DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE
CONSOLIDATED
AS OF OCTOBER 1, 1989
FOREWORD
This
consolidation contains the text of the Constitution Act,
1867 (formerly the British North America Act, 1867),
together with amendments made to it since its enactment,
and the text of the Constitution Act, 1982, as amended by
the Constitution Amendment Proclamation 1983. The
Constitution Act, 1982 contains the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms and other new provisions, including
the procedure for amending the Constitution of Canada.
The
Constitution Act, 1982 also contains a Schedule of repeals
of certain constitutional enactments and provides for the
renaming of others. The British North America Act, 1949,
for example, i renamed in the Schedule, the Newfoundland
Act. the new names of these enactments are used in this
consolidation, but their former names may be found in the
Schedule.
The
law embodied in the Constitution Act, 1867 has been
altered many times otherwise than by direct amendment, not
only by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, but also by
the Parliament of Canada and the legislatures of the
provinces in those cases where provisions of that Act are
expressed to be subject to alteration by Parliament or the
legislatures. A consolidation of the Constitution Acts
with only such subsequent enactments as directly alter the
text of the Act would therefore not produce a true
statement of the law. In preparing this consolidation an
attempt has been made to reflect accurately the substance
of the law contained in enactments modifying the
provisions of the Constitution Act, 1867.
The
various classes of enactments modifying the text of the
Constitution Act, 1867, have been dealt with as follows:
I.
DIRECT AMENDMENTS
1.
REPEALS
Repealed provisions (e.g. section 2)
have been deleted from the text and quoted in a footnote.
2.
AMENDMENTS
Amended provisions (e.g. section 4)
are reproduced in the text in their amended form and the
original provisions are quoted in a footnote.
3.
ADDITIONS
Added provision (e.g. section A) are
included in the text.
4.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Substituted provisions (e.g. section
18) are included in the text, and the former provisions is
quoted in a footnote.
II.
INDIRECT AMENDMENTS
1.
ALTERATIONS BY UNITED KINGDOM PARLIAMENT
Provisions altered by the United
Kingdom Parliament otherwise than by direct amendment
(e.g. section 21) are included in the text in their
altered form, and the original provision is quoted in a
footnote.
2.
ADDITIONS BY UNITED KINGDOM PARLIAMENT
Constitutional provisions added
otherwise than by the insertion of additional provisions
in the Constitution Act, 1867 (e.g. provisions of the
Constitution Act. 1871 authorizing Parliament to legislate
for any territory not included in a province) are not
incorporated in the text, but the additional provisions
are quoted in an appropriate footnote.
3.
ALTERATIONS BY PARLIAMENT OF CANADA
Provisions subject to alteration by
the Parliament of Canada (e.g. section 37) have been
included in the text in their altered form, wherever
possible, but where this was not feasible (e.g. section
40) the original section has been retained in the text and
a footnote reference made to the Act of the Parliament of
Canada effecting the alteration.
4.
ALTERATIONS BY THE LEGISLATURES
Provisions subject to alteration by
legislatures of the provinces, either by virtue of
specific authority (e.g. sections 83, 84) or by virtue of
head of section 92 (e.g. sections 70, 72), have been
included in the text in their original form, but the
footnotes refer to the provincial enactments effecting the
alteration. Amendments to provincial enactments are not
referred to: these may be readily found by consulting the
indexes to provincial statutes. The enactments of the
original provinces only are referred to; there are
corresponding enactments by the provinces created at a
later date.
III.
SPENT PROVISIONS
Footnote references are made to
those sections that are spent or are probably spent. For
example, section 119 became spent by lapse of time and the
footnote reference so indicates; on the other hand,
section 140 is probably spent, but short of examining all
statutes passed before Confederation there would be no way
of ascertaining definitely whether or not the section is
spent; the footnote reference therefore indicates the
section as being probably spent.
The
enactments of the United Kingdom Parliament or the
Parliament of Canada, and Orders in Council admitting
territories, referred to in the footnotes, may be found in
Appendix II to the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, and
in the annual volumes of the statutes of Canada.
The
reader will notice inconsistencies in the capitalization
of nouns. It was originally the practice to capitalize the
first letter of all nouns in British statutes and the
Constitution Act, 1867, was so written, but this practice
was discontinued and was never followed in Canadian
statutes. In the original provisions included in this
consolidation nouns are written as they were enacted.
*
* * * * * * * * *
This
consolidation contains material prepared by the late Dr.
E.A. Driedger, Q.C., which was last published by the
Department of Justice in 1986 under the title The
Constitution Acts, 1867 to 1982. The material has been
updated where necessary but the Department gratefully
acknowledges Dr. Driedger's earlier work.
THE
CONSTITUTION ACT, 1867
30
& 31 VICTORIA, c. 3. (U.K.)
(CONSOLIDATES
WITH AMENDMENTS)
An
Act for the Union of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New
Vrunswick, 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 Interest 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:
I.
PRELIMINARY
SHORT
TITLE
1.- This Act may be cited as
the Constitution Act, 1867.
2.- Repealed.
II.
UNION
DECLARATION
OF UNION
3.- It shall be lawful for
the Queen, by and with the Advice of Her Majesty's Most
Honorable 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.
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.
FOUR
PROVINCES
5.- Canada shall be divided
into Four Provinces, named Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia,
and New Brunswick.
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.
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.
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.
III.
EXECUTIVE POWER
DECLARATION
OF EXECUTIVE POWER IN THE QUEEN
9.- The Executive Government
and Authority of and over Canada is hereby declared to
continue and be vested in the Queen.
APPLICATION
OF PROVISIONS REFERRING TO GOVERNOR GENERAL
10.
The Provisions of this Act referring to the Governor
General extend and apply to the Governor General for the
time being of Canada, or other the Chief Executive Officer
or Administrator for the Time being carrying on the
Government of Canada on behalf and in the Name of the
Queen, by whatever Title he is designated.
CONSTITUTION
OF PRIVY COUNCIL FOR CANADA
11.-
There
shall be a Council to aid and advise in the Government of
Canada, to be styled the Queen's Privy Council for Canada;
and the Persons who are to be Members of that Council
shall be from Time to Time chosen and summoned by the
Governor General and sworn in as Privy Councilors, and
Members thereof may be from Time to Time removed by the
Governor General.
ALL
POWERS UNDER ACTS TO BE EXERCISED BY GOVERNOR GENERAL WITH
ADVICE OF PRIVY COUNCIL, OR ALONE
12.-
All Powers, Authorities, and Functions which under any Act
of the Parliament of Great Britain, or of the Parliament
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or of
the Legislature of Upper Canada, Lower Canada, Canada,
Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick, are at the Union vested in
or exercisable by the respective Governors or Lieutenant
Governors of those Provinces, with the Advice, or with the
Advice and Consent, of the respective Executive Councils
thereof, or in conjunction with those Councils, or with
any Number of Members thereof, or by those Governors or
Lieutenant Governors individually, shall, as far as the
same continue in existence and capable of being exercised
after the Union in relation to the Government of Canada,
be vested in and exercisable by the Governor General, with
the Advice or with the Advice and Consent of or in
conjunction with the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, or
any Members thereof, or by the Governor General
individually, as the Case requires, subject nevertheless
(except with respect to such as exist under Acts of the
Parliament of Great Britain or of the Parliament of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain or of the Parliament of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) to be
abolished or altered by the Parliament of Canada.
APPLICATION
OF PROVISIONS REFERRING TO GOVERNOR GENERAL IN COUNCIL
13.-
The
Provisions of this Act referring to the Governor General
in Council shall be construed as referring to the Governor
General acting by and with the Advice of the Queen's Privy
Council for Canada.
POWER
TO HER MAJESTY TO AUTHORIZE GOVERNOR GENERAL TO APPOINT
DEPUTIES
14.-
It shall be lawful for the Queen, if Her Majesty thinks
fit, to authorize the Governor General from Time to Time
to appoint any Person or any Persons jointly or severally
to be his Deputy or Deputies within any Part or Parts of
Canada, and in that Capacity to exercise during the
Pleasure of the Governor General such of the Powers,
Authorities, and functions of the Governor General as the
Governor General deems it necessary or expedient to assign
to him or them, subject to any Limitations or Directions
expressed or given by the Queen; but the Appointment of
such a Deputy or Deputies shall not affect the Exercise by
the governor General himself of any Power, Authority, or
Function.
COMMAND
OF ARMED FORCES TO CONTINUE TO BE VESTED IN THE QUEEN
15.-
The Command-in-Chief of the Land and Naval Militia, and of
all Naval and Military Forces, of and in Canada, is hereby
declared to continue and be vested in the Queen.
SEAT
OF GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
16.-
Until the Queen otherwise directs, the Seat of Government
of Canada shall be Ottawa.
IV.
LEGISLATIVE POWER
CONSTITUTION
OF PARLIAMENT OF CANADA
17.-
there shall be One Parliament for Canada, consisting of
the Queen, an Upper House styled the Senate, and the House
of Commons.
PRIVILEGES,
ETC... OF HOUSES
18.-
The privileges, immunities, and powers to be held,
enjoyed, and exercised by the Senate and by the House of
Commons, and by the members thereof respectively, shall be
such as are from time to time defined by Act of the
parliament of Canada, but so that any Act of the
Parliament of Canada defining such privileges, immunities,
and powers shall not confer any privileges, immunities, or
powers exceeding those at the passing of such Act held,
enjoyed, and exercised by the Commons House of Parliament
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and by
the members thereof.
FIRST
SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENT OF CANADA
19.-
The Parliament of Canada shall be called together not
later than Six Months after the Union.
20.-
Repealed.
THE
SENATE
NUMBER
OF SENATORS
21.-
The Senate shall, subject to the Provisions of this Act,
consist of One Hundred and four Members, who shall be
styled Senators.
REPRESENTATION
OF PROVINCES IN SENATE
22.-
In relation to the Constitution of the Senate Canada shall
be deemed to consist of Four Divisions:-
1. Ontario;
2.
Quebec;
3.
The Maritime Provinces, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and
Prince Edward Island;
4.
