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.^[1]

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.