Foundations: the words that shaped Canada.

• Author: Lecomte, Lucie

Drawing on Library and Archive's collection, the Library of Parliament curated an exhibit that features six of the most significant documents in Canadian and parliamentary history. In this article, the author gives an overview of the contexts in which some of the words that shaped Canada were written and identifies some interesting details on the documents themselves.

Introduction

To mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the Library of Parliament opened an exhibit entitled Foundations: The Words that Shaped Canada on March 9, 2017.

The Library partnered with Library and Archives Canada to showcase six key documents that contributed to the social, political and territorial development of Canada.

* the British North America Act (1867);

* Canada's first Speech from the Throne (1867);

* the North-West Territories Proclamation (1869);

* the Statute of Westminster (1931);

* the Canadian Bill of Rights (1960); and

* the Proclamation of the Constitution Act,1982.

As the title of the exhibit suggests, these documents mark important stages in Canada's constitutional development.

The documents are accompanied by interactive touchscreens, which explore important details of each document and connects them to broader historical themes. A large interactive timeline also gives visitors an overview of major turning points in Canadian and parliamentary history.

The British North America Act (1867)

The exhibit begins with an overview of certain key events that led to Confederation and the enactment of the British North America Act (BNA). Pursuant to this Act, the Parliament of Canada governs and legislates to maintain, "Peace, Order and Good Government." These intrinsic values of Canadian democracy are as relevant today as they were in 1867.

Although the BNA Act was British legislation, its provisions were drafted by representatives of the colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada. This is reflected in the spirit of the text that is marked by a desire to reach a compromise: a compromise between the majority and a linguistic minority that wished to retain its language, religion and identity; and a political compromise between formerly independent colonies that wished to unite in a rapidly evolving North American political context while retaining certain powers in the face of centralizing forces. These compromises remain at the heart of the Canadian federation and can be seen in the way it functions today.

The copy of the BNA Act on display at the Library belonged to Sir John A. Macdonald.

Enacted on March 29, 1867, the BNA Act came into force on July 1. Canada's first general election was held on September 20,1867.

Canada's first Speech from the Throne

On Thursday, November 7, 1867, the Governor General of Canada, Sir Charles Stanley Monck, 4th Viscount Monck, opened the First Session of the Parliament of Canada. A few days before the event, he had written to his 18-year-old son, Henry, noting that he would soon open the first session of Parliament and that it would be "a great function." He also mentioned that a Montreal cavalry regiment would be his escort.

In his Speech from the Throne, the Governor General reminded parliamentarians of their responsibilities:

the Act of Union, as adopted by the Imperial Parliament, imposes the duty and confers upon you the right of reducing to practice the system of Government, which it has called into existence, of consolidating its institutions, harmonizing its administrative details, and of making such legislative provisions as will secure to a constitution, in some respects novel, a full, fair, and unprejudiced trial. He also spoke of territorial expansion and of spending. He concluded by expressing his hopes for the new country:

I fervently pray that your aspirations may be directed to such high and patriotic objects, and that you may be endowed with such a spirit of moderation and wisdom as will cause you to render the great work of Union which has been achieved, a blessing to yourselves and your posterity, and a fresh...