ABSTRACT
The union was created through a number of British statutes, starting with the British North America Act 1867.2 The last United Kingdom statute constituting Canada was the Canada Act 1982. Canadian subnational constitutionalism is the product of Canada’s status as the first independent realm (Dominion) within the British Empire—a status influenced by managing the risks of a new confrontation with the revolutionary neighbour to the south. Debates on subnational constitutionalism are largely absent from Canadian political discussion. The provincial colonial constitutions continued to exist after the colonies were admitted to the Canadian union, subject to the provisions of the Constitution Act 1867. Relative to the constitutions of the other two Anglo-American federations, the Constitution of Canada pays little attention to the symbolism of nationhood. The structure of the provincial executive, legislative and judicial branches of government is regulated by the Constitution of Canada.