The Western Provinces of Manitoba, British Columbia,
Saskatchewan, and Alberta;
which
Four Divisions shall (subject to the Provisions of this
Act) be equally represented in the Senate as follows:
Ontario by twenty-four senators; Quebec by twenty-four
senators; the Maritime Provinces and Prince Edward Island
by twenty-four senators, ten thereof representing Nova
Scotia, ten thereof representing New Brunswick, and four
thereof representing Prince Edward island; the Western
Provinces by twenty-four senators, six thereof
representing Manitoba, six thereof representing British
Columbia, six thereof representing Saskatchewan, and six
thereof representing Alberta; Newfoundland shall be
entitled to be represented in the Senate by six members;
the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories shall be
entitled to be represented in the Senate by one member
each.
In
the Case of Quebec each of the Twenty-four Senators
representing that Province shall be appointed for One of
the Twenty-four Electoral Divisions of Lower Canada
specified in Schedule A. to Chapter One of the
Consolidated Statutes of Canada
QUALIFICATIONS
OF SENATOR
23.-
The Qualifications of a Senator shall be as follows:
1.
He shall be of that full age of Thirty Years:
2.
He shall be either a natural-born Subject of the Queen, or
a Subject of the Queen naturalized by an Act of the
Parliament of Grant Britain, or of the Parliament of the
United kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or of the
Legislature of One of the Provinces of Upper Canada, Lower
Canada, Canada, Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick, before the
Union, or of the Parliament of Canada after the Union:
3.
He shall be legally or equitably seised as of Freehold for
his own Use and Benefit of Lands or Tenements held in Free
and Common Socage, or seised or possessed for his own Use
and Benefit of lands or Tenements held in Franc-alleu or
in Roture, within the Province for which he is appointed,
of the Value of Four thousand Dollars, over and above all
Rents, Dues, Debts, Charges, Mortgages, and Incumbrances
due or payable out of or charged on or affecting the same:
4.
His Real and Personal Property shall be together worth
Four thousand Dollars over and above his Debts and
Liabilities:
5.
He shall be resident in the Province for which he is
appointed:
6.
In the Case of Quebec he shall have his Real Property
Qualification in the Electoral Division for which he is
appointed, or shall be resident in that Division.
SUMMONS
OF SENATOR
24.-
The Governor General shall from Time to Time, in the
Queen's Name, by Instrument under the Great Seal of
Canada, summon qualified Persons to the Senate; and,
subject to the Provisions of this Act, every Person so
summoned shall become and be a Member of the Senate and a
Senator.
25.-
Repealed.
ADDITION
OF SENATORS IN CERTAIN CASES
26.-
If at any Time on the Recommendation of the Governor
General the Queen thinks fit to direct that Four or Eight
Members be added to the Senate, the Governor General may
by Summons to Four or Eight qualified Persons (as the Case
may be), representing equally the Four Divisions of
Canada, add to the Senate accordingly.
REDUCTION
OF SENATE TO NORMAL NUMBER
27.-
In case of such Addition being at any Time made, the
Governor General shall not summon any Person to the
Senate, except on a further like Direction by the Queen on
the like Recommendation, to represent one of the Four
divisions until such Division is represented by
Twenty-four Senators and no more.
MAXIMUM
NUMBER OF SENATORS
28.-
The Number of Senators shall not at any Time exceed One
Hundred and twelve.
TENURE
OF PLACE IN SENATE
29.-
1. Subject to subsection (2), a Senator shall, subject to
the provisions of this Act, hold his place in the Senate
for life.
2.
A Senator who is summoned to the Senate after the coming
into force of this subsection shall, subject to this Act,
hold his place in the Senate until he attains the age of
seventy-five years.
RESIGNATION
OF PLACE IN SENATE
30.-
A Senator may by Writing under his Hand addressed to the
Governor General resign his Place in the Senate, and
thereupon the same shall be vacant.
DISQUALIFICATION
OF SENATORS
31.-
The Place of a Senator shall become vacant in any of the
following Cases:
1.
If for Two consecutive Sessions of the Parliament he fails
to give his Attendance in the Senate:
2.
If he takes an Oath or makes a Declaration or
Acknowledgment of Allegiance, Obedience, or Adherence to a
Foreign Power, or does an Act whereby he becomes a Subject
or Citizen, or entitled to the Rights or Privileges of a
Subject or Citizen, of a Foreign Power:
3.
If he is adjudged Bankrupt or Insolvent, or applies for
the Benefit of any Law relating to Insolvent Debtors, or
becomes a public Defaulter:
4.
If he is attainted of Treason or convicted of Felony or of
any infamous Crime:
5.
If he ceases to be qualified in respect of Property or of
Residence; provided, that a Senator shall not be deemed to
have ceased to be qualified in respect of Residence by
reason only of his residing at the Seat of the Government
of Canada while holding an Office under that Government
requiring his Presence there.
SUMMONS
ON VACANCY IN SENATE
32.-
When a Vacancy happens in the Senate by Resignation,
Death, or otherwise, the Governor General shall by Summons
to a fit and qualified Person fill the Vacancy.
QUESTIONS
AS TO QUALIFICATIONS AND VACANCIES IN SENATE
33.-
If any Question arises respecting the Qualification of a
Senator or a Vacancy in the Senate the same shall be heard
and determined by the Senate.
APPOINTMENT
OF SPEAKER OF SENATE
34.-
The Governor General may from Time to Time, by Instrument
under the Great Seal of Canada, appoint a Senator to be
Speaker of the Senate, and may remove him and appoint
another in his Stead.
QUORUM
OF SENATE
35.-
Until the Parliament of Canada otherwise provides, the
Presence of at least Fifteen Senators, including the
Speaker, shall be necessary to constitute a Meeting of the
Senate for the Exercise of its Powers.
VOTING
IN SENATE
36.-
Question arising in the Senate shall be decided by a
Majority of Voices, and the Speaker shall in all Cases
have a Vote, and when the Voices are equal the Decision
shall be deemed to be in the Negative.
THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS
CONSTITUTION
OF HOUSE OF COMMONS IN CANADA
37.-
The House of commons shall, subject to the Provisions of
this Act, consist of two hundred and ninety-five members
of whom ninety-nine shall be elected for Ontario,
seventy-five for Quebec, eleven for Nova Scotia, ten for
New Brunswick, fourteen for Manitoba, thirty-two for
British Columbia, four for Prince Edward Island,
twenty-six for Alberta, fourteen for Saskatchewan, seven
for Newfoundland, one for the Yukon Territory and two for
the Northwest Territories.
SUMMONING
OF HOUSE OF COMMONS
38.-
The Governor General shall from Time to Time, in the
Queen's Name, by Instrument under the Great Seal of
Canada, summon and call together the House of Commons.
SENATORS
NOT TO SIT IN HOUSE OF COMMONS
39.-
A Senator shall not be capable of being elected or of
sitting or voting as a Member of the House of Commons.
ELECTORAL
DISTRICTS OF THE FOUR PROVINCES
40.-
Until the Parliament of Canada otherwise provides,
Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick shall, for
the Purposes of the Election of Members to serve in the
House of Commons, be divided into Electoral Districts as
follows:
1.
- ONTARIO
Ontario
shall be divided into the Counties, Ridings of Counties,
Cities, Parts of Cities, and Towns enumerated in the First
Schedule to this Act, each whereof shall be an Electoral
District, each such District as numbered in that Schedule
being entitled to return One Member.
2.
- QUEBEC
Quebec
shall be divided into Sixty-five Electoral Districts,
composed of the Sixty-five Electoral Divisions into which
Lower Canada is at the passing of this Act divided under
Chapter Two of the Consolidated Statutes of Canada,
Chapter Seventy-five of the Consolidated Statutes for
Lower Canada, and the Act of the Province of Canada of the
Twenty-third Year of the Queen, Chapter One, or any other
Act amending the same in force at the Union, so that each
such Electoral Division shall be for the Purposes of this
Act an Electoral District entitled to return One Member.
3.
- NOVA SCOTIA
Each
of the Eighteen Counties of Nova Scotia shall be an
Electoral District. The County of Halifax shall be
entitled to return Two Members, and each of the other
Counties One Member.
4.
- NEW BRUNSWICK
Each
of the Fourteen Counties into which New Brunswick is
divided, including the City and County of St. John, shall
be an Electoral District. The City of St. John shall also
be a separate Electoral District. Each of those Fifteen
Electoral Districts shall be entitled to return One
Member.
CONTINUANCE
OF EXISTING ELECTION LAWS UNTIL PARLIAMENT OF CANADA
OTHERWISE PROVIDES
41.-
Until the Parliament of Canada otherwise provides, all
Laws in force in the several Provinces at the Union
relative to the following Matters or any of them, namely,
-the Qualifications and Disqualifications of Persons to be
elected or to sit or vote as Members of the House of
Assembly or Legislative Assembly in the several Provinces,
the Voters at Elections of such Members, the Oaths to be
taken by Voters, the Returning Officers, their Powers and
Duties, the Proceedings at Elections, the Periods during
which Election may be continued, the Trial of controverted
Elections, and proceedings incident thereto, the vacating
of Seats of Members, and the Execution of new Writs in
case of Seats vacated otherwise than by Dissolution,
-shall respectively apply to Elections of Members to serve
in the House of Commons for the same several Provinces.
Provided
that, until the Parliament of Canada otherwise provides,
at any Election for a Member of the House of Commons for
the District of Algoma, in addition to Persons qualified
by the law of the Province of Canada to vote, every Male
British Subject, aged Twenty-one Years or upwards, being a
Householder, shall have a Vote.
42.-
Repealed.
43.-
Repealed.
AS
TO ELECTION OF SPEAKER OF HOUSE OF COMMONS
44.-
The House of Commons on its first assembling after a
General Election shall proceed with all practicable Speed
to elect One of its Members to be Speaker.
AS
TO FILLING UP VACANCY IN OFFICE OF SPEAKER
45.-
In case of a Vacancy happening in the Office of Speaker by
Death, Resignation, or otherwise, the House of Commons
shall with all practicable Speed proceed to elect another
of its Members to be Speaker.
SPEAKER
TO PRESIDE
46.-
The Speaker shall preside at all Meetings of the House of
Commons.
