What is the British North America Act now known as?

The British North America Act is now known as the Constitution Act, 1867. This act was pivotal as it created the Dominion of Canada by uniting the British colonies of the Province of Canada (which was divided into Ontario and Quebec), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. The purpose of this act was to establish a federal system of government and define the powers and responsibilities of the federal and provincial governments.

In 1982, the Constitution Act, 1867 was consolidated with other constitutional documents into the larger Constitution Act, which includes the Constitution Act, 1982. This transformation reflects Canada's evolution toward greater autonomy from British legislative control. It highlights the importance of the original act in shaping Canadian confederation and governance structure, marking it as a foundational legal document for the country.

Other options refer to different legislative acts or constitutional documents that are significant in Canadian history but do not designate the British North America Act. For instance, the Statute of Westminster granted full legislative independence to the dominions of the British Empire but did not change the name of the original act. The Canada Act, also known as the Constitution Act, 1982, introduced patriation of the constitution but is separate from the original act's identity. The British North