Newfoundland Act
The Newfoundland Act was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that confirmed and gave effect to the Terms of Union agreed to between the then-separate Dominions of Canada and Newfoundland on March 23, 1949. It was originally titled the British North America Act 1949, but was renamed in Canada on the patriation of the Canadian Constitution from the United Kingdom in 1982.
Act of Parliament | |
Long title | An Act to confirm and give effect to Terms of Union agreed between Canada and Newfoundland. |
---|---|
Citation | 12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6 c. 22 |
Dates | |
Commencement | 23 March 1949 |
Status: Current legislation | |
Text of statute as originally enacted | |
Revised text of statute as amended |
In exchange for Newfoundland becoming a province, the Canadian government took over the Newfoundland Railway, Newfoundland Airport (now Gander International Airport), public broadcasting, telegraph services and other services that fell under federal control. The federal government assumed responsibility for Newfoundland's debt.[1]
Newfoundland was also given statutory subsidies, a special subsidy of $1.1 million, the right to enter into tax rental agreements with the federal government and an additional transitional grant of $3.5 million, diminishing by 10 per cent per year for a total of 12 years. Also, as a safety net, it was agreed a Royal Commission would review finances.[2]
References
- Dominion Delegation, St. John's Telegram, December 11, 2005
- Dominion Delegation, St. John's Telegram, December 11, 2005
External links
- Newfoundland Act text
- Text of the British North America Act 1949 (c.22) as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
- British North American Act, 1949 (Newfoundland Act), audio reading of act by LibriVox (57m23s)