1898 North-West Territories general election

The 1898 North-West Territories general election took place on 4 November 1898. This was the fourth general election in the history of the North-West Territories, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the North-West Territories. In 1897 Responsible Government had been secured, and this was the first election where voters elected an assembly that would control the executive members that would conduct the business of the NWT government."History of the Legislative Assembly", NWT Legislative Assembly. https://www.ntlegislativeassembly.ca/about/legislative-assembly/history

Frederick W. A. G. Haultain was still the first premier of the North-West Territories (NWT). That title was given by legislation passed in 1897. He was the last premier of the NWT until 1980.

There were three big issues in this election. One was acquiring provincial rights and how to divide the NWT into provinces.

The second issue was the transfer of education from the federal to the territorial level. This was Haultain's personal project. It was achieved for some of the NWT residents by the creation of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Unfortunately for the rest of the NWT, that power was not turned over to the Territorial Assembly until 1970, long after Haultain's passing.

The third issue was the territory's budget deficit and growing debt. The territory was facing pressure from a rapidly increasing population in all parts of the territory. Earlier in 1898 the territorial government tried to get the liquor revenue in the Klondike, since it was footing the bill for increased services and policing. The federal government however blocked that project by carving the Yukon Territory out of the NWT and appointing a council loyal to the federal government.

The 1898 election was the first general election in which the election was contested along party lines in the NWT. Frederick W. A. G. Haultain sustained the governing North-West Territories Liberal-Conservative Party in coalition with James Hamilton Ross, who was a member of the Hautain cabinet but a Liberal member. Robert Brett remained leader of the official opposition. Their use was controversial. A Calgary Herald editorial in the 17 November 1898 Weekly edition debated the pros and cons of bringing "Dominion party lines" to the territorial legislature.

Election results Members of the Legislative Assembly elected For complete electoral history, see individual districts Electoral DistrictFirstSecondThirdFourthFifthIncumbentBanffRobert Brett18150.28%Arthur Sifton17949.72%Robert BrettBatocheCharles Fisher7658.46%Charles Eugene Boucher5441.54%Charles Eugene BoucherBattlefordJoseph Benjamin Prince18558.54%James M. Skelton13141.46%James ClinkskillCanningtonEwan Cameron McDiarmid22852.66%Samuel Page11426.33%William Hislop9121.02%Samuel PageEast CalgaryAlfred Ernest Cross18233.21%Simon John Clarke12723.18%James Reilly12021.90%Joseph Bannerman11921.72%Joseph BannermanEdmontonMatthew McCauley58248.83%Alexander Cameron Rutherford49841.78%Harry Havelock Robertson1129.40%Frank OliverGrenfellRichard Stuart Lake35169.64%Benjamin Parkyn Richardson15330.36%High RiverRichard Alfred Wallace17638.51%Albert Edward Banister12627.57%Walter C. Skrine11424.95%Alfred Wyndham378.1%Alexander Begg40.88%John LinehamKinistinoWilliam Frederick Meyers9865.77%Thomas Sanderson5134.23%William Frederick MeyersLethbridgeLeverett George DeVeberAcclamationCharles Alexander MagrathMacleodFrederick W. A. G. HaultainAcclamationFrederick W. A. G. HaultainMedicine HatHorace Greeley32736.50%William Finlay28531.81%John George Calder28431.70%Edward FearonMitchellJoseph Albert McIntyre20051.68%Archibald Blyth Stewart18748.32%Hilliard MitchellMoose JawJames Hamilton RossAcclamationJames Hamilton RossMoosominAlexander S. Smith61461.03%John Ryerson Neff39238.97%John Ryerson NeffNorth Qu’AppelleDonald H. McDonaldAcclamationWilliam SutherlandNorth ReginaGeorge W. Brown43668.55%John Henry Charles Willoughby20031.45%George W. BrownPrince Albert EastSamuel McLeod31553.03%John Felton Betts27946.97%John Felton BettsPrince Albert WestThomas McKay23755.50%Thomas James Agnew19044.50%John Lestock ReidRed DeerJohn A. Simpson34946.10%George Wellington Greene25333.42%James Speakman15520.48%John A. SimpsonSt. AlbertFredric Edmond Villeneuve42953.56%Daniel Maloney29236.45%G.W. Gardiner809.99%Daniel MaloneySaltcoatsWilliam Eakin21551.44%James Nixon20348.56%William EakinSourisJohn Wesley Connell42456.16%John Young33143.84%George KnowlingSouth Qu’AppelleGeorge H. V. Bulyea40355.21%William G. Vickers32744.79%George H. V. BulyeaSouth ReginaJames B. Hawkes27351.03%Jacob W. Smith21039.25%William F. Eddy529.72%Daniel MowatVictoriaJack Shera24252.27%Frank Fraser Tims22147.73%Frank Fraser TimsWest CalgaryR. B. Bennett29140.87%William W. Stuart20528.79%James Muir16923.74%Thomas Riley476.60%Oswald CritchleyWetaskiwinAnthony RosenrollAcclamationWhitewoodArchibald Beaton GillisAcclamationArchibald Beaton GillisWolseleyWilliam Elliott31754.56%Levi Thomson26445.44%James DillYorktonThomas Alfred PatrickAcclamationThomas Alfred Patrick

Robert Brett (Banff) was elected in a contentiously close election, however the results were challenged by opponent Arthur Sifton, who won the subsequent by-election.

See also List of Northwest Territories general elections

References

External links

Personnel of the Territorial Assembly 1888–1905