From 1864 to 1867, representatives from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada, with British support, established a new country called the Dominion of Canada. There would be two levels of government: federal and provincial. Each province would keep its own legislature and have control of such areas as education and health. The British Parliament passed the British North America Act in 1867, after three conferences of representatives of the colonies held in Charlottetown, Quebec City and London.
The birth of Canada, on July 1, 1867, is known as Confederation. The men who established Canada are called the Fathers of Confederation. Until 1982, July 1 was celebrated as "Dominion Day" to commemorate the day that Canada became a self-governing Dominion. Today it is officially known as Canada Day.
Sir Leonard Tilley, an elected official and Father of Confederation from New Brunswick, suggested the term Dominion of Canada in 1864. He was inspired by Psalm 72 in the Bible which refers to "dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth." This phrase embodied the vision of building a powerful, united, wealthy and free country that spanned a continent. The title was written into the Constitution, was used officially for about 100 years, and remains part of our heritage today.
Time Line of Provinces and Territories
- 1867 -- Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
- 1870 -- Manitoba, Northwest Territories (N.W.T.)
- 1871 -- British Columbia 1873 -- Prince Edward Island
- 1880 -- Transfer of the Arctic Islands (to N.W.T.)
- 1898 -- Yukon Territory
- 1905 -- Alberta, Saskatchewan
- 1949 -- Newfoundland and Labrador
- 1999 -- Nunavut
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