 Before resigning , Rutherford 's government had called a Royal Commission into the Alberta and Great Waterways affair , and this commission had not reported by the time that Sifton took office . Between that and the proroguing of the legislature , the new Premier enjoyed a calm that lasted until November 10 , when the legislature reconvened . Conservative leader Edward Michener attacked the government 's speech from the throne for failing to commit itself on railway policy and attacked Sifton for failing to call a general election or seek the confidence of the legislature during his first half year in office . In the meantime , Sifton was facing a breach in his own party on the railway question . Many Liberals from the south of the province , including Sifton himself , felt inclined to abandon the construction of " pioneer " railways ( such as the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway ) designed to hasten the settlement of the province 's emptier areas , and concentrate only on those connecting major population centres . Members from the north of the province , who comprised most of the Liberal caucus , disagreed , and were vehement in their insistence that the A & GW be built . Even among this latter group there were divisions : some Liberals agreed with the Conservatives that the railway should be directly built by the government , while others , including Cross , favoured a partnership with a " responsible company " . These divisions were not calmed by the release of the commission 's report , whose majority condemned Rutherford and Cross for poor judgment even as it concluded that there was insufficient evidence to find that they had engaged in improper behaviour . 
