th February, 1912.\nTo His Honour Thomas W. Paterson,\nLieutenant-Governor of the Province of British Columbia:\nMay it Please Your Honour :\nThe undersigned have the honour to report that, in accordance with your instructions, they\nvisited Ottawa as delegates to the Dominion Government for the purpose of settling matters\nrelating to the adjustment of financial arrangements between the Province of British Columbia\nand the Dominion of Canada, and other questions in connection with the relations between\nthe Province and the Dominion.\nThe Delegation reached Ottawa on the evening of November 6th, 1911, and by arrangement\nwith the Prime Minister waited upon him next morning, and handed him the following letter\nwith the accompanying communication and memoranda dealing with the principal matters which\nit was desired to lay before him:\u2014\n\" Russell House,\nOttawa, November 6th, 1911.\n\" Hon. R. L. Borden,\nPrime Minister, Ottawa, Ont.\n\" Dear Mr. Borden,\u2014I beg to hand you herewith a formal communication over the signatures\nof my colleagues, the Hon. W. J. Bowser, Attorney-General, and the Hon. W. R. Ross, Minister\nof Lands, and myself, with regard to certain matters which the Provincial Government is\ndesirous of taking up with you and your colleagues, with a view to an early adjustment of\nthe same.\n\" Yours sincerely,\n\" Richard McBeide.\"\n\" Russell House,\nOttawa, Ont, November 6th, 1911.\n\" Hon. R. L. Borden,\nPrime Minister of Canada, Ottawa, Ont.\n\" Sir,\u2014We, the undersigned, having been delegated by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor\nof British Columbia in Council to submit for the consideration of the Federal Government\nvarious matters affecting the relations between the Dominion and Provincial authorities, beg\nto advise you of these as follows :\u2014\n\" Asiatic Legislation.\n\" We feel satisfied that the determined stand of the Province of British Columbia against the\nfurther immigration of Asiatics is well within the knowledge of your Government. The Province\nin the past enacted and re-enacted a Statute, framed on the lines of what is commonly called the\n N 2 Mission to Ottawa. 191S\n' Natal Act.' The Federal authorities repeatedly disallowed these laws. The constitutionality\nof our legislation has also been questioned, but by reason of its disallowance immediately preceding an appeal to the Privy Council, there has been no opportunity of ascertaining from the last\nCourt of resort to what length, under the law, the local Legislature may go. We would most\nrespectfully urge upon the Dominion Government the necessity of some early and effective action\nbeing taken, with the object of carrying out the wishes of British Columbia. It is obvious that\nwhat is in the interest of British Columbia in this respect is undoubtedly in the general interest\nof the whole Dominion. Asiatics are still coming to the country in large numbers, and to-day\nare as much a menace against white settlement and white labour as ever before in the history\nof the Province.\n\" Better Terms.\n\" This issue is one which has already been discussed at length with both the Dominion\nand Imperial Governments. The data on file at Ottawa fully covers the position taken by the\nProvince. We most respectfully urge upon you the appointment, jointly with British Columbia,\nof a competent tribunal, through whose agency the whole subject may be finally disposed of.\nWe are prepared, at your convenience, to go fully into the matter with you.\n\" Dominion Interests in Railway Belt and in Peace River District.\n\" As the settlement of British Columbia proceeds, it becomes more and more patent, we\nsubmit, that the development of the interests held by the Dominion Government in these districts,\nin the way of settlement and occupation, can best be forwarded by administration through the\nlocal authorities. We are prepared, on behalf of British Columbia, to purchase outright the\nrights of the Dominion in these properties. Pending a final settlement, the Province will undertake to administer the lands under local laws and to account for all moneys received, less cost\nof administration, to the Federal Government.\n\" Indian Reserves.\n\" The title of the Crown in the right of the Province to Indian reserve lands in British\nColumbia was never questioned until within the past few years, when certain objections were\nraised thereto by the Department of Justice at Ottawa. We still maintain that the reversionary\ninterest in all Indian reserves is the property of the Province, and that it is essential in the\npublic interest that the attitude of the Province be maintained. It may be well, in this\nconnection, to refer to the large excess acreage held on account of Indian reserves in British\nColumbia, and to the necessity, in view of the rapid increase in white population, of having\nan immediate readjustment of all reserves, so that the excess acreage may be released to the\nProvince.