At Confederation, the Province of Canada was divided into which two provinces?
- Alberta and British Columbia
- Manitoba and Saskatchewan
- Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
- Ontario and Quebec
Answer: Ontario and Quebec
The Province of Canada, created in 1840, was split into two new provinces in 1867: Ontario and Quebec. Ontario had been Upper Canada and Quebec had been Lower Canada. Together with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, they formed the Dominion of Canada.
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.