PROVISION
IN CASE OF ABSENCE OF SPEAKER
47.-
Until the Parliament of Canada otherwise provides, in case
of the Absence for any Reason of the Speaker from the
Chair of the House of Commons for a Period of Forty-eight
consecutive Hours, the House may elect another of its
Members to act as Speaker, and the Member so elected shall
during the Continuance of such Absence of the Speaker have
and execute all the Powers, Privileges, and Duties of
Speaker.
QUORUM
OF HOUSE OF COMMONS
48.-
The Presence of at least Twenty Members of the House of
Commons shall be necessary to constitute a Meeting of the
House for the Exercise of its Powers, and for that Purpose
the Speaker shall be reckoned as a Member.
VOTING
IN HOUSE OF COMMONS
49.-
Questions arising in the House of Commons shall be decided
by a Majority of Voices other than that of the Speaker,
and when the Voices are equal, but not otherwise, the
Speaker shall have a Vote.
DURATION
OF HOUSE OF COMMONS
50.-
Every House of Commons shall continue for Five Years from
the Day of the Return of the Writs for choosing the House
(subject to be sooner dissolved by the Governor General),
and no longer.
READJUSTMENT
OF REPRESENTATION IN COMMONS
51.- 1. The number of members
of the House of Commons and the representation of the
provinces therein shall, on the coming into force of this
subsection and thereafter on the completion of each
decennial census, be readjusted by such authority, in such
manner, and from such time as the Parliament of Canada
from time to time provides, subject and according to the
following rules:
Rules
1. There shall be assigned to each of the provinces a
number of members equal to the number obtained by dividing
the total population of the provinces by two hundred and
seventy-nine and by dividing the population of each
province by the quotient so obtained, counting any
remainder in excess of 0.50 as one after the said process
of division.
2.
If the total number of members that would be assigned to a
province by the application of rule is less than the total
number assigned to that province on the date of coming
into force of this subsection, there shall be added to the
number of members so assigned such number of members as
will result in the province having the same number of
members as were assigned on that date.
Yukon
territory and Northwest Territories
2.
The Yukon Territory as bounded and described in the
schedule to chapter Y-2 of the Revised Statutes of Canada,
1970, shall be entitled to one member, and the Northwest
Territories as bounded and described in section 2 of
chapter N-22 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970,
shall be entitled to two members.
CONSTITUTION
OF HOUSE OF COMMONS
a.-
Notwithstanding anything in this Act a province shall
always be entitled to a number of members in the House of
Commons not less than the number of senators representing
such province.
INCREASE
OF NUMBER OF HOUSE OF COMMONS
52.-
The Number of Members of the House of Commons may be from
Time to Time increased by the Parliament of Canada,
provided the proportionate Representation of the Provinces
prescribed by this Act is not thereby disturbed.
MONEY
VOTES; ROYAL ASSENT
APPROPRIATION
AND TAX BILLS
53.-
Bills for appropriating any Part of the Public Revenue, or
for imposing any Tax or Impost, shall originate in the
House of Commons.
RECOMMENDATION
OF MONEY VOTES
54.-
It shall not be lawful for the House of Commons to adopt
or pass any Vote, Resolution, Address, or Bill for the
Appropriation of any Part of the Public Revenue, or of any
Tax or Impost, to any Purpose that has not been first
recommended to that House by Message of the Governor
General in the Session in which such Vote, Resolution,
Address, or Bill is proposed.
ROYAL
ASSENT TO BILLS, ETC.
55.-
Where a Bill passed by the Houses of the Parliament is
presented to the Governor General for the Queen's Assent,
he shall declare, according to his Discretion, but subject
to the Provisions of this Act and to Her Majesty's
Instructions either that he assents thereto in the Queen's
Name, or that he withholds the Queen's Assent, or that he
reserves the Bill for the Signification of the Queen's
Pleasure.
DISALLOWANCE
BY ORDER IN COUNCIL OF ACT ASSENTED TO BY GOVERNOR GENERAL
56.-
Where the Governor General assents to a Bill in the
Queen's Name, he shall by the first convenient Opportunity
send an authentic Copy of the Act to One of Her Majesty's
Principal Secretaries of State, and if the Queen in
Council within Two Years after Receipt thereof by the
Secretary of State thinks fit to disallow the Act, such
Disallowance (with a Certificate of the Secretary of State
of the Day on which the Act was received by him) being
signified by the Governor General, by Speech or Message to
each of the Houses of the Parliament or by Proclamation,
shall annul the Act from and after the Day of such
Signification.
SIGNIFICATION
OF QUEEN'S PLEASURE ON BILL RESERVED
57.-
A Bill reserved for the Signification of the Queen's
Pleasure shall not have any Force unless and until, within
Two Years from the Day on which it was presented to the
Governor General for the Queen's Assent, the Governor
General Signifies, by Speech or Message to each of the
Houses of the Parliament or by Proclamation, that it has
received the Assent of the Queen in Council.
An
Entry of every such Speech, Message, or Proclamation shall
be made in the Hournal of each House, and a Duplicate
thereof duly attested shall be delivered to the proper
Officer to be kept among the Records of Canada.
V.
PROVINCIAL CONSTITUTIONS
EXECUTIVE
POWER
APPOINTMENT
OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS OF PROVINCES
58.- For each Province there
shall be an Officer, styled the Lieutenant Governor,
appointed by the Governor General in Council by Instrument
under the Grant Seal of Canada.
