 As minister , Sifton had to cope with increasing expenses and with grants from the federal government that did not keep pace . He dealt with this through support for territorial autonomy — the creation of one or more new provinces from the Northwest Territories . Campaigning on this position , he was re @-@ elected in the 1902 territorial election . Months later , however , T. H. Maguire retired as territorial chief justice , and this time Sifton accepted his brother 's offer of the position . He resigned his political offices in January 1903 . 
