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.

1898 North-West Territories general election

4 November 1898 (1898-11-04)

31 seats in the North-West Legislative Assembly
  First party Second party
 
Leader Frederick W. A. G. Haultain Robert Brett
Party Liberal-Conservative Liberal
Leader since 1897 1897
Leader's seat Macleod Banff
Seats won 7 2

Premier before election

Frederick W. A. G. Haultain
Liberal-Conservative

Premier after election

Frederick W. A. G. Haultain
Liberal-Conservative

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, the first being 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. Unfortunately for the NWT, that power was not turned over until 1970.

The third issue was the territory's deficit budget. The territory was facing pressure from a rapidly increasing population in all parts of the territory. Earlier in 1898 the territorial government tried to exert control over liquor revenue in the Klondike, since it was footing the bill for increased services and policing. The federal government however interfered and dealt a huge blow, when it carved the Yukon Territory out of the NWT and appointed a council loyal to the federal government to gain control.

This 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.

Political parties were still controversial in this election as noted in the Calgary Herald editorial from 17 November 1898 Weekly edition, that debated the pros and cons of the bringing the "Dominion party lines" to the territorial legislature.

Election results

Members of the Legislative Assembly elected

For complete electoral history, see individual districts

Electoral District First Second Third Fourth Fifth Incumbent
Banff Robert Brett
181
50.28%
Arthur Sifton
179
49.72%
Robert Brett
Batoche Charles Fisher
76
58.46%
Charles Eugene Boucher
54
41.54%
Charles Eugene Boucher
Battleford Joseph Benjamin Prince
185
58.54%
James M. Skelton
131
41.46%
James Clinkskill
Cannington Ewan Cameron McDiarmid
228
52.66%
Samuel Page
114
26.33%
William Hislop
91
21.02%
Samuel Page
East Calgary Alfred Ernest Cross
182
33.21%
Simon John Clarke
127
23.18%
James Reilly
120
21.90%
Joseph Bannerman
119
21.72%
Joseph Bannerman
Edmonton Matthew McCauley
582
48.83%
Alexander Cameron Rutherford
498
41.78%
Harry Havelock Robertson
112
9.40%
Frank Oliver
Grenfell Richard Stuart Lake
351
69.64%
Benjamin Parkyn Richardson
153
30.36%
High River Richard Alfred Wallace
176
38.51%
Albert Edward Banister
126
27.57%
Walter C. Skrine
114
24.95%
Alfred Wyndham
37
8.1%
Alexander Begg
4
0.88%
John Lineham
Kinistino William Frederick Meyers
98
65.77%
Thomas Sanderson
51
34.23%
William Frederick Meyers
Lethbridge Leverett George DeVeber
Acclamation
Charles Alexander Magrath
Macleod Frederick W. A. G. Haultain
Acclamation
Frederick W. A. G. Haultain
Medicine Hat Horace Albertie Greeley
327
36.50%
William Finlay
285
31.81%
John George Calder
284
31.70%
Edward Fearon
Mitchell Joseph Albert McIntyre
200
51.68%
Archibald Blyth Stewart
187
48.32%
Hilliard Mitchell
Moose Jaw James Hamilton Ross
Acclamation
James Hamilton Ross
Moosomin Alexander S. Smith
614
61.03%
John Ryerson Neff
392
38.97%
John Ryerson Neff
North Qu’Appelle Donald H. McDonald
Acclamation
William Sutherland
North Regina George W. Brown
436
68.55%
John Henry Charles Willoughby
200
31.45%
George W. Brown
Prince Albert East Samuel McLeod
315
53.03%
John Felton Betts
279
46.97%
John Felton Betts
Prince Albert West Thomas McKay
237
55.50%
Thomas James Agnew
190
44.50%
John Lestock Reid
Red Deer John A. Simpson
349
46.10%
George Wellington Greene
253
33.42%
James Speakman
155
20.48%
John A. Simpson
St. Albert Fredric Edmond Villeneuve
429
53.56%
Daniel Maloney
292
36.45%
G.W. Gardiner
80
9.99%
Daniel Maloney
Saltcoats William Eakin
215
51.44%
James Nixon
203
48.56%
William Eakin
Souris John Wesley Connell
424
56.16%
John Young
331
43.84%
George Knowling
South Qu’Appelle George H. V. Bulyea
403
55.21%
William G. Vickers
327
44.79%
George H. V. Bulyea
South Regina James B. Hawkes
273
51.03%
Jacob W. Smith
210
39.25%
William F. Eddy
52
9.72%
Daniel Mowat
Victoria Jack Shera
242
52.27%
Frank Fraser Tims
221
47.73%
Frank Fraser Tims
West Calgary R. B. Bennett
291
40.87%
William W. Stuart
205
28.79%
James Muir
169
23.74%
Thomas Riley
47
6.60%
Oswald Critchley
Wetaskiwin Anthony Rosenroll
Acclamation
Whitewood Archibald Beaton Gillis
Acclamation
Archibald Beaton Gillis
Wolseley William Elliott
317
54.56%
Levi Thomson
264
45.44%
James Dill
Yorkton Thomas Alfred Patrick
Acclamation
Thomas Alfred Patrick
  • Brett (Banff) was elected in a contentiously close election, so close that a by-election had to be held, which Arthur Sifton won.

See also

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