Becoming a Province

Page 1 | 2

When the government of Canada acquired the Northwest Territories from the Hudson's Bay Company in 1870, one of the first things needed was to establish a system of government for this vast area. Aside from the newly created province of Manitoba, the remaining territory would be governed by a Lieutenant Governor and appointed council. These provisions became law in the Northwest Territories Act of 1875, which also established the capital at Battleford and provided that elected representatives would gradually replace appointed ones.

In 1882, the territorial capital was moved to Regina, but other changes were slow. In 1885, local grievances boiled over into outright hostilities, and Louis Riel led an uprising against the Crown. Although Riel and his supporters were defeated, the federal government finally introduced some important reforms. These included representation for the Territories in the House of Commons and Senate and in 1888 the Territories were also granted a fully elected Legislative Assembly. However, the Lieutenant Governor continued to be responsible for most administrative matters. Only in 1897 did the Territorial Legislature secure a cabinet accountable to the elected Assembly.

	Explore the birth of Alberta in Political Beginnings, a dynamic vignette by the Heritage Community Foundation, with audio commentary by the CKUA Radio Network! [Watch]

[Next]

[Top] [Back]

Becoming a Province

The First Legislature:
1905-1910

Turner Valley: 1914

World War I and Aftermath

Railroads and Expanding Settlement