\n\" Alien Labour.\n\" From the disclosures in the Courts in British Columbia during the past few months, it\nappears that the laws with regard to alien labour have not been properly enforced. As a result\nof this, resident labour has not received the protection that was intended by the Act. It is\nrespectfully submitted that the subject is one for prompt and effective action on the part of the\nFederal Government.\n\" In addition to the foregoing, it is proposed to take up with yourself and colleagues the\nfollowing subjects:\u2014\n\" Foreshore lands:\n\" Point Grey University site:\n\" Victoria Drill Hall site:\n\" Repayment to the Province of moneys expended on the construction of wharves in\nnavigable waters  and  for  mattress  and rock-work in the  Columbia and  Fraser\nRivers and other waters :\n\" County Court Judges' salaries :\n\" Fishery privileges:\n\" The introduction to and propagation in British Columbia waters  of whitefish and\nlobsters:\n\" Construction   of  additional  cruisers   for  the   more  adequate   protection   of   British\nColumbia fisheries.\n 2 Geo. 5 Mission to Ottawa. N 3\n\" In addition to all of these, there are various questions of a departmental nature which\nwith your concurrence we are anxious to take up with the various Ministers.\n\" We have the honour to be,\nSir,\nYour obedient servants,\n\" Richard McBride.\n\" W. J. Bowser.\n\" W. R. Ross.\"\n\" Russell House,\nOttawa, November 6th, 1911.\n\" Memo, for the Honourable the Prime Minister.\n\" Prince Rupert Foreshore.\u2014In concluding with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway arrangements for the establishment of the Pacific terminals at Prince Rupert, the Province transferred\nto the company 10,000 acres of land, and after the same was subdivided the Province received\nback as its share one-quarter, which property for the most part still remains in the Province.\nThere seems to be very little doubt that as Prince Rupert was not a public harbour when the\nProvince entered Confederation, the title to the foreshore is in the Province rather than the\nDominion. At the same time, it will set at rest any question of title to the property held by\nBritish Columbia if your Government would quit-claim to the Province any rights the Dominion\nmight claim in the foreshore.\n\" Songhees Reserve.\u2014The Provincial Government, with the consent of the Indians and the\nFederal authorities, recently concluded the purchase of the Indian reserve, which is known as\nthe Songhees Reserve, in the heart of the City of Victoria. It is proposed very shortly to\nsubdivide these lands, so that portions may be set aside and sold for railway terminals, municipal\nand commercial purposes. While it is true that the Department at Ottawa has released all\nclaims to the property heretofore held on behalf of the Indians, it is highly desirable, so as to\nremove any possibility of doubt as to title, that the Dominion should execute a grant in the\nnature of a quit-claim to all the property, including foreshore. In extinguishing the Indian\nrights and providing a new reserve for the tribe, the Province has expended to date upwards\nof $800,000.\n\" Foreshore Lands in General.\u2014It is contended by the Province that a very large majority\nof the foreshore lands in the Province is entirely the property of the local and not of the\nFederal Government. It appears that in the past grants of leases of Provincial foreshore land\nhave been made from Ottawa without any reference to the Province. We are pleased to note\nthat the Hon. Mr. Hazen, very recently, in connection with an application for foreshore lands\nat False Creek, Vancouver, instructed the city to take the matter up with the Province as well,\nas there might be involved in the transaction certain Provincial rights. In order to safeguard\nagainst any clash in the future between the Federal and local authorities, we beg to submit\nthat hereafter, before final action is taken with reference to foreshore lands, Indian or military\nreserves, the Province should first be consulted and its approval obtained.\"\n\" Russell  House,\nOttawa, November 6th, 1911.\n\" Memo, for the Honourable the  Prime  Ministee.\n\" Point Grey University Site.\u2014A large sum of money, approximating hundreds of\nthousands of dollars, has been expended by the Provincial Government at Point Grey\nReservation, near Vancouver, in developing a reserve of Provincial land at this point. By an\nAct of the local Legislature a large tract of these lands has been set aside for the purposes of\nthe University of British Columbia. It is proposed at the forthcoming session of the Legislature of British Columbia to grant a considerable appropriation, in order that the University\n N 4 Mission to Ottawa. 1912\nbuilding may be commenced, so that by the Fall term of 1913 the academic faculty may be\nenabled to begin work. While the Provincial Government has been steadily proceeding as set\nout above, there has been no objection offered from Ottawa. It has developed, though, within\nthe past few months, that the Department of Militia lays claim to the University site. If it is\nintended to carry the matter to the Court, a situation will arise which is bound to most\ndetrimentally affect the plans of the Province regarding higher education. In order to avoid\nany conflict of this character, and in the best interests of the Province, it is submitted that\nthe claim of the Militia Department be at once withdrawn and a quit-claim of their interests\n(if any) executed by the Dominion Government in favour of British Columbia. It may be\ninteresting to observe that this University site was the selection, after weeks of careful\nobservation, extending all over British Columbia, of a Commission of leading Canadian\neducationalists selected from the Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and\nOntario.\"\n\" Russell  House.\nOttawa, November 6th, 1911.\n\" Memo,  for  the  Honourable the  Prime  Minister.\n\" Victoria Drill Hall Site.\u2014In connection with much-needed extension to the present\nProvincial Parliament Buildings at Victoria, at large outlay, several small parcels of land in\nParliament Square have been acquired, so as to vest title to the whole square in the local\nGovernment. The contract for the new structure has been let and is being proceeded with.\nBefore the plans proposed can be fully carried out, the Drill Shed, which is the only piece of\nthe square not in possession of the Province, must be removed. The land upon which it stands\nhas never been conveyed to the Militia authorities, but, from the records of the Department\nat Victoria, seems to have been simply set aside for their use. With the concurrence of the\nFederal authorities, and on the selection by their representative at Victoria, the Province has\nacquired, at a cost of $35,000, a valuable parcel of land, whereon it was intended a new Drill\nHall should be erected, and which land the Province is prepared to grant in fee to the\nDominion. It was also undertaken by the Province to pay to the Dominion whatever the\npresent buildings would bring. In view of the urgency for the settlement of the question, we\nwould press upon your Government the reasonableness of our position and the necessity for a\nprompt adjustment of the ease.\"\n\" Russell House,\n' Ottawa, November 6th, 1911.\n\" Memo,  for  the  Honourable  the  Prime  Minister.\n\" Construction of Fishery Cruisers for the More Adequate. Protection of British Columbia\nFisheries.\u2014Under section 9 of the ' Terms of Union,' under which British Columbia entered\nConfederation, the Dominion authorities undertook the protection and encouragement of fisheries\nin British Columbia. It is conceded on all sides that the steps taken to date by Ottawa for the\nprotection of our Coast fisheries are far from adequate. The poaching by foreign vessels in\nour home waters still continues almost unchecked. It would be difficult to estimate in what\nexceedingly large proportions the fishery wealth of the Province has been depleted, and\nadvantages, which should have been enjoyed at home, have become entirely lost to the country.\nThe immediate provision for additional cruisers, larger and faster than those in commission, is\nimperative.\n\" The Introduction to and Propagation in British Columbia Waters of Whitefish and\nLobsters and the Further Extension of Salmon Propagation.\u2014The Provincial Fisheries Department holds the view that whitefish and lobsters may be successfully introduced and propagated\nin Provincial waters, and we suggest that steps be taken during the present session to arrange\nfor a transfer of these fish to British Columbia waters.\n 2 Geo. 5 Mission to Ottawa. N 5\n\" As regards salmon, we would respectfully suggest that money could be profitably\nexpended by the Dominion Department in clearing out the streams and rivers, so as to make\nthe access to the natural spawning-grounds easier than at present.\"\n\" Russell House,\nOttawa, November 6th, 1911.\n\" Memo,  for  the  Honourable  the  Prime  Minister.\n\" Herewith   is   appended   a   statement   showing  the   amount   of   money   expended   by   the\nProvince under the following heads :\u2014\n\" Wharves.\u2014We contend, with respect to the building of these structures on navigable\nwaters, that the expense should be borne not by the Province, but by the Dominion, as is the\ncase in all the other Provinces of the Dominion.\n\" Mattresses and Rock-work.\u2014Because of the dire necessity to act promptly, the Province\nwas obliged to undertake work which properly should have been done by the. Dominion. We\nask that these sums be now returned to the Province.\n\" Statement,  19th  October,  1911.\u2014Expenditure  on  Wharves  huilt  Navigable   Waters.\n\" 1895-96    $6,164 52\n1896-97      895 50\n1897-98   3,598 72\n1898-99   5,541 53\n1899-1900   2,455 68\n1900-01   2,974 73\n1901-02   5,070 24\n1902-03   6,498 02\n1903-04   4,880 98\n1904-05   5,018 45\n1905-06  8,803 65\n1906-07  14,430 52\n1907-08  717,772 62\n1908-09  34,925 69\n1909-10  41,004 35\n1910-11  29,903 38\n1911-12 to date  32,204 02\n $222,142 60\n\" Statement, Expenditure Protection River-banks.\n\" Columbia River at Revelstoke :\u2014\n\" 1898-99     $33,107 53\n1900-01         4,761 60\n1906-07      31,058 80\n1907-0S         3,656 34\n1910-11       55,382 53\n1911-12         1,098 90\n $129,665 70\nLess contributed by Dominion Government        16,553 76\n$113,111 94\n' Fraser River  (Lower) :\u2014\n\" 1905-06    1 2,S70 34\n1907-08     11,232 43\n1908-09        5,586 31\n1910-11     24,639 35\n1911-12     20,170 60\n  $64,499 03\nLess contributed by Dominion  Government          2,500 00\n$61,999 03'\n N 6 Mission to Ottawa. 1912\nThe various matters mentioned in the communication and memoranda were taken up and\ndiscussed very fully with the Prime Minister.\nWith reference to the question of Better Terms, the history of the endeavours made by\nthe Province for many years to secure a Commission to inquire into its claims for special\nconsideration was reviewed; and the Delegation sought to emphasize the fact that the temporary\nrelief granted by the amendment to the \" British North America Act\" in 1907, of one hundred\nthousand dollars a year for ten years, was insufficient and quite inadequate compensation to the\nProvince, the disabilities under which British Columbia laboured being of a permanent nature.\nIt was requested that the proposal of the Province set out in the memorandum submitted\nto the Dominion Government on October 9th, 1906, should be adopted as a fair and reasonable\nmethod of arriving at a just conclusion, and that a Commission be appointed, as requested in\nthat memorandum, a copy of which is attached to this Report.\nIt is a matter of special gratification that the Dominion Government, since the return of\nthe Delegation to Victoria, has now consented to appoint such a Commission; one Commissioner\nto be chosen by the Dominion, one by the Province of British Columbia, and a third to be\nselected by these two Commissioners, or, failing such agreement, by the Secretary of State for\nthe Colonies.\nThe Province has consistently maintained that only by a competent tribunal composed of\npersons of eminent repute could its claims be properly investigated; and the present decision\non the part of the Dominion Government will, the Delegation believes, undoubtedly result in\nthe settlement of this long-standing problem that has been considered of such paramount\nimportance to the Province.\nThe assurance given by the Right Hon. R. L. Borden that the question of Asiatic\nimmigration would be taken up at once, in connection with the Treaty with Japan, not yet\naccepted by Canada, and that the Provincial Government will be consulted with regard to\nconsiderations specially affecting British Columbia, is a most important step gained; as it is\nthe first time that the Province has secured the right to be consulted in this matter. It was\nimpressed upon the Prime Minister that this question is of vital importance and that British\nColumbia adheres strongly to its position that Oriental immigration is undesirable.\nAnother Conference was held on November 8th, Mr. McBride leaving Ottawa the same\nafternoon; while the Attorney-General and the Minister of Lands remained for two days further\nto discuss various questions of a departmental nature with the Federal Ministers. Among\nother matters, the Dominion Government was requested to consider the advisability of increasing\nthe salaries of the Judges of the County Court.\nThe following letter was received from the Prime Minister in answer to the communication\nlaid before him and the representations on that behalf made by the Delegation:\u2014\n\" Ottawa, Ont., November 10th, 1911.\n\" Sir,\u2014I beg to acknowledge your letter of the 6th November, signed by yourself and by\nthe Hon. W. J. Bowser, Attorney-General, and the Hon. W. R. Ross, Minister of Lands, in\nwhich you bring to the attention of this Government certain considerations and suggestions\ntouching matters that especially concern the interests of the Province of British Columbia.\nThe necessity of preparation for the session which will open on Wednesday next renders it\ndifficult to take up the various matters set forth in your communication with that promptness\nwhich we would desire. However, you may rest assured that the various subjects alluded to\nwill receive earnest consideration and careful attention with as little delay as may be possible\nunder the circumstances.\n\" I have the honour to be,\nSir,\nYour obedient servant,\n\" R. L. Borden.\n\" The Hon. Richard McBride,\nPremier of British Columbia, Victoria, B.C.\"\n 2 Geo. 5 Mission to Ottawa. N 7\nOn January 25th, 1911, the following telegram was received from the Right Hon. R. L.\nBorden:\u2014\n\" Ottawa, Ont., January 25th, 1912.\n\" Hon. Richard McBride,\nPremier of British Columbia, Victoria, B.C.\n\" Replying to your memorandum of the 6th November, 1911, respecting the claim of British\nColumbia for exceptional treatment by reason of permanent physical conditions and otherwise\nas set forth in your memorandum of 9th October, 1910, we are prepared to appoint a Commission\nto investigate the merits of claim made by your Province in this regard; one Commissioner to\nbe named by this Government, one by your Government, and the third to be selected by agreement of the two Commissioners, or, failing such agreement, by the Secretary of State for the\nColonies.\n\" Asiatic immigration. This question is to be taken up as soon as possible in connection\nwith the new Treaty with Japan, to which Canada has not yet acceded. The interests of\nCanada in respect of immigration will be safeguarded and your Government will be consulted\nwith regard to considerations specially affecting British Columbia.\n\" Songhees Reserve and Drill Hall matters have already been settled satisfactorily. The\nquestion of foreshores is under consideration by the Department of Justice.\n\" R.  L.  Borden.\"\nAn official telegram was dispatched in acknowledgment, as follows:\u2014\n\"Victoria, B.C., January 27th, 1912.\n\" Right Hon. R. L. Borden,\nPrime Minister, Ottaica, Ont.\n\" On behalf Provincial Government, beg to thank you for your message January twenty-\nfifth. Am prepared take up details Better Terms at your earliest convenience in order that\ninvestigation may proceed and settlement be reached soon as possible.\n\"Asiatic question. Province prepared justify its attitude from every standpoint, with a\nview to secure earliest possible action. Am pleased with assurance Songhees Reserve and Drill\nHall matters. With regard to other questions, please advise what, if anything, can be done to\nexpedite.\n\" R.  McBride.\"\nWhile all the Orders in Council have not yet been received, it is undoubtedly a cause for\ncongratulation that the final steps in connection with the transfer of the old Songhees Reserve\nto the Province are being taken and the final settlement of this long-standing matter assured;\nalso that the site now used for a Drill Hall on the Parliament Square will soon be in possession\nof the Province, as the ground is required for the extension of the Parliament Buildings now in\nprogress.\nCorrespondence is now proceeding between the Attorney-General's Department and the\nDepartment of Justice at Ottawa to arrange for the administration of the water in the Railway\nBelt by the Province, pending the final settlement regarding the proposal made to the\nDominion for the acquirement of the interests in the Railway Belt and Peace River lands.\nIn concluding their Report, the delegates desire to express their high appreciation of the\nmany courtesies extended to them, during their stay in Ottawa, by the Prime Minister and his\ncolleagues, at a time when the onerous duties attendant upon the preparations for the opening\nof the session of the Dominion Parliament occupied their attention.\nWe have the honour to be,\nSir,\nYour obedient servants,\nRichard McBride.\nW. J. Bowser.\nW. R. Ross.\n N 8 Mission to Ottawa. 1912\nPAPERS CONNECTED WITH THE MISSION TO OTTAWA.\nThe Committee of Council have had under further consideration certain matters relating\nto the welfare of the Province:\u2014\n1. Re the adjustment of financial arrangements between the Province of British Columbia\nand the Dominion of Canada.\n2. The settlement of certain questions that have been raised by the Federal authorities with\nregard to the title to Indian reservations in the Province of British Columbia.\n3. The adjustment of the difficulties and complications which have arisen with respect to\nthe water rights within the Railway Belt lands by reason of the decision of the Committee of\nthe Privy Council (November 1st, 1910).\n4. And generally any other matters in connection with the relations between the Province\nand the Dominion of Canada still outstanding.\nThe Committee recommend the appointment of the Honourable Richard McBride, Premier\nand Minister of Mines, and the Honourable William John Bowser, Attorney-General, and the\nHonourable William R. Ross, Minister of Lands, as delegates to the Dominion Government to\nsettle the aforesaid.\nThe Committee also recommend that a copy of this minute, if approved, be dispatched to\nthe Honourable the Secretary of State of Canada.\nDated at Victoria this 1st day of November, a.d. 1911.\nH. E. Young,\nProvincial Secretary.\nA. E.  McPhillips,\nPresiding Member of Executive.\nApproved this 1st day of November, a.d. 1911.\nThomas Paterson,\nLieutenant-Governor.\nMEMORANDUM  RE  BRITISH  COLUMBIA'S  CLAIMS  FOR   SPECIAL  CONSIDERATION.\nOn behalf of the Government of British Columbia, I adhere to the general principle of\nthe rights of the Provinces to increased subsidies, and therefore support the resolution which\nhas been submitted in favour of affirming the resolutions of the Quebec Conference, in so far\nas they are not inconsistent with or prejudicial to the claims of any particular Province for\nadditional recognition with respect to such matters as form the subject of those resolutions.\nThe Government of British Columbia cannot, however, accept them as a final and full\nsettlement of its demands. There are special considerations in the case of British Columbia\nwhich involve additional recognition in its behalf. These considerations are set forth in the\nmemorial presented to the Dominion Government last year, and a resolution affirming the\nposition of the Provincial Government was unanimously adopted by the Legislature of the\nProvince of British Columbia. The resolutions of the Conference of Quebec, which, if carried\ninto effect, would increase the subsidies already received by British Columbia, relatively\nspeaking,  leave it no better,  if  as well, off.    This  is  obvious for two  reasons:\u2014\n1st. Owing to the excessive contributions made by British Columbia to the Federal Treasury,\nas compared with other Provinces, the Province would pay an undue proportion of the amount\nof the increase in subsidies to all the Provinces. A parallel in support of this is afforded in\nthe allowance which was made at the time of Confederation to certain Provinces on account\nof the greater debt of other Provinces, in the payment of which the people of all the Provinces\nhad to share. Our case is precisely similar now to that in which those Provinces would have\nbeen had no such allowance been made.\n2nd. The proposed increase in subsidies being largely based upon population, the special\nphysical conditions which make the cost of government in the Province of British Columbia\ndisproportionately great are not provided for.\nBriefly, as set forth in the memorial of the Government of British Columbia, already\nreferred to, \" The claims being presented by the other Provinces for increased subsidies are\n 2 Geo. 5 Mission to Ottawa. N 9\nsimilar in character to some of those of British Columbia, with this important distinction, that\nthe reasons which alike give them foundation are greatly accentuated in the case of this\nProvince.\"\nA brief summary of the arguments in our case is herewith submitted:\u2014\nFor a proper knowledge of the case, it is necessary to consider the conditions which existed\nat the time British Columbia entered Confederation, and the mental attitude in which the terms\nof union between the Province and the Dominion were framed. Public sentiment, as represented in Parliament, was prejudicial to more favourable terms being granted. A large section\nof Canada was utterly opposed to union with British Columbia on the terms under which the\nconstruction of a transcontinental railway was rendered obligatory. It was only upon grounds\nof large public policy of a national character\u2014the rounding out of Confederation\u2014that their\nadoption was justified. It was almost universally conceded that the Province, physically\nhandicapped as it was, would not pay its way in Confederation, and it was strongly contended\nthat the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway\u2014the price asked by British Columbia\u2014\nwas too great a sacrifice on the part of the Dominion, and that the railway when built would\nprove unremunerative. Consequently the financial terms conceded to British Columbia were\nthe least favourable possible.\nA similar attitude towards British Columbia was maintained as long subsequently as 1884,\nwhen the \" Settlement Act\" was passed, whereby the outstanding differences between the\nProvinces and the Dominion were finally adjusted. By the terms of the \" Settlement Act\" the\nProvince, tired of delays and wearied with fruitless negotiations, agreed to transfer 3,500,000\nof the best land in the Peace River District in lieu of expenditures on the part of the Dominion,\namounting in all to about $1,100,000. These lands, worth now, at the lowest valuation,\n$17,500,000, were parted with to secure a railway from Esquimalt to Nanaimo, costing less than\n$3,000,000, which, under the Carnarvon terms, the Dominion Government has pledged itself to\nbuild without cost to the Province. The value of such concession was not then foreseen. The\nTreaty of 1871, as revised in 1884, was made in misapprehension of the possibilities of British\nColumbia and the development to accrue from the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway.\nThe subsequent course of events has shown that British Columbia has not only paid its\nway in Confederation, but has contributed in thirty-five years nearly $19,000,000 to the Federal\nTreasury in excess of what it has received therefrom; that the Canadian Pacific Railway has\nbeen instrumental more than any other factor in building up Canada, with benefits vastly\ngreater to Eastern Canada than to British Columbia; and that the \" Settlement Act \" gave a\nrealizable asset to the Dominion nearly twenty times greater than the expenditure which it\ninvolved.\nThe Government of British Columbia submits as incontrovertible that as the original and\namended term of union having been based upon assumptions which have proved groundless,\nand as that the very opposite of what was anticipated has transpired, it is incumbent, in the\nlight of developments which have actually taken place, upon the Dominion, morally and constitutionally, to now substitute fairer terms for those made perforce in anticipation of what\ndid not happen.\nThis contention is strictly in line with what is promised in the resolution of the Quebec\nConference of 1902, to the effect that at the time of the passing of the \" British North America\nAct,\" \" it was impossible to foresee the development of the Dominion,\" and to provide in an\nunalterable and fixed way for the requirements of the various local Governments for all time\nto come, except that the conditions are so peculiar and exceptional in the case of British\nColumbia as to demand exceptional consideration in the revision of financial terms now deemed\nnecessary.\nIn the memorial presented by the Government of British Columbia to the Dominion\nauthorities, and in various letters and memoranda, the historical aspect of the case has been\nreviewed, and the reasons for special consideration given in extenso. In addition to the foregoing, it has been pointed out that there are certain conditions and physical disabilities,\npermanent in character, which accentuate the position of British Columbia considered in\nrelation to the other Provinces, and that abnormally increase the cost of administration in that\nProvince as compared with the average conditions of the rest of the Dominion, entailing as\nwell disadvantages of commercial, industrial, aud political character.    These are:\u2014\n N 10\nMission to Ottawa.\n1912\n1. The cost of administration, owing to the physical character of the country.\n2. The distance from the commercial, industrial, and administrative centres of Eastern\nCanada.\n3. The non-industrial character of the Province, as compared with Eastern Canada, whereby\na large percentage of goods are imported and consumed, increasing the contributions to the\nFederal Treasury, in the way of taxes, in a ratio of three to one.\n4. The disadvantages of the Province in relation to the market for its special products.\nUnder the first head, it is pointed out, and supported by tables filed in the official records\nof all the Provinces, that the physical conditions referred to seriously affect the cost of government under every head.\nThe following table, covering a period of thirty years of all the Provinces, will sufficiently\nillustrate these contentions :\u2014\nBritish Columbia is a country, roundly speaking, 900 miles in length and 500 miles in width,\nincluding an area of 381,000 square miles, extremely mountainous in character and settled in\nwidely detached valleys with a sparse population. This involves an expenditure for government very much greater than in Provinces which are compact and do not present the same\npeculiar conditions with which that Province is confronted.\n2. The geographical position of the Province, though very important in one sense, is very\ndisadvantageous in relation to the Dominion as a whole. We sell very little to Eastern Canada\non account of\" the nature of our products, and we buy very largely there for the same reason.\nInter-Provincial trade was the material object in Confederation. The Province, therefore,\nhaving four per cent, of the population pays eight per cent, of the price of Confederation, and\ngets in return one per cent, of the trade.\n3. The non-industrial character of the Province accounts for the enormous contributions\nit has made to the Federal Treasury in proportion to the amount received in return. An\nelaborate statement of the account appears in the memorial referred to, which has been brought\nup to date, showing an excess of contributions over receipts amounting to nearly $19,000,000.\nThis is not submitted as an exact mathematical solution of financial relations, but is substantially accurate, and represents approximately the actual condition of affairs in respect to receipts\nand contributions. There is the further consideration that the population, which accrues\ndirectly to the benefit of the Dominion, accrues in the ratio of about three to one, as compared\nwith the average benefits from population in other sections of Canada.\n4. The geographical position of the Dominion also handicaps it in relation to the products\nwhich it sells. This is true, for the most part, of foreign exports of lumber, of fish, and of\nminerals, and of many other things that it is hoped to produce in the future, such as manufactures of iron and paper. For the most part,' British Columbia sells in the markets of the\nworld in competition with the world. It cannot sell in Eastern Canada in competition with\nEastern manufactures owing to distance, and is thus handicapped in what it buys and what\nit sells.