TENURE
OF OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
59.-
A Lieutenant Governor shall hold Office during the
Pleasure of the Governor General; but any Lieutenant
Governor appointed after the Commencement of the First
Session of the Parliament of Canada shall not be removable
within Five Years from his Appointment, except for Cause
assigned, which shall be communicated to him in Writing
within One Month after the Order for his Removal is made,
and shall be communicated by Message to the Senate and to
the House of Commons within One Week thereafter if the
Parliament is then sitting, and if not then within One
Week after the Commencement of the next Session of the
Parliament.
SALARIES
OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS
60.-
The Salaries of the Lieutenant Governors shall be fixed
and provided by the Parliament of Canada.
OATHS,
ETC., OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
61.-
Every Lieutenant Governor shall, before assuming the
Duties of his Office, make and subscribe before the
Governor General or some Person authorized by him Oaths of
Allegiance and Office similar to those taken by the
Governor General.
APPLICATION
OF PROVISIONS REFERRING TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
62.-
The Provisions of this
Act referring to the Lieutenant Governor extend and apply
to the Lieutenant Governor for the Time being of each
Province, or other the Chief Executive Officer or
Administrator for the Time being carrying on the
Government of the Province, by whatever Title he is
designated.
APPOINTMENT
OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF ONTARIO AND QUEBEC
63.-
The Executive Council of Ontario and of Quebec shall be
composed of such Persons as the Lieutenant Governor from
Time to Time thinks fit, and in the first instance of the
following Officers, namely, -the Attorney General, the
Secretary and Registrar of the Province, the Treasurer of
the Province, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and the
Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works, with in
Quebec the Speaker of the Legislative Council and the
Solicitor General.
EXECUTIVE
GOVERNMENT OF NOVA SCOTIA AND NEW BRUNSWICK
64.-
The Constitution of the Executive Authority in each of the
Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick shall, subject
to the Provisions of this Act, continue as it exists at
the Union until altered under the Authority of this Act.
POWERS
TO BE EXERCISED BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF ONTARIO OR
QUEBEC WITH ADVICE, OR ALONE
65.-
All Powers, Authorities, and Functions which under any Act
of the Parliament of Great Britain, or of the Parliament
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or of
the Legislature of Upper Canada, Lower Canada, or Canada,
were or are before or at the Union vested in or
exercisable by the respective Governors or Lieutenant
Governors of those Provinces, with the Advice or with the
Advice and Consent of the respective Executive Councils
thereof, or in conjunction with those Councils, or with
any Number of Members thereof, or by those Governors or
Lieutenant Governors individually, shall, as far as the
same are capable of being exercised after the Union in
relation to the Government of Ontario and Quebec
respectively, be vested in and shall or may be exercised
by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Quebec
respectively, with the Advice or with the Advice and
Consent of or in conjunction with the respective Executive
Councils, or any Members thereof, or by the Lieutenant
Governor individually, as the Case requires, subject
nevertheless (except with respect to such as exist under
Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain, or of the
Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland,) to be abolished or altered by the respective
Legislatures of Ontario and Quebec.
APPLICATION
FOR PROVISIONS REFERRING TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL
66.-
The Provisions of this Act referring to the Lieutenant
Governor in Council shall be construed as referring to the
Lieutenant Governor of the Province acting by and with the
Advice of the Executive Council thereof.
ADMINISTRATION
IN ABSENCE, ETC. OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
67.-
The Governor General in Council may from Time to time
appoint an Administrator to execute the Office and
Functions of Lieutenant Governor during his Absence,
Illness, or other Inability.
SEATS
OF PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS
68.-
Unless and until the Executive Government of any Province
otherwise directs with respect to that Province, the Seats
of Government of the Provinces shall be as follows,
namely, -of Ontario, the City of Toronto; of Quebec, the
City of Quebec; of Nova Scotia, the City of Halifax; and
of New Brunswick, the City of Fredericton.
LEGISLATIVE
POWER
1.
- ONTARIO
LEGISLATURE
FOR ONTARIO
69.-
There shall be a Legislature for Ontario consisting of the
Lieutenant Governor and of One House, styled the
legislative Assembly of Ontario.
ELECTORAL
DISTRICTS
70.-
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario shall be composed of
Eighty-two Members, to be elected to represent the
Eighty-two Electoral Districts set forth in the First
Schedule to this Act.
2.
- QUEBEC
LEGISLATURE
FOR QUEBEC
71.-
There shall be a Legislature for Quebec consisting of the
Lieutenant Governor and of Two Houses, styled the
Legislative Council of Quebec and the Legislative Assembly
of Quebec.
CONSTITUTION
OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
72.-
The Legislative Council of Quebec shall be composed of
Twenty-four Members, to be appointed by the Lieutenant
Governor, in the Queen's Name, by Instrument under the
Great Seal of Quebec, one being appointed to represent
each of the Twenty-four Electoral divisions of Lower
Canada in this Act referred to, and each holding Office
for the Term of his Life, unless the Legislature of Quebec
otherwise provides under the Provisions of this Act.
