Date: Assented to 23rd May, 1873
PDF Version
(114 Kb, 10 Pages)
Accessibility Notice
Help on accessing documents in PDF format
can be obtained on the help page.
Preamble.
HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate and House of commons of Canada, enacts as follows :-
Stipendiary Magistrates.
1. The Governor may from time to time appoint,
by commission under the Great Seal, one or more fit and proper person or
persons to be and act as a Stipendiary Magistrate or Stipendiary
Magistrates within the North West Territories, who shall reside at such
place or places as may be ordered by the Governor in Council; and the
Governor in Council shall assign to any such Stipendiary Magistrate a
yearly salary not exceeding three thousand dollars, together with his
actual travelling expenses.
Tenure of office and
general powers.
2. Every Stipendiary Magistrate shall hold
office during pleasure ; and shall exercise within the North West
Territories, or within such limited portion of the same as may be
prescribed by the Governor in Council, the magisterial, judicial and
other functions appertaining to any Justice of the Peace, or any two
Justices of the Peace, under any laws or Ordinances which may from time
to time be in force in the North West Territories.
Power to try certain
offences summarily.
3. Any Stipendiary Magistrate shall further have
power to hear and determine, in a summary way and without the
intervention of a jury, any charge against any person or persons for any
of the following offences alleged to have been committed within the
North West Territories, as follows :-
Larceny, and
1. Simple larceny, larceny from the person,
embezzlement, or obtaining money or property by false pretences, or
feloniously receiving stolen property, in any case in which the value of
the whole property alleged to have been stolen, embezzled, obtained or
received, does not, in the judgment of such Stipendiary Magistrate,
exceed one hundred dollars; or
Attempts at.
2. Having attempted to commit larceny from the
person or simple larceny ; or
Assaults.
3. With having committed an aggravated assault, by
unlawfully and maliciously inflicting upon any other person, either with
or without a weapon or instrument, any grievous bodily harm, or by
unlawfully and maliciously cutting, stabbing or wounding any other
person ; or
On females or children.
4. With having committed an assault upon any female
whatever, or upon any male child whose age does not, in the opinion of
the magistrate, exceed fourteen years, such assault, if upon a female,
not amounting, in his opinion, to an assault with intent to commit a
rape ; or
On magistrates.
5. Having assaulted, obstructed, molested or
hindered any Stipendiary Magistrate, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner
or Superintendent of Police, a policeman, constable or bailiff, or
Officer of Customs or Excise, or other officer, in the lawful
performance of his duty, or with intent to prevent the performance
thereof ;
Punishment.
And upon any conviction by such Stipendiary Magistrate,
the person so convicted may be sentenced to such punishment as he thinks
fit, by imprisonment for any period less than two years in any gaol or
place of confinement, with or without hard labour, and with or without
solitary confinement, or by fine, or by such imprisonment and fine.
Summary trial of certain
offences by Judge or two
Stipendiary Magistrates.
Court of record.
Punishment by imprisonment.
4. The Chief Justice or any Judge of the Court
of Queen's Bench of the Province of Manitoba, or any two Stipendiary
Magistrates sitting together as a Court, shall have power and authority
to hear and determine within the North West Territories, in a summary way
and without the intervention of any Grand or Petty Jury, any charge
against any person or persons for offences alleged to have been
committed within the North West Territories, and the maximum punishment
for which does not exceed seven years imprisonment ; and such Court shall
be a Court of record ; and if imprisonment in a penitentiary be awarded
in any such case, the Court may cause the convict to be conveyed to the
penitentiary in the Province of Manitoba ; and he shall undergo such
punishment therein as if convicted in the Province of Manitoba.
Power to send certain offenders
to Manitoba for trial.
Power to try and punish in Manitoba.
5. Any Justice of the Peace, or any Stipendiary
Magistrate or any Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of the Province of
Manitoba, shall have power and authority to commit and cause to be conveyed
to gaol in the Province of Manitoba, for trial by the said Court of
Queen's Bench according to the laws of criminal procedure in force in
the said Province, any person or persons at any time charged with the
commission of any offence against any of the laws or Ordinances in force
in the North West Territories, punishable by death or imprisonment in
the penitentiary : and the Court of Queen's Bench and any Judge thereof,
shall have power and authority to try any person arraigned before the
said Court on any such charge ; and the jury laws and laws of
criminal procedure of the said Province shall apply to any such trial ;
except that the punishment to be awarded, upon conviction of any such
person, shall be according to the laws in force in the North West
Territories : and the sentence may be carried into effect in a
penitentiary or other place of confinement in the said Province, as if
the same were in the North West Territories.
Power to convey prisoners
nto Manitoba.
