Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia facts for kids

The Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia (French: Assemblée législative d'Assiniboine) was like a temporary government or parliament. It was set up by Louis Riel and his group between 1869 and 1870. Their job was to make laws for a huge area of land in what is now western Canada, called the North-Western Territory and Rupert's Land.

This assembly got its name from an older group, the Council of Assiniboia. That group used to manage the land before the Hudson's Bay Company sold it to Canada in 1869.

How the Assembly Began

The rules for creating this elected assembly were decided during a big meeting. This meeting was called the Convention of Forty and took place in January and February of 1870. After the rules were set, elections were held very quickly.

It was important that both English-speaking and French-speaking communities had an equal number of representatives. This made sure everyone had a fair say in the new government.

What the Assembly Did

The Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia was active from March 9, 1870, until June 24, 1870. During its time, it worked on important decisions for the region.

Its most important action was to agree to a deal with Canada. This deal allowed the new province of Manitoba to join Canada. The assembly officially approved the Manitoba Act, which created Manitoba as a province.

Who Led the Government

The provisional government had several important leaders. Louis Riel was the President, like the main leader. Other key people helped manage different parts of the government. For example, there was a Vice-President, a Secretary of State, and a Chief Justice. These roles helped the assembly run smoothly and make decisions for the people.