The British North America Act, 1867

The British North America Act,
1867

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Title: The British North America Act, 1867
Author: Anon.
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THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT, 1867.
30 VICTORIA, CHAPTER 3.
An Act for the Union of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick,
and the Government thereof; and for Purposes connected therewith.
[29th March, 1867.]
Whereas the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick
have expressed their Desire to be federally united into One Dominion
under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
with a Constitution similar in Principle to that of the United Kingdom:
And whereas such a Union would conduce to the Welfare of the
Provinces and promote the Interests of the British Empire:
And whereas on the Establishment of the Union by Authority of
Parliament it is expedient, not only that the Constitution of the
Legislative Authority in the Dominion be provided for, but also that the
Nature of the Executive Government therein be declared:
And whereas it is expedient that Provision be made for the eventual

Admission into the Union of other Parts of British North America:
Be it therefore enacted and declared by the Queen's most Excellent
Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual
and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled,
and by the Authority of the same, as follows:

I.--PRELIMINARY.
1. [Short Title.] This Act may be cited as The British North America
Act, 1867.
2. [Application of Provisions referring to the Queen.] The Provisions of
this Act referring to Her Majesty the Queen extend also to the Heirs
and Successors of Her Majesty, Kings and Queens of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

II.--UNION.
3. [Declaration of Union] It shall be lawful for the Queen, by and with
the Advice of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, to declare
by Proclamation that, on and after a Day therein appointed, not being
more than Six Months after the passing of this Act, the Provinces of
Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick shall form and be One
Dominion under the Name of Canada; and on and after that Day those
Three Provinces shall form and be One Dominion under that Name
accordingly.
4. [Construction of subsequent Provisions of Act.] The subsequent
Provisions of this Act shall, unless it is otherwise expressed or implied,
commence and have effect on and after the Union, that is to say, on and
after the Day appointed for the Union taking effect in the Queen's
Proclamation; and in the same Provisions, unless it is otherwise
expressed or implied, the Name Canada shall be taken to mean Canada
as constituted under this Act.

5. [Four Provinces.] Canada shall be divided into Four Provinces,
named Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
6. [Provinces of Ontario and Quebec.] The Parts of the Province of
Canada (as it exists at the passing of this Act) which formerly
constituted respectively the Provinces of Upper Canada and Lower
Canada shall be deemed to be severed, and shall form two separate
Provinces. The Part which formerly constituted the Province of Upper
Canada shall constitute the Province of Ontario; and the Part which
formerly constituted the Province of Lower Canada shall constitute the
Province of Quebec.
7. [Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.] The Provinces of
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick shall have the same Limits as at the
passing of this Act.
8. [Decennial Census.] In the general Census of the Population of
Canada which is hereby required to be taken in the Year One