6. Whenever, under either of the two next
preceding sections, any convict or accused person is ordered to be
conveyed to gaol or to the penitentiary in Manitoba, any constable or
other person in whose charge he is to be so conveyed, shall have the
same power to hold and covey him, or to re-take him in case of an
escape, and the gaoler or warden of the penitentiary in Manitoba shall
have the same power to detain and deal with him, in the said Province,
as if it were within the North West Territories, or as if the said
convict or accused person had been ordered to be conveyed to such gaol
or penitentiary by some competent Court or authority in the said
Province.
Custody by Police, where
there is no gaol.
7. Where it is impossible or inconvenient, in
the absence or remoteness of any gaol or other place of confinement, to
carry out any sentence of imprisonment, any Justice of the Peace or
Stipendiary Magistrate, or any two Stipendiary Magistrates sitting
together as aforesaid, or any Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench of
Manitoba, may, according to their several powers and jurisdictions
hereinbefore given, sentence such person so convicted before him or
them, and sentenced, as aforesaid, to such imprisonment, to be placed and
kept in the custody of the Police of the North West Territories, with or
without hard labour, - the nature and extent of which shall be
determined by the Justice of the Peace or Stipendiary Magistrate or
Stipendiary Magistrates, or Judge, by or before whom such person was
convicted.
Governor in Council may erect
lock-up.
8. The Governor in Council may cause to be
erected in any part or parts of the North West Territories any building
or buildings, or enclosure or enclosures, for the purposes of the gaol or
lock-up, for the confinement of prisoners charged with the commission of
any offence, or sentenced to any punishment therein ; and confinement or
imprisonment therein shall be held lawful and valid.
Supplying place of officers,
not existing in N.W.
Territories.
9. Whenever in any Act of the Parliament of
Canada in force in the North West Territories, any officer is designated for
carrying on any duty therein mentioned, and there shall be no such
officer in the North West Territories, the Lieutenant Governor in
Council may order by what other person or officer such duty shall be
performed; and anything done by such person or officer, under such
order, shall be valid and legal in the premises : or if it be in any such
Act ordered that any document or thing shall be transmitted to any
officer, Court, territorial division or place and there shall be in the
said North West Territories no such officer, Court or territorial
division or place, then the Lieutenant Governor in Council may order to
what officer, Court or place such transmission shall be made, or may
dispense with the transmission thereof.
MOUNTED POLICE FORCE.
Police force and officers.
10. The Governor in Council may constitute a
Police Force in and for the North West Territories, and the Governor may
from time to time, as may be found necessary, appoint by commission, a
Commissioner of Police, and one or more Superintendents of Police,
together with a Paymaster, Surgeon and Veterinary Surgeon, each of whom
shall hold office during pleasure.
Commissioner.
11. The Commissioner of Police shall perform
such duties and be subject to the control, orders and authority of such
person or persons, as may, from time to time, be named by the Governor in
Council for that purpose.
Constables and Sub-constables.
Mounted men.
12. Governor in Council may, from time to time,
authorize the Commissionner of Police to appoint, by warrant under his
hand, such number of Constables and Sub-Constables as he may think
proper, not exceeding in the whole three hundred men ; and such number
thereof shall be mounted as the Governor in Council may at any time
direct.
Qualification of policemen.
13. No person shall be appointed to the Police
Force unless he be of sound constitution, able to ride, active and
able-bodied, of good character, and between the ages of eighteen and
forty years; nor unless he be able to read and write either the English
or French language.
Oath to be taken by them.
By whom administered and kept.
14. No person shall exercise any office in the
said Force until he shall have taken the oath of allegiance and the
following oath of office : "I, A. B., solemnly swear that I will
faithfully, diligently and impartially execute and perform the duties
and office of in the Police Force of the North West Territories, and
will well and truly obey and perform all lawful orders or instructions
which I shall receive as such,
,without fear, favor or affection of or towards any person or party
whomsoever. So help me God : " and such oath may be taken by the
Commissioner of Police before any Judge, Stipendiary Magistrate, or
Justice of the Peace having jurisdiction in the North West Territories,
and by any other member of the Police Force before the Commissioner of
Police, or any person having such jurisdiction as aforesaid ; and such
oaths shall be retained by the Commissioner as part of the records of
his office.
Officers to be J. P's, and men
constables : and where.
15. The Commissioner and every Superintendent of
Police shall be ex-officio a Justice of the Peace; and every
constable and sub-constable of the Force shall be a constable in and for
the whole of the North West Territories; and may execute the office in
any part thereof, and in Manitoba in the cases hereinbefore mentioned
and provided for.
Articles of engagement.
Enforcement.
