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 23 March 1949. It was originally titled the British North America Act 1949 (12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 22), but was renamed in Canada on the patriation of the Canadian Constitution from the United Kingdom in 1982.
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.Dominion Delegation, St. John's Telegram, 11 December 2005
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.
Amendments After patriation, the Newfoundland Act has been amended four times through the Canadian constitutional amendment formulas. + List of amendments to the Newfoundland Act Name Section(s) amended Purpose and notes Amending procedureConstitution Amendment, 1987s. 3 of Newfoundland Act and term 17 of schedule to that ActExtended education rights to the Pentecostal Church in Newfoundland.
Replaced by Constitution Amendment, 1998 (Newfoundland Act).s. 43: House of Commons, Senate and Newfoundland House of AssemblyConstitution Amendment, 1997 (Newfoundland Act)term 17 of schedule to Newfoundland ActAllowed the Province of Newfoundland to create a secular school system to replace the church-based education system.s. 43: House of Commons and Newfoundland House of Assembly; Senate approval was bypassed with s. 47Constitution Amendment, 1998 (Newfoundland Act)term 17 of schedule to Newfoundland ActEnded denominational quotas for Newