Government Conservative Party Third parties Liberal-Conservative | Opposition Liberal Party | |
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Prime
Minister
(cabinet) Rt. Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald
(1st Canadian Ministry)
July 1, 1867 – November 5, 1873 Speaker of the
Commons Hon. James Cockburn
November 6, 1867 – March 25, 1874 Speaker of the
Senate The Hon. Joseph Edouard Cauchon
November 5, 1867 – May 16, 1869 | ||
The 1st Canadian Parliament was in session from November 6, 1867, until July 8, 1872. The membership was set by the 1867 federal election from August 7 to September 20, 1867. It was prorogued prior to the 1872 election.
Contents
- Major bills and motions
- Members of Parliament
- Nova Scotia
- Quebec
- Ontario
- Manitoba
- British Columbia
- References
It was controlled by a majority coalition between the Conservative Party and the Liberal-Conservative Party under Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald and the 1st Canadian Ministry. The Official Opposition was the Liberal Party, led by Edward Blake from 1869 to 1871, followed by a vacancy in the Liberal leadership.
The Speaker was James Cockburn. See also List of Canadian electoral districts, 1867–1871 for a list of the ridings in this parliament.
Major bills and motions
On December 10, 1867, Finance minister John Rose moved the House to a committee of supply. Prime Minister Macdonald seconded.
Members of Parliament
Following is a full list of members of the first parliament by province. Cabinet members are bolded.
Electoral districts denoted by an asterisk (*) indicates that district was represented by two members.
Nova Scotia
Note:
1 – The Anti-Confederate Party dissolved after failing to secure Nova Scotia's secession from Confederation. In 1869 its members joined other parties, or in one case sat as an independent.
Quebec
Four Quebec members recontested their seats in byelections, and were re-elected:
2 – John Rose was reelected in Huntingdon on November 28, 1867, after being named Minister of Finance.
3 – Barthélemy Pouliot was unseated on petition, but was reelected in L'Islet on July 14, 1869.
4 – Christopher Dunkin was reelected in Brome on November 29, 1869, after being named Minister of Agriculture.
5 – John Henry Pope was reelected in Compton on November 11, 1871, after being named Minister of Agriculture following Dunkin's resignation from Parliament.
Ontario
Note:
6 – One Ontario MP, Alexander Morris, recontested his seat in a byelection. He was reelected in Lanark South on November 29, 1869, after being appointed Minister of Inland Revenue.
Manitoba
Manitoba joined Confederation in 1870. Byelections to choose Manitoba's representatives were held on March 2 and March 3, 1871.
British Columbia
British Columbia joined Confederation in 1871. Byelections to choose the province's representatives were held in November and December of that year.