page_title: 1888 Northwest Territories general election
section_title: Members of the Legislative Assembly elected
hierarchical_section_title: 1888 Northwest Territories general election / Members of the Legislative Assembly elected
caption_attribution_description: A scan depicting the publication of Official returns for early Northwest Territories elections, these specific returns are for the Calgary and Red Deer electoral districts from the 1888 Northwest Territories general election.
context_page_description: The 1888 Northwest Territories general election was the first general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Elections were held in various districts between 20 June and 30 June 1888. This was the only general election, where the writs were issued to return on various days.
  Prior to 1888, members of the 1st Council of the Northwest Territories were elected in by-elections to supplement members appointed by the Government of Canada. In order to have an elected member, a constituency needed to be set up in an area 1,000 square miles with 1000 people. Others members were appointed. This created a patchwork of represented and unrepresented areas across the sprawling and sparse territory.
  Twenty-two members were elected in this election. Robert Brett was appointed government leader by Lieutenant Governor Joseph Royal. His official title was Chairman of the Lt. Governor's Advisory Council.
  Three judges were appointed to the legislative assembly to provide legal advice, but they were not able to vote. They represented the territory at large.
  Voters in this election cast their votes by telling the returning officer who they want to vote for.
context_section_description: For complete electoral history, see individual districts
caption: Results of Calgary and Red Deer, as published in the Calgary Tribune
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