2nd Council of the Northwest Territories
Encyclopedia
The 2nd Council of the Northwest Territories known formally as the Council of the Northwest Territories lasted from 1905 to 1951. In 1905 when Alberta
and Saskatchewan
were carved out the Northwest Territories, the remaining population was too small to legally hold elections. The Northwest Territories reverted back to 1870 constitutional status. Political parties and the position of Lieutenant Governor
was abolished. The government came under the direct control of Ottawa.
was appointed the first commissioner of the Northwest Territories by Sir Wilfrid Laurier
to oversee a four-man appointed council. No council was appointed until 1921, but provisions existed in law for four council seats. The Northwest Territories was instead run by the Department of Mines and Resources Canada and no legislation under territorial jurisdiction was passed or updated in this period.
In 1921 a deputy commissioner position was created and the 1st session of the council was convened in Ottawa
. The first act of the council was to increase the number of members to six. The deputy commissioner position and a seat on the council was automatically given to the Director of Mines and Resources. All legislation during this council was created with the advice and guidance of the director. In essence the director was a de facto government leader, and held more power then the commissioner.
In 1939 a special administration district was created. This district was a hybrid between an electoral district and a Senate division
. It was not until 1947 when John G. McNiven
would be appointed to represent the district. McNiven would also be the first person living in the Northwest Territories since 1905 and the first person from the Arctic to sit on the council.
All other members of the council were from outside of the territories, and usually civil servants residing in Ottawa
. This period of Northwest Territories history is generally regarded by the people of the Northwest Territories as a time of great neglect. The council during this period never had any sessions in the Territories, but members did travel occasionally to consult with municipal governments.
Note:
1Hugh Young continued to serve as commissioner after the sixth general election
Note:
1Frank Cunningham continued to serve as deputy commissioner after the sixth general election.
Deputy Commissioners also counted as regular members of the Northwest Territories council.
Note:
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
were carved out the Northwest Territories, the remaining population was too small to legally hold elections. The Northwest Territories reverted back to 1870 constitutional status. Political parties and the position of Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
was abolished. The government came under the direct control of Ottawa.
Council history
In 1905 Frederick D. WhiteFrederick D. White
Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick D. White was the first Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from August 24, 1905, to June 27, 1919 and former commander of the North-West Mounted Police.-Police career:...
was appointed the first commissioner of the Northwest Territories by Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
to oversee a four-man appointed council. No council was appointed until 1921, but provisions existed in law for four council seats. The Northwest Territories was instead run by the Department of Mines and Resources Canada and no legislation under territorial jurisdiction was passed or updated in this period.
In 1921 a deputy commissioner position was created and the 1st session of the council was convened 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 first act of the council was to increase the number of members to six. The deputy commissioner position and a seat on the council was automatically given to the Director of Mines and Resources. All legislation during this council was created with the advice and guidance of the director. In essence the director was a de facto government leader, and held more power then the commissioner.
In 1939 a special administration district was created. This district was a hybrid between an electoral district and a Senate division
Canadian Senate divisions
Canadian Senate divisions refers to two things. First, to the four regional Senate divisions of 24 senators as set out in the Constitution of Canada Canadian Senate divisions refers to two things. First, to the four regional Senate divisions of 24 senators as set out in the Constitution of Canada...
. It was not until 1947 when John G. McNiven
John G. McNiven
John Graham "Jock" McNiven was a mine engineer, mine operator and politician from the Northwest Territories, Canada....
would be appointed to represent the district. McNiven would also be the first person living in the Northwest Territories since 1905 and the first person from the Arctic to sit on the council.
All other members of the council were from outside of the territories, and usually civil servants residing 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...
. This period of Northwest Territories history is generally regarded by the people of the Northwest Territories as a time of great neglect. The council during this period never had any sessions in the Territories, but members did travel occasionally to consult with municipal governments.
