CHAPTER IX.

THE PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION.

IN each province the Lieutenant-Governor is assisted
in the discharge of his duties by an Executive Council.
The members of the Council are appointed by him, and in
accordance with constitutional practice, as has been pointed
out, he is expected to choose his councillors from that party
which has a majority in the Assembly. The Council fulfil
in regard to the province functions similar to those discharged
 by the Dominion Privy Council in regard to the
Dominion. The Council in fact is a ministry, and the
Lieutenant-Governor in the discharge of his duties is expected
 to follow its advice.
Number of The number of members of the Executive Council varies
Ministers. jy, the different provinces from four in British Columbia to
nine in Prince Edward's Island. The Council of the North-West
 Territories, which exercises legislative as well as
sxecutive functions, consists of 18 members.
Ministers Though as a rule each member of the Council has charge
without of a department of State, occasionally some members may
be without office. For instance, at the present time in New
Brunswick two members, in Nova Scotia three members, and
in Prince Edward's Island six members, are without office.
The departments of State over which always a minister
oresides in each of the seven provinces are the following: