Parliament was opened in person by the Queen on 20th November, and the Civil List dealt with, the amount allocated being L385,000 as against L510,000 in the late reign (of which L75,000, formerly paid in pensions, was now struck off, and other arrangements made).
For some time past the state of Canada had caused grave anxiety.

By an Act of 1791, it had been divided into Upper and Lower Canada, each with a Governor, Council, and House of Representatives, Lower Canada being in the main French, while Upper Canada was occupied by British settlers.

Friction first arose in the former, between the nominee Council and the popular Assembly, the Assembly declining to pay the salaries of officials whom they had censured, but whom the Executive had retained in their posts.

Mr Papineau, who had been Speaker of the Assembly, was leader in the popular movement.

Lord Gosford, the Governor of Lower Canada, dismissed some Militia officers who had taken part in political demonstrations, and warrants were issued for the apprehension of certain members of the Assembly, on the charge of high treason: within a short time the discontented party broke out into rebellion.