Which act established Canada as a self-governing Dominion?

The British North America Act, passed in 1867, is the pivotal legislation that established Canada as a self-governing Dominion within the British Empire. This act united the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia into a federal system, creating the foundation for Canada's political structure. It granted significant autonomy to the newly formed Dominion, allowing it to govern its internal affairs while still acknowledging the British monarch as the nominal head of state, which was typical for countries within the empire at that time.

The Constitution Act refers to a number of different constitutional laws and conventions, and while it is an important part of Canada's constitutional framework, it was not specifically the act that established Canada as a self-governing entity. The Statute of Westminster, enacted in 1931, further advanced Canada’s legislative independence from Britain, but it came well after Canada had already been established as a Dominion. The Canada Act, also known as the Constitution Act of 1982, patriated the Canadian Constitution and included the Charter of Rights and Freedoms but again occurred long after the formation of Canada as a self-governing Dominion. Therefore, the British North America Act is the correct answer as it marks the moment when Canada officially became a self-gover