16. Every constable and sub-constable shall,
upon appointment to the said Force, sign articles of engagement ; and any
penalty which may be therein assigned may be enforced ; and one condition
in the said articles shall always be that he shall serve for the period
of three years, and shall not leave the force or withdraw from his
duties, unless he be dismissed or discharged therefrom, or shall have
previously given six months notice in writing, to the Commissioner. The
engagement shall be contracted to the Commissioner, and may be enforced
by the Commissioner for the time being.
Free grants for good service.
17. The Governor in Council may, from and out of
any of the lands of the Dominion in the Province of Manitoba or in the
North West Territories, make a free grant not exceeding one hundred and
sixty acres, to any constable or sub-constable of the said force, who,
at the expiration of three years of continuous service in the said
Force, shall be certified by the Commissioner of Police to have
conducted himself satisfactorily, and to have efficiently and ably
performed the duties of his office during the said term of three years.
Head-quarters.
18. The Governor in Council shall appoint the
place at which the Head Quarters of the Force shall from time to time be
kept ; and the office of the Commissioner shall be kept there, and the
same may be at any place in the North West Territories or the Province
of Manitoba.
Duties of the Force.
19. It shall be the duty of the Force -
Prevention of crime.
1. To perform all duties which now are or shall be
hereafter assigned to constables in relation to the preservation of the
peace, the prevention of crime, and of offences against the laws and
Ordinances in force in the North West Territories, and the apprehension
of criminals and offenders, and others who may be lawfully taken into
custody ;
Attending Judges, &c.
2. To attend upon any Judge, Stipendiary Magistrate or
Justice of the Peace, when thereunto specially required, and, subject to
the orders of the Commissioner or Superintendent, to execute all
warrants and perform all duties and services in relation thereto, which
may, under this Act or the laws and Ordinances in force in the North
West Territories, lawfully be performed by constables ;
Conveying prisoners.
3. To perform all duties which may be lawfully
performed by constables in relation to the escort and conveyance of
convicts and other prisoners or lunatics, to or from any Courts, places
of punishment or confinement, asylums or other places,
Powers for such purposes.
And for these purposes, and in the performance of all
the duties assigned to them by or under the authority of this Act, they
shall have all the powers, authority, protection and privileges which
any constable now has or shall hereafter by law have.
Governor in Council may
make regulations. and for what
purpose.
Penalties.
20. The Governor in Council may, from time to
time, make rules and regulations for any of the following purposes, viz
:–
To regulate the number of the Force, not exceeding in the whole the
number of three hundred men as hereinbefore provided ; to prescribe the
number of men who shall be mounted on horseback ; to regulate and
prescribe the clothing, arms, training and discipline of the Police
Force ; to regulate and prescribe the duties and authorities of the
Commissioner and Superintendents of the Force, and the several places at
or near which the same, or the Force or any portions thereof may from
time to time be stationed ; and generally all and every such matters and
things for the good government, discipline and guidance of the Force as
are not inconsistent with this Act : and such rules and regulations may
impose penalties, not exceeding in any case thirty days' pay of the
offenders, for any contravention thereof, and may direct that such
penalty when incurred may be deducted from the offender's pay : they may
determine what officer shall have power to declare such penalty
incurred, and to impose the same ; and they shall have force as if
enacted by law.
Application of pecuniary penalties.
21. All pecuniary penalties so imposed shall
form a fund to be managed by the Commissioner with the approval of the
Governor in Council ; and be applicable to the payment of such rewards
for good conduct or meritorious services as may be established by the
Commissioner.
Suspending officers or members.
22. Any member of the Force may be suspended
from his charge or dismissed by the Commissioner or by any
Superintendent to whom the Commissioner shall have delegated the power
to do so ; and any Superintendent may be suspended from office by the
Commissioner until the pleasure of the Governor in Council shall be
known ; and every such suspension or dismissal shall take effect from the
time it shall be made known either orally or in writing to the party
suspended or dismissed.
Delivery of arms, &c., by
party suspended.
23. Any Superintendent or any member of the
Force suspended or dismissed shall forthwith deliver up to the
Commissioner or to a Superintendent or to any constable authorized to
receive the same, his clothing, arms, accoutrements and all property of
the Crown in his possession as a member of the Force, or used for police
purposes ; or in case of his refusing or neglecting so to do, shall incur
a penalty of fifty dollars.
Inquiries respecting conduct
of members.
24. Whenever the Commissioner shall deem it
advisable to make or cause to be made any special enquiry into the
conduct of any Superintendent or of any member of the Police Force, or
into any complaint against any of them, he, or the Superintendent whom
he may appoint for that purpose, may examine any person on oath or
affirmation on any matters relative to such enquiry, and may administer
such oath or affirmation.
Penalty for buying or selling
accoutrements, &c.,
without
authority.
