The appointed government made French an official language in Section 11 of the North-West Territories Act of 1877 that gained Royal Assent 28 April 1877.

The issue was ignited by Lieutenant Governor Joseph Royal reading the Speech from the Throne in French on 31 October 1888.

But this did not last, because the federal government got involved, and warned the Lieutenant Governor Royal to start making speeches in French again, and tried to legislate official bilingualism back in the territory, through the House of Commons of Canada.

The interference by the Government of Canada resulted in members being elected to the assembly who favoured English as the only official language.

Note: No vote returns, are currently available from the Batoche, St. Albert and Souris districts Members elected to the 2nd North-West Legislative Assembly.