APPENDIX. A. British North America Act, 1867.... ........ ...... ............... B. An Act respecting the establishment of Provinces in the 179. 228. 231. APPENDIX A. THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT, 1867. ANNO TRICESIMO ET TRICESIMO-PRIMO VICTORIA REGINE, CAP. III. An Act for the Union of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and the Government thereof, and for Purposes connected therewith. WHE [29th March, 1867.] HEREAS 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 : Short Title. Applica tion of Pro I. PRELIMINARY. 1. This Act may be cited as the British North America Act, 1867. 2. The Provisions of this Act referring to Her Majesty visions re- the Queen extend also to the Heirs and Successors of ferring to Her Majesty, Kings and Queens of the United Kingdom the Queen. of Great Britain and Ireland. Declara tion of Union. sequent II.-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. Construc- 4. The subsequent Provisions of this Act shall, unless tion of sub- it is otherwise expressed or implied, commence and have Provisions effect on and after the Union, that is to say, on and after of Act. 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. Four Provinces. 5. Canada shall be divided into Four Provinces, named Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. of Ontario 6. The Parts of the Province of Canada (as it exists at Provinces 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. The Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Provinces of NovaScoshall have the same Limits as at the passing of this Act. tia and New Brunswick. Census. 8. In the general Census of the Population of Canada Decennial 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. III.-EXECUTIVE POWER. tion of 9. The Executive Government and Authority of and Declaraover Canada is hereby declared to continue and be vested Executive in the Queen. Power in the Queen. tion of to the 10. The Provisions of this Act referring to the Governor- ApplicaGeneral extend and apply to the Governor-General for Provisions the Time being of Canada, or other the Chief Executive referring Officer or Administrator for the Time being carrying on GovernorGeneral. the Government of Canada on behalf and in the Name of the Queen, by whatever title he is designated. Council for 11. There shall be a Council to aid and advise in the Constitution of Government of Canada, to be styled the Queen's Privy Privy Council for Canada; and the Persons who are to be Mem- Canada. bers of that Council shall be from Time to Time chosen and summoned by the Governor-General and sworn in as Privy Councillors, and Members thereof may be from Time to Time removed by the Governor-General. REESE LIPPADY UNIVERSI CALIFORNIA. |