IV.  Amerika.  1386  246.  Canada.

is  offered,  does  not  within  thirty  days  thereafter,  by  writing  under  his  hand,  addressed
to  the  governor-general  of  the  province  of  Canada,  or  to  the  lieutenant-governor
of  Nova  Scotia  or  New  Brunswick  (as  the  case  may  be),  accept  the  same,  he  shall
be  deemed  to  have  declined  the  same;  and  any  person  who,  being  at  the’  passing
of  this  act  a  member  of  the  legislative  council  of  Nova  Scotia  or  New  Brunswick,
accepts  a  place  in  the  senate,  shall  thereby  vacate  his  seat  in  such  legislative  council.

128.  Every  member  of  the  senate  or  house  of  commons  of  Canada  shall,  before
taking  his  seat  therein,  take  and  subscribe  before  the  governor-general  or  some  person
authorized  by  him,  and  every  member  of  a  legislative  council  or  legislative  assembly
of  any  province  shall,  before  taking  his  seat  therein,  take  and  subscribe  before  the
lieutenant-governor  of  the  province,  or  some  person  authorized  by  him,  the  oath
of  allegiance  contained  in  the  fifth  schedule  to  this  act;  and  every  member  of  the
senate  of  Canada  and  every  member  of  the  legislative  council  of  Quebec  shall  also,
before  taking  his  seat  therein  take  and  subscribe  before  the  governor-general,  or
some  person  authorized  by  him,  the  declaration  of  qualifition  contained  in  the  same
schedule.

129.  Except  as  otherwise  provided  by  this  act,  all  laws  in  force  in  Canada,
Nova  Scotia  or  New  Brunswick  at  the  union,  and  all  courts  of  civil  and  criminal
jurisdiction,  and  all  legal  commissions,  powers,  and  authorities,  and  all  officers,
judicial,  administrative  and  ministerial,  existing  therein  at  the  union,  shall  continue,
in  Ontario,  Quebec,  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick,  respectively,  as  if  the  union
had  not  been  made;  subject,  nevertheless  (except  with  respect  to  such  as  are  enacted
by  or  exist  under  acts  of  the  parliament  of  Great  Britain  or  of  the  united  kingdom
of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland),  to  be  repealed,  abolished  or  altered  by  the  parliament
of  Canada,  or  by  the  legislature  of  the  respective  province,  according  to  the  authority
of  the  parliament  or  of  that  legislature  under  this  act.

130.  Until  the  parliament  of  Canada  otherwise  provides,  all  officers  of  the
several  provinces  having  duties  to  discharge  in  relation  to  matters  other  than  those
coming  within  the  classes  of  subjects  by  this  act  assigned  exclusively  to  the  legislatures
of  the  provinces,  shall  be  officers  of  Canada,  and  shall  continue  to  discharge  the
duties  of  their  respective  offices  under  the  same  liabilities,  responsibilities_  and
penalties,  as  if  the  union  had  not  been  made.

131.  Until  the  parliament  of  Canada  otherwise  provides,  the  governor-general
in  council  may  from  time  to  time  appoint  such  officers  as  the  governor-general  in
council  deems  necessary  or  proper  for  the  effectual  execution  of  this  act.

132.  The  parliament  and  government  of  Canada  shall  have  all  powers  necessary
or  proper  for  performing  the  obligations  of  Canada  or  of  any  province  thereof,  as
part  of  the  British  empire,  towards  foreign  countries,  arising  under  treaties  between
the  empire  and  such  foreign  countries.

133.  Either  the  English  or  tire  French  language  may  be  used  by  any  person
in  the  debates  of  the  houses  of  the  parliament  of  Canada  and  of  the  houses  of  the
legislature  of  Quebec;  and  both  those  languages  shall  be  used  in  the  respective  records
and  journals  of  those  houses;  and  either  of  those  languages  may  be  used  by  any