QUALIFICATION
OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCILORS
73.-
The Qualifications of the Legislative Councilors of Quebec
shall be the same as those of the Senators for Quebec.
RESIGNATION,
DISQUALIFICATION, ETC.
74.-
The Place of a Legislative Councillor of Quebec shall
become vacant in the Cases, mutatis mutandis, in which the
Place of Senator becomes vacant.
VACANCIES
75.-
When a Vacancy happens in the Legislative Council of
Quebec by Resignation, Death, or otherwise, the Lieutenant
Governor, int he Queen's Name, by Instrument under the
Great Seal of Quebec, shall appoint a fit and qualified
Person to fill the Vacancy.
QUESTIONS
AS TO VACANCIES, ETC.
76.-
If any Question arises respecting the Qualification of a
Legislative Councillor of Quebec, or a Vacancy in the
Legislative Council of Quebec, the same shall be heard and
determined by the Legislative Council.
SPEAKER
OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
77.-
The Lieutenant governor may from Time to Time, by
Instrument under the Great Seal of Quebec, appoint a
Member of the Legislative Council of Quebec to be Speaker
thereof, and any remove him and appoint another in his
Stead.
QUORUM
OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
78.-
Until the Legislature of Quebec otherwise provides, the
Presence of at least Ten Members of the Legislative
Council, including the Speaker, shall be necessary to
constitute a Meeting for the Exercise of its Powers.
VOTING
IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
79.-
Questions arising in the Legislative Council of Quebec
shall be decided by a Majority of Voices, and the Speaker
shall in all Cases have a Vote, and when the Voices are
equal the Decision shall be deemed to be in the Negative.
CONSTITUTION
OF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF QUEBEC
80.-
The Legislative Assembly of Quebec shall be composed of
Sixty-five Members, to be elected to represent the
Sixty-five Electoral Divisions or Districts of Lower
Canada in this Act referred to, subject to Alteration
thereof by the Legislature of Quebec: Provided that it
shall not be lawful to present to the Lieutenant Governor
of Quebec for Assent any Bill for altering the Limits of
any of the Electoral Divisions or Districts mentioned in
the Second Schedule to this Act, unless the Second and
Third Readings of such Bill have been passed in the
Legislative Assembly with the Concurrence of the Majority
of the Members representing all those Electoral Divisions
or districts, and the Assent shall not be given to such
Bill unless an Address has been presented by the
Legislative Assembly to the Lieutenant Governor stating
that it has been so passed.
3.
- ONTARIO AND QUEBEC
81.-
Repealed.
SUMMONING
OF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES
82.-
The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and of Quebec shall
from Time to Time, in the Queen's Name, by Instrument
under the Great Seal of the Province, summon and call
together the Legislative Assembly of the Province.
RESTRICTION
ON ELECTION OF HOLDERS OF OFFICES
83.-
Until the Legislature of Ontario or of Quebec otherwise
provides, a Person accepting or holding in Ontario or in
Quebec any Office, Commission, or Employment, permanent or
temporary, at the Nomination of the Lieutenant Governor,
to which an annual Salary, or any Fee, Allowance,
Emolument, or Profit of any Kind or Amount whatever from
the Province is attached, shall not be eligible as a
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the respective
Province, not shall he sit or vote as such; but nothing in
this Section shall make ineligible any Person being a
Member of the Executive Council of the respective
Province, or holding any of the following Offices, that is
to say, the Offices of Attorney General, Secretary and
Registrar of the Province, Treasurer of the Province,
Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Commissioner of
Agriculture and Public Works, and in Quebec Solicitor
General, or shall disqualify him to sit or vote in the
House for which he is elected, provided he is elected
while holding such Office.
CONTINUANCE
OF EXISTING ELECTION LAWS
84.-
Until the legislatures of Ontario and Quebec respectively
otherwise provide, all Laws which at the Union are in
force in those Provinces respectively, relative to the
following Matters, or any of them, namely, -the
Qualifications and Disqualifications of Persons to be
elected or to sit or vote as Members of the Assembly of
Canada, the Qualifications or Disqualifications of Voters,
the Oaths to be taken by Voters, the Returning Officers,
their Powers and Duties, the Proceedings at Elections, the
Periods during which such Elections may be continued, and
the Trial of controverted Elections and the Proceedings
incident thereto, the vacating of the Seats of Members and
the issuing and execution of new Writs in case of Seats
vacated otherwise than by Dissolution, - shall
respectively apply to Elections of Members to serve in the
respective Legislative Assemblies of Ontario and Quebec.
Provided
that, until the Legislature of Ontario otherwise provides,
at any Election for a Member of the Legislative Assembly
of Ontario for the District of Algoma, in addition to
Persons qualified by the law of the Province of Canada to
vote, every Male British Subject, aged Twenty-one Years or
upwards, being a Householder, shall have a Vote.
DURATION
OF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES
85.-
Every Legislative Assembly of Ontario and every
Legislative Assembly of Quebec shall continue for Four
Years from the Day of the Return of the Writs for choosing
the same (subject nevertheless to wither the Legislative
Assembly of Ontario or the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
being sooner dissolved by the Lieutenant Governor of the
Province), and no longer.
