Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms

CanHistory

Home

Articles

Recent History

HistoryZine

The British North America Act, The Birth of A Nation
by Susan Eskdale

Canada’s bid for independence comes amid peaceful and legislative changes unlike the American counterparts that launched into their bid for independence through forcible means.

Resources

Links

About

Influenced somewhat by the American bid for independence and the threat of invasion, Canada determined that they must protect themselves from potential dangers. Being a British Colony had its benefits, and the British component of the population still looked to the Queen for her guidance.

Becoming an independent nation, but still sovereign to the Queen presented a challenge, which eventually resulted in a piece of legislation being drafted, providing Canada the ability to gain its independence through non-violent means.

The Quebec Conference of 1864 was extremely important in the development of the British North America Act (herein referred to as BNA Act). The Act would see the Union of Canada (West and East) combined with Nova Scotia (New Scotland) and New Brunswick to form a dominion. The Act would create the Dominion of Canada with four member provinces to be known as Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia (New Scotland), and New Brunswick.

The structure of the new Dominion government would borrow much from the British Parliamentary system and would maintain deeply seeded roots to the Monarchy. The structure of the new government would have the Queen as the head of State, an Upper House (Senate) and a House of Commons. The Act provided for a Prime Minister that would assume the leadership role for the new Dominion. The true power however would remain with the Queen of England, entitling her to exercise Executive Power and remain the Command-In-Chief of the Dominion’s military forces.
The Queen would appoint a representative, known as the Governor General. This person would be the Queen’s advisor and would form a Privy Counsel to help advise the Queen on issues affecting the new dominion.
March 29, 1867 the British North America Act received Royal Assent, thereby creating a new dominion ruled by Canada. Sir John A. Macdonald would be named the first Prime Minister of Canada and the BNA was enacted on July 1, 1867. The new Dominion of Canada would celebrate their existence through 21 gun salutes and other public displays of pride and nationalism. Each year on the anniversary of the BNA enactment Canadians would celebrate Dominion Day.