25. If any person shall unlawfully dispose of,
receive, buy or sell or have in his possession without lawful cause, or
shall refuse to deliver up when thereunto lawfully required, any horse,
vehicle, harness, arms, accoutrements, clothing or other thing used for
police purposes, such person shall thereby incur a penalty not exceeding
double the value thereof, in the discretion of the Magistrate before
whom he is convicted.
Governor in Council to fix
remuneration, within certain
rates.
26. It shall be lawful for the Governor in
Council, from to time to time to fix the sums to be annually paid to the
Commissioner, Superintendents and other Officers of the said Force,
regard being had to the number of Constables and Sub-Constables, from
time to time, actually organized and enrolled, and the consequent
responsibility attaching to their offices aforesaid, respectively, and to
the nature of the duty or service and amount of labor devolved upon
them, but such sums shall not be less than or exceed the amounts
following, that is to say : -
| The rates. |
| Commissioner of Police, not exceeding... |
$2,600 |
| And not less than... |
$2,000 |
| Each Superintendent, not exceeding... |
1,400 |
| And not less than... |
1,000 |
| Paymaster, not exceeding... |
900 |
| Quarter Master, not exceeding... |
500 |
| Paymaster, if acting also as Quarter Master... |
1,400 |
| Surgeon, not exceeding... |
1,400 |
| And not less than... |
1,000 |
| Veterinary Surgeon, not exceeding... |
600 |
| And not less than... |
400 |
And each Constable shall be paid not exceeding the sum
of one dollar per day ; and each Sub-Constable shall be paid not
exceeding the sum of seventy-five cents per day.
Surgeon or Veterinary Surgeon.
27. The Governor in Council may in lieu of the
appointment of a Surgeon or of a Veterinary Surgeon, authorize
arrangements to be made with any person or Veterinary Surgeon to perform
the duties of Surgeon or Veterinary Surgeon for the said Force as to any
portions or detachments thereof, and may pay reasonable and proper
remuneration for any services so rendered.
Purchase of horses, arms, &c.
28. The Governor in Council may also from time
to time regulate and prescribe the amounts to be paid, for the purchase
of horses, vehicles, harness, saddlery, clothing, arms and accouterments,
or articles necessary for the said Force : and also the expenses of
travelling, and of rations or of boarding or billeting the force and of
forage for the horses.
Regulations for quartering the
Force.
Fines.
Proviso.
29. The Governor in Council may make regulations
for the quartering, billeting and cantoning of the Force, or any
portions or detachments thereof ; and for the furnishing of boats,
carriages, vehicles of transport, horses and other conveyances for their
transport and use, and for giving adequate compensation therefor ; and
may, by such regulations, impose fines not exceeding two hundred dollars
for breach of any regulation aforesaid, or for refusing to billet any of
the said Force, or to furnish transport as herein mentioned. But no such
regulations shall authorize the quartering or billeting of any of the
Force in any nunnery or convent of any Religious Order of females.
Payment of moneys.
30. All sums of money required to defray any
expense authorized by this Act may be paid out of the Consolidated
Revenue Fund of Canada.
Accounts.
31. A separate account shall be kept of all
moneys expended under this Act, and a detailed statement thereof shall
be laid before Parliament at each session thereof.
Orders in Council or regulations,
force of, &c.
32. All regulations or Orders in Council made
under this Act shall be published in the Canada Gazette, and
shall, thereupon have the force of law from the date of their
publication, or from, such later date as may be therein appointed for
their coming into force ; and a copy of any such regulations purporting
to be printed by the Queen's Printer shall be prima facie
evidence thereof.
What department shall have
the control of the Force.
33. The Department of Justice shall have the
control and management of the Police Force and of all matters connected
therewith ; but the Governor in Council may, at any time order that the
same shall be transferred to any other Department of the Civil Service
of Canada, and the same shall accordingly, by such order, be so transferred
to and be under the control and management of such other Department.
Powers of the Force in Manitoba.
34. The Commissioner and every Superintendent of
Police, shall be ex-officio a Justice of the Peace, within the
Province of Manitoba ; and the constables and sub-constables of the
Police Force shall also have and exercise within the Province of
Manitoba, all the powers and authority, rights and privileges by law
appertaining to constables under the laws of the Dominion, for the
purpose of carrying the same into effect.
Arrangements by Manitoba
Government for use of the
Force.
35. The Governor in Council may from time to
time enter into arrangements with the Government of the Province of
Manitoba for the use or employment of the Police Force, in aiding the
administration of justice in that Province and in carrying into effect
the laws of the Legislature thereof; and may, in any such arrangement,
agree and determine the amount of money which shall be paid by the
Province of Manitoba in respect of any such services of the said Police
Force.