YEARLY
SESSION OF LEGISLATURE
86.-
There shall be a Session of the Legislature of Ontario and
of that of Quebec once at least in every year, so that
Twelve Months shall not intervene between the last Sitting
of the Legislature in each Province in one Session and its
first Sitting in the next Session.
SPEAKER,
QUORUM, ETC.
87.-
The following Provisions of this Act respecting the House
of Commons of Canada shall extend and apply to the
Legislative Assemblies of Ontario and Quebec, that is to
say, - the Provisions relating to the Election of a
Speaker originally and on Vacancies, the Duties of the
Speaker, the Absence of the Speaker, the Quorum, and the
Mode of voting, as if those Provisions were here
re-enacted and made applicable in Terms to each such
Legislative Assembly.
4.
- NOVA SCOTIA AND NEW BRUNSWICK
CONSTITUTIONS
OF LEGISLATURES OF NOVA SCOTIA AND NEW BRUNSWICK
88.-
The Constitution of the legislature of each of the
Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick shall, subject
to the Provisions of this Act, continue as it exists at
the Union until altered under the Authority of this Act.
5.
- ONTARIO, QUEBEC, AND NOVA SCOTIA
89.- Repealed.
6.
- THE FOUR PROVINCES
APPLICATION
TO LEGISLATURES OF PROVISIONS RESPECTING MONEY VOTES, ETC.
90.-
The following Provisions of this Act respecting the
Parliament of Canada, namely, . the Provisions relating to
Appropriation and Tax Bills, the Recommendation of Money
Votes, the Assent to Bills, the Disallowance of Acts, and
the Signification of Pleasure on bills reserved, -shall
extend and apply to the Legislatures of the several
Provinces as if those Provisions were here re-enacted and
made applicable in Terms to the respective Provinces and
the Legislatures thereof, with the Substitution of the
Lieutenant Governor General for the Queen and for a
Secretary of State, of One Year for Two Years, and of the
Province for Canada.
VI.
DISTRIBUTION OF LEGISLATIVE POWERS
POWERS
OF THE PARLIAMENT
LEGISLATIVE
AUTHORITY OF PARLIAMENT OF CANADA
91.-
It shall be lawful for the Queen, by and with the Advice
and Consent of the Senate and House of Commons, to make
Laws for the Peace, Order, and good Government of Canada,
in relation to all Matters not coming within the Classes
of Subjects by this Act assigned exclusively to the
Legislatures of the Provinces; and for greater Certainty,
but not so as to restrict the Generality of the foregoing
Terms of this Section, it is hereby declared that
(notwithstanding anything in this Act) the exclusive
Legislative Authority of the Parliament of Canada extends
to all Matters coming within the Classes of Subjects next
hereinafter enumerated; that is to say,-
1.
Repealed.
1A.
The Public Debt and Property.
2.
The Regulation of Trade and Commerce.
2A.
Unemployment insurance.
3.
The raising of Money by any Mode or System of Taxation.
4.
The borrowing of Money on the Public Credit.
5.
Postal Service.
6.
The Census and Statistics.
7.
Militia, Military and Naval Service, and Defence.
8.
The fixing of and providing for the Salaries and
Allowances of Civil and other Officers of the Government
of da.
9.
Beacons, Buoys, Lighthouses, and Sable Island.
10.
Navigation and Shipping.
11.
Quarantine and the Establishment and Maintenance of Marine
Hospitals.
12.
Sea Coast and Inland Fisheries.
13.
Ferries between a Province and any British or Foreign
Country or between Two Provinces.
14.
Currency and Coinage.
15.
Banking, Incorporation of Banks, and the Issue of Paper
Money.
16.
Savings Banks.
17.
Weights and Measures.
18.
Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes.
19.
Interest.
20.
Legal Tender.
21.
Bankruptcy and Insolvency.
22.
Patents of Invention and Discovery.
23.
Copyrights.
24.
Indians, and Lands reserved for the Indians.
25.
Naturalization and Aliens.
26.
Marriage and Divorce.
27.
The Criminal Law, except the Constitution of Courts of
Criminal Jurisdiction, but including the Procedure in
Criminal Matters.
28.
The Establishment, Maintenance, and Management of
Penitentiaries.
29.
Such Classes of Subjects as are expressly excepted in the
Enumeration of the Classes of Subjects by this Act
assigned exclusively to the Legislatures of the Provinces.
And
any Matter coming within any of the Classes of Subjects
enumerated in this Section shall not be deemed to come
within the Class of Matters of a local or private Nature
comprised in the Enumeration of the Classes of Subjects by
this Act assigned exclusively to the Legislatures of the
Provinces.
EXCLUSIVE
POWERS OF PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURES
SUBJECTS
OF EXCLUSIVE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION
92.-
In each Province the Legislature may exclusively make Laws
in relation to Matters coming within the Classes of
Subjects next hereinafter enumerated; that is to say, -
1.
Repealed.
2.
Direct Taxation within the Province in order to the
raising of a Revenue for Provincial Purposes.
3.
The borrowing of Money on the sole Credit of the Province.
4.
The Establishment and Tenure of Provincial Offices and the
Appointment and Payment of Provincial Officers.
5.
The Management