CONSTITUTION ACT, 1867
30 & 31 Victoria, c. 3 (U.K.)
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:End note(1)
I. Preliminary
Short title
1 This Act may be cited as the Constitution Act, 1867.End note(2)
2 Repealed.End note(3)
II. Union
Declaration of Union
3 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.End note(4)
Marginal note:Construction of subsequent Provisions of Act
4 Unless it is otherwise expressed or implied, the Name Canada shall be taken to mean Canada as constituted under this Act.End note(5)
Marginal note:Four Provinces
5 Canada shall be divided into Four Provinces, named Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.End note(6)
Marginal note:Provinces of Ontario and Quebec
6 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.
Marginal note:Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
7 The Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick shall have the same Limits as at the passing of this Act.
Marginal note:Decennial Census
8 In the general Census of the Population of Canada which is hereby required to be taken in the Year One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, and in every Tenth Year thereafter, the respective Populations of the Four Provinces shall be distinguished.