Commissioners during the 2nd Council
| Member | Year Appointed | Year Served |
|---|---|---|
| Frederick D. White Frederick D. White Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick D. White was the first Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from August 24, 1905, to June 27, 1919 and former commander of the North-West Mounted Police.-Police career:... |
1905 | 1919 |
| William Wallace Cory William Wallace Cory William Wallace Cory was Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from June 27, 1919 to February 17, 1931.Only the second Commissioner of the Northwest Territories to take the post, Cory inherited a region that had barely been governed during the time of his predecessor.Within months the new... |
1919 | 1931 |
| Hugh H. Rowatt Hugh H. Rowatt Hugh Howard Rowatt was Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, Canada from 1931 to 1934 who, at the age of 69, remains the oldest person to ever be sworn into the office... |
1931 | 1934 |
| Charles Camsell Charles Camsell Charles Camsell was a Canadian geologist and Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from December 3, 1936 to December 3, 1946.-Early life:... |
1936 | 1946 |
| Hugh Keenleyside | 1947 | 1950 |
| Hugh Andrew Young Hugh Andrew Young Hugh Andrew Young was Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from November 14, 1950 to November 15, 1953.In 1940, he joined the Canadian army and became a senior staff officer at the Canadian Military Headquarters in London. From 1942 to 1943, he commanded the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade... 1 |
1950 | 1951 |
Note:
1Hugh Young continued to serve as commissioner after the sixth general election
Deputy commissioners during the 2nd Council
| Member | Year Appointed | Year Served |
|---|---|---|
| Roy Gibson Roy A. Gibson Roy Alexander Gibson was a civil servant and political figure in the Northwest Territories, Canada. He served as Deputy Commissioner of Northwest Territories from 1921 to 1950.... |
April 20, 1921 | 1950 |
| Frank Cunningham1 | 1951 | 1951 |
Note:
1Frank Cunningham continued to serve as deputy commissioner after the sixth general election.
Deputy Commissioners also counted as regular members of the Northwest Territories council.
Members of the 2nd Council
| Member | Appointed | Left Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Wesley Greenway John Wesley Greenway John Wesley Greenway was a Canadian civil servant and politician. He served as a Member of the Northwest Territories Council beginning in 1921 and also served as Commissioner of Dominion Lands for the Department of the Interior.-Early life:Greenway was born on August 27, 1861 in Bervie, Ontario... |
April 20, 1921 | April 24, 1928 | Died in office |
| Aylesworth Perry Aylesworth Perry Aylesworth Bowen Perry, C.M.G. served as the sixth Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, from August 1, 1900, to March 31, 1923.- Early life :... |
April 20, 1921 | April 1, 1922 | |
| Duncan Campbell Scott Duncan Campbell Scott Duncan Campbell Scott was a Canadian poet and prose writer. With Charles G.D. Roberts, Bliss Carman, and Archibald Lampman, he is classed as one of Canada's Confederation Poets.... |
1929 | Appointed to replace John Greenway | |
| Charles Camsell Charles Camsell Charles Camsell was a Canadian geologist and Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from December 3, 1936 to December 3, 1946.-Early life:... |
|||
| Hugh Howard Rowatt | |||
| Oswald Sterling Finnie | |||
| Austin Cumming | 1940? | 1947 | At large |
| Kenneth Daly | 1940? | 1947 | At large |
| Harold McGill Harold McGill Dr. Major Harold Wigmore McGill was a provincial level politician and medical doctor from Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the Council of the Northwest Territories.-Early life:Dr... |
1940 | 1947 | At large |
| Stuart Wood Stuart Wood Stuart Taylor Wood, CMG served as the ninth Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, from March 6, 1938 to April 30, 1951.-Early life and career:... |
April 1938 | 1951 | At large |
| Oscar D. Skelton Oscar D. Skelton Oscar Douglas Skelton was a Canadian professor, author, civil servant, and politician.He earned his M.A. from Queen's University in 1900, and his doctorate in political economy from the University of Chicago in 1908. He taught at Queen's University until 1925, where he also served in the... |
April 8, 1938 | January 28, 1941 | At large |
| Hugh Keenleyside | 1941 | 1947 | At large |
| Robert Hoey Robert Hoey Robert Alexander Hoey was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1921 to 1925, served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1927 to 1936, and was a cabinet minister in the government of John Bracken.Hoey was born in Enniskillen, County... |
1946 | 1947 | At Large |
| John G. McNiven John G. McNiven John Graham "Jock" McNiven was a mine engineer, mine operator and politician from the Northwest Territories, Canada.... |
1947 | 1951 | Appointed to represent Yellowknife Yellowknife (Administrative district) The Yellowknife Administration district, was a political management jurisdiction representing Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The district was created by Federal legislation in 1939 to encompass lands within a 25 mile radius of the town centre. Its primary functions were to create a Trustee... |
| Harold Godwin | 1947 | 1951 | At Large |
| Louis Audette Louis Audette Louis de la Chesnaye Audette, was a Canadian lawyer, soldier, and civil servant.Born in Ottawa, Ontario, the son of Louis-Arthur Audette and Mary-Grace Stuart, the tenth child of Andrew Stuart, he was educated as a lawyer and practiced in Montreal during 1930s... |
1947 | 1951 | At Large |
Note:
- Members during this period were appointed until the dissolution of the council in 1951, and vacancy only occurred on resignation or death.