Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/565

 LEGISLATURE 221

4 from Princo Edward Island, and 2 from the Territories. Each senator must be 30 years of age, a born or naturalised subject, and reside in, and be possessed of property, real or personal, of the value of 4,000 dollars, within the province for which he is appointed. The House of Commons of the Dominion is elected by the people, for five yearns, unless sooner dissolved, at the rate at present of one representative for every 22,688, the arrangement being that the province of Quebec shall always have 65 members, and the other provinces proportionally, according to their populations at each decennial census. On the basis of the census of the Dominion taken in April 1891, and in accordance with a redistribution bill passed in 1892, the House of Commons consists of 213 members — 92 for Ontario, 65 for Quebec, 20 for Nova Scotia, 14 for New Brunswick, 7 for Manitoba, 6 for British Columbia, 5 for Prince Edward Island, and 4 for the North-West Territories.

The members of the House of Commons are elected by con- stituencies, the electors of which are supplied by franchises under the control of the several provincial assemblies, an Act having been passed to that effect in the session of 1898. The qualifica- tions for voting at provincial elections vary in the several provinces. Voting is by ballot.

The Speaker of the House of Commons has a salary of 4,000 dollars per annum, and each member an allowance of 10 dollars per diem, up to the end of 30 days, and for a session lasting longer than this period the sum of 1,000 dollars, with, in every case, 10 cents per mile for travelling expenses. The sum of 8 dollars per diem is deducted for every day's absence of a mem- ber, unless the same is caused by illness. There is the same allowance for the members of the Senate of the Dominion.

Governor-General. — The Right Honourable Gilbert John Elliot Earl of Minto, born July 9, 1845 ; succeeded to the peerage March 17, 1891; Military Secretary to the Marquis of Lans- downe, Governor-General of Canada, 1883-85 ; Chief of Staff to General Middleton in the Canadian North-West, 1885 ; assumed office, November, 1898.

The Governor-General has a salary of 10,000/. per annum. He is assisted in his functions, under the provisions of the Act of 1867, by a Council, com- posed of 13 heads of departments.

Queen's Privy Council. — The present Council consists of the following members : —

1. Premier and President of the Council— Rt. Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, G.C.M.G., Q.C., born in L'Assomption County, Province of Quebec, 1841 ; entered Parliament 1874 ; Minister of Inland Heveuue 1877 ; Premier July 13, 1896.