Rupert's Land and North-Western Territory Order/Schedule B

May 28, 1869.

Resolved,—That the Senate and Commons of the Dominion of Canada, during the first session of the first Parliament of Canada, adopted an Address to Her Majesty, praying that Her Majesty would be graciously pleased, by and with the advice of Her Most Honourable Privy Council, under the provisions of 146th section of The British North America Act, 1867; and on the terms specified in that Address, to unite Rupert's Land and the North­West Territory with this Dominion, and to grant to the Parliament of Canada authority to legislate for their future welfare and good government, and assuring Her Majesty of the willingness of the Parliament of Canada to assume the duties and obligations of government and legislation as regards those territories.

Resolved,—That the Joint Address of the Senate and Commons of Canada was duly laid at the foot of the throne, and that Her Majesty, by despatch from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to the Governor­-General of Canada, under date of 23rd of April, 1868, signified her willingness to comply with the prayer of the said Address; but She was advised that the requisite powers of Government and legislation could not, consistently with the existing charter of the Hudson's Bay Company, be transferred to Canada without an Act of Parliament, which Act was subsequently passed by the Imperial Parliament, and received Her Majesty's Assent on the 31st July, 1868.

Resolved,—That by despatch dated 8th August, 1868, from Honourable Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Governor­-General was informed, that in pursuance of the powers conferred by the Act for the surrender of the Hudson Bay territories to Her Majesty, he proposed to enter into negotiations with the Company as to the terms of such surrender, whereupon, under authority of an order of the Governor-­General in Council of the 1st October, 1868, the Honourable Sir George Et. Cartier, Baronet, and the Honourable William McDougall, C.B., were appointed a Delegation to England, to arrange the terms for the acquisition by Canada of Rupert's Land, and by another Order in Council of the same date, were authorized to arrange for the admission of the North-­West Territory into union with Canada, either with or without Rupert's Land, as it might be found practicable and expedient.

Resolved,—That the Delegates proceeded on their mission to England, and entered into negotiations with his Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, and afterwards with the Right Honourable Earl Granville, his successor in office, for the acquisition by Canada of the territorial and other rights claimed by the Hudson's Bay Company in Rupert's Land, and in any other part of British North America not comprised in Rupert's Land, Canada, or British Columbia. That terms of agreement were conditionally assented to by the Delegates on behalf of the Dominion, and on their return to Canada were submitted with a Report dated 8th May, 1869, which was approved by his Excellency the Governor in Council on the 14th day of the same month.

Resolved,—That the Senate will be prepared to concur in accepting the transfer of the territorial and other rights of the Hudson's Bay Company in Rupert's Land, and in any other part of British North America not comprised in Rupert's Land, Canada, or British Columbia, on the terms conditionally agreed to on behalf of the Government of Canada, by the Honourable Sir George Et. Cartier, Baronet, and the Honourable William McDougall, C.B., and on behalf of the Hudson's Bay Company, by Sir Stafford H. Northcote, Governor of that Company, and approved by his Excellency in Council as aforesaid, which terms are set forth in a letter from Sir Frederic Rogers, Under-­Secretary of State for the Colonies, of the 9th March, 1869, communicated to the Delegates by direction of Earl Granville, and in two subsequent Memorandums dated respectively 22nd and 29th March, 1869, containing a modification of such terms, and are in the words and figures following:—

1. The Hudson's Bay Company to surrender to Her Majesty all the rights of government, property, etc., in Rupert's Land, which are specified in 31 & 32 Vict., cap. 105, sec. 4; and also all similar rights in any other part of British North America, not comprised in Rupert's Land, Canada, or British Columbia.

2. Canada is to pay to the Company £300,000, when Rupert's Land is transferred to the Dominion of Canada.

3. The Company may, within twelve months of the surrender, select a block of land adjoining each of its stations, within the limits specified in Article 1.