Which act of the British Parliament created the Dominion of Canada?
- The Act of Union
- The British North America Act (Constitution Act, 1867)
- The Quebec Act
- The Statute of Westminster
Answer: The British North America Act (Constitution Act, 1867)
The British Parliament passed the British North America Act in 1867, and it created the Dominion of Canada. The Act set out the powers of the federal and provincial governments. Today it is called the Constitution Act, 1867. The Quebec Act (1774) was a much earlier law for the Province of Quebec.
Learn more: Confederation and the Dominion of Canada
- From 1864 to 1867, representatives of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada, with British support, worked to create a new country. They are the Fathers of Confederation.
- They created two levels of government: federal and provincial. Each province elects its own legislature and controls areas such as education and health.
- The Province of Canada was split into Ontario and Quebec. With Nova Scotia and New Brunswick they formed the Dominion of Canada.
- The British Parliament passed the British North America Act in 1867 (now called the Constitution Act, 1867).
- The Dominion of Canada was officially born on July 1, 1867. Until 1982 July 1 was called Dominion Day. Today it is Canada Day.
- Sir Leonard Tilley, a Father of Confederation from New Brunswick, suggested the name Dominion of Canada in 1864.
- Tilley was inspired by Psalm 72, which speaks of “dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth”. Canada’s motto, A Mari Usque Ad Mare, means “from sea to sea”.
- The title Dominion was written into the Constitution and used officially for about 100 years.
- Joining Canada: 1867 Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick; 1870 Manitoba, Northwest Territories; 1871 British Columbia; 1873 Prince Edward Island.
- Later: 1880 Arctic Islands transferred (to the N.W.T.); 1898 Yukon Territory; 1905 Alberta, Saskatchewan; 1949 Newfoundland and Labrador; 1999 Nunavut.
- In the 1920s some people wanted the British West Indies to join Canada. This did not happen.