Before 1867, the colonies were completely separate, and by the mid 1860s, most of the colonies of British North America were facing difficult times. In the Maritimes, unfavourable terms in British markets for Canadian products damaged the economy. Canada East and Canada West was nearly bankrupt as a result of the depressed economies and the union government not working at all. In this crisis, Confederation was the only solution. The government of Canada then began uniting the colonies. A series of meetings called “conferences” followed. Representatives from all the colonies planned for a new union. In the fall of 1864, after planning and all coming to an agreement, a new united nation began. It first began in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island where a Maritime union was planned. After much discussion, the provincial governments would retain many powers, making the nation a federation. Although Confederation was planned and discussed upon greatly, it still had to be approved and debated by each legislature. Because of this, the Quebec Conference produced seventy-two resolutions, statements on government, and a blueprint for Confederation. However, many points were opposed. Nonetheless, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Canada decided to join together as one nation. Permission was required from Britain, and the event took place in London 1866. Passing the British North America Act, the British Parliament gave their permission and the Dominion of Canada was created.
The British North America Act: Canada’s Constitution
“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 a Day herein appointed - the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick shall form and be One Dominion under the Name of Canada.”
Based on the Quebec Resolutions, the BNA Act became the constitution of the new Dominion. Up to this day, Canada has a federal government (the Parliament of Canada) and a government within each of the provinces (the Provincial Legislature).