Hon. Mr. FOURNIER moved for
leave to introduce a Bill to amend the
Act respecting the administration of Jus
424 HOUSE OF COMMONS.
tice and the establishment of the Police Force in the North-West Territories. He stated
that the object of this Bill was to amend only two clauses, 26 and 25 of the existing
law. These two clauses were reenacted almost entirely with the addition of some provisions
respecting desertions, which were not made an offence in the present Act and there
was no provision for the punishment of deserters. The present Bill made desertion
an offence punishable by fine. Under the present law the Commissioner alone had the
power of punishing offences. By the present Bill it was proposed to extend that Bill
to the Assistant Commissioner and other officers in command, so that any commanding
officer in an isolated position would have the same power as the Commissioner in relation
to the offences mentioned in the Act. The second clause of this Bill, amending Section
25 of the present act, provided that any deserter found in any of the Provinces might
be sued, fined and imprisoned for his offence.
Bill read a first time.