{ Adopted: 19 June, 1871 / Status: 14 April, 1994 }
Section 1 [Citation]
This act may be cited for all purposes as The British North
America Act, 1871.
Section 2 [Establishment of Provinces]
The Parliament of Canada may from time to time establish new
Provinces in any territories forming for the time being part of
the Dominion of Canada, but not included in any Province thereof,
and may, at the time of such establishment, make provision for the
constitution and administration of any such Province, and for the
passing of laws for the peace, order and good government of such
province, and for its representation in the said Parliament.
Section 3 [Delimitation of Provinces]
The Parliament of Canada may from time to time, with the consent
of the Legislature of any Province of the said Dominion, increase,
diminish, or otherwise alter the limits of such Province, upon
such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon to by the said
Legislature, and may, with the like consent, make provision
respecting the effect and operation of any such increase or
diminution or alteration of territory in relation to any Province
affected thereby.
Section 4 [Territorial Government]
The Parliament of Canada may from time to time make provision for
the administration, peace, order and good government of any
territory not for the time being included in any Province.
Section 5 [Rupert's Land, North-Western Territory, Manitoba]
The following Acts passed by the said Parliament of Canada, and
entitled respectively:
"An Act for the temporary government of Rupert's Land and the
North-Western Territory when united with Canada;" and "An Act to
amend and continue the Act thirty-two and thirty-three Victoria,
chapter three, and to establish and provide for the government of
the Province of Manitoba."
shall be and be deemed to have been valid and effectual for all
purposes whatsoever from the date at which they respectively
received the assent, in the Queen's name, of the Governor-General
of the said Dominion of Canada.
Section 6 [Protection of Manitoba]
Except as provided for by Section 3 of this act, it shall not be
competent for the Parliament of Canada to alter the provisions of
the last mentioned Act of the said Parliament in so far as it
relates to the Province of Manitoba or any other Act hereafter
establishing new Provinces in the said Dominion, subject always to
the right of the Legislature of the Province of Manitoba to alter
from time to time the provisions of any law respecting the
qualification of electors and members of the Legislative Assembly,
and to make laws respecting elections in said Province.