How Long After Independence Did Canada Remain a Canadian Dominion of the British Empire?

On July 1, 1867, a significant milestone was achieved in Canadian history as the Dominion of Canada came into existence, marking the union of four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Over the next 64 and a half years, the newly formed Dominion of Canada gradually gained more autonomy, eventually achieving full independence in 1931 with the passage of the Statute of Westminster. This statute provided the legal basis for independence from the British Parliament, though it’s important to note that Canada remained a close relationship with the monarchy. Let's dive deeper into this historical journey.

Early Days of the Dominion of Canada

The Dominion of Canada began as a self-governing colony of the United Kingdom, taking on an increasingly larger role in major international events, especially during World War I.

As Canada slowly but surely expanded its self-governance, the relationship with the British Empire underwent significant changes. The Statute of Westminster, adopted on December 11, 1931, officially granted full legal independence to Canada and other dominions within the British Empire. Britain and its dominions were sovereign states and equal members of a #8220;British Commonwealth of Nations.#8221; This act marked the beginning of a new era of independence for Canada where it took control of its domestic and foreign affairs.

Revolution of the Constitution

The roots of Canada's path to a truly independent country started to show even earlier, with the enactment of critical constitutional reforms. The Constitution Act of 1982, officially known as the Canada Act 1982, finally patriated the Canadian Constitution from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This act not only provided Canada with full constitutional independence but also dropped the term "Dominion," which was replaced with "Canada."

Queen Elizabeth II, the reigning monarch at the time, signed the new constitution on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 17, 1982. This event symbolized the end of the Canadian dominion status and officially recognized Canada as both a constitutional and parliamentary democracy.

International Context

It's worth noting that Canada's journey to full independence is not unique. Other countries that were once part of the British Empire also transitioned to independent statuses. Ireland ceased to be a dominion in 1949, India in 1950, Pakistan in 1956, South Africa in 1961, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1972. Each of these transitions had its own unique challenges and impacts on the respective nations.

Today's Canada and the Queen

Today, Canada remains a proud independent member of The Commonwealth, an organization of 56 independent and equal countries. In a unique twist, while Canada has achieved full independence, it remains a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as the Queen of Canada. This identity is captured in the official title of the monarch:

ELIZABETH THE SECOND BY THE GRACE OF GOD OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, CANADA, AND HER OTHER REALMS AND TERRITORIES, QUEEN, HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH.

For French-speaking Canadians, the title is slightly different, but it conveys the same essence:

ELIZABETH DEUX PAR LA GRACE DE DIEU REINE DU ROYAUME-UNI, DU CANADA, ET DE SES AUTRES ROYAUMES ET TERRES DéPENDANTES, CHEF DU COMMONWEALTH, DEFENSEUR DE LA FOI.

Despite this loyalty to the monarchy, Canada is now fully independent, with a constitution of its own and the ability to make its own decisions on domestic and international policy.