Thomas Walter Scott - Creation of Saskatchewan

Creation of Saskatchewan

In 1900, Scott ran as a Liberal in the federal riding of Assiniboia West and was elected to the House of Commons. He was re-elected in 1904. During the discussions about creating provinces out of the Northwest Territories, Scott initially supported territorial premier Frederick Haultain's proposal to create one big province (to be named "Buffalo") out of what is today Alberta and Saskatchewan – but then converted to the two-province option favoured by Sir Wilfrid Laurier's Liberal government.

In February 1905, the federal government introduced legislation to create the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan effective Dominion Day – July 1, 1905. Premier Haultain was resolutely opposed to this legislation since 1) he wanted one big province, not two provinces; and 2) under the terms of the legislation, the federal government retained jurisdiction over public land. Haultain's opposition – along with Conservative attacks on the act's provisions for Catholic schools – delayed the passing of the act, and it did not receive royal assent until July 20, with September 1 now set as the date of provincial autonomy.

In August 1905, the Liberal Party of Saskatchewan held a leadership convention with Scott as the lone candidate. During his speech to the convention, the new leader of the Saskatchewan Liberals confidently predicted that Saskatchewan would soon become Canada's "banner province". Although the federal Liberals probably should have named Premier Haultain as either lieutenant-governor or acting premier of the new province, they were thoroughly disgusted with Haultain's opposition to the Saskatchewan Act. Therefore, the Quebec Liberal politician Amédée E. Forget, who had been lieutenant-governor of the Northwest Territories since 1898, became Saskatchewan's first lieutenant-governor – and his first official act in that capacity (made on Laurier's advice while Laurier was staying with Forget at Government House) was to name the 37-year-old Scott as premier of Saskatchewan. Scott was sworn into office on September 12, 1905.