\n 2 Geo. 5 Mission to Ottawa. N 11\nIts geographical position has still further the effect of increasing the cost of consumption\nby imposts in the way of freight on goods which are imported from a supply centre of Canada\nand elsewhere.\nIn addition to the natural disadvantages under which the Province has laboured may\nfairly be cited the political disadvantages of a limited representation in Parliament and the\nlong distance from the seat of Government. Without reflection upon one Administration at\nOttawa more than another, the Province, by reason of these handicaps, has not in the past\nreceived that consideration for its various wants that is extended to the people of Eastern\nCanada, who have large representation and easy access to the Capital.\nComparing the terms conceded to British Columbia and to the new Provinces of Alberta\nand Saskatchewan, it is found in effect that when these Provinces are in receipt of the total\nallowance to which they will be ultimately entitled per annum, the amount, in round numbers,\nwill be $2,250,000, while the total of British Columbia's allowance, when it has reached its\nmaximum, will be less than $500,000. It is not contended that the new Provinces have received\ntoo much, but that British Columbia has received far too little. Alberta and Saskatchewan\ncontain large, compact, arable areas presenting no physical difficulties or obstacles to development. While it may be said that in their case the lands and the minerals belonged to the\nDominion, if we take the case of British Columbia, with its public domain in its own right,\nthe average of its receipts for the past thirty years on account of its natural resources has only\nbeen $235,000 per annum, from which must be deducted the cost of administration, not less, at\nthe present time, than $100,000 per annum. It is submitted, further, that the readjustment of\nthe subsidies every two and a half years, according to the increase of population ascertained\nby census-taking, in our estimation, is another important advantage which the new Provinces\nhave over British Columbia. They obtain almost immediately in increased subsidy the benefit\nof increased population, while British Columbia, in which the increase of population is also very\nrapid, has to wait ten years for readjustment. There is, therefore, only one of two conclusions\nto be drawn from a comparison of the terms in the two cases; either the new Provinces have\nbeen too generously endowed by the Dominion\u2014which is not alleged\u2014or British Columbia has\nreceived very inadequate consideration of its requirements.\nThe Government of British Columbia, in view of all the considerations which have been\nadvanced in support of the claims of that Province, reaffirms its position in regard to the\ndesirability of a complete investigation by a competent tribunal of the merits of the Provincial\ncontention, ft is, therefore, asked that a Commission be appointed consisting of three persons\nof eminent repute, one to be named by the Government of the Dominion of Canada, one by the\nGovernment of British Columbia, and the third by the Honourable the Secretary of State for\nthe Colonies. It is asked that the reply of the Dominion Government be made definite and final\nwithin three months from the present time.\nRichard McBride.\nPremier.\nOttawa, October 9th, 1906.\nVICTORIA,  B.C. :\nPrinted by William H.  Cullin, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty.\n1912.\n","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/www.europeana.eu\/schemas\/edm\/hasType":[{"value":"Legislative proceedings","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/identifier":[{"value":"J110.L5 S7","type":"literal","lang":"en"},{"value":"1912_17_N1_N11","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/www.europeana.eu\/schemas\/edm\/isShownAt":[{"value":"10.14288\/1.0064422","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/language":[{"value":"English","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/www.europeana.eu\/schemas\/edm\/provider":[{"value":"Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/publisher":[{"value":"Victoria, BC : Government Printer","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/rights":[{"value":"Images provided for research and reference use only. For permission to publish, copy or otherwise distribute these images please contact the Legislative Library of British Columbia","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/source":[{"value":"Original Format: Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Library. Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/title":[{"value":"REPORT","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/type":[{"value":"Text","type":"literal","lang":"en"}],"http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/description":[{"value":"","type":"literal","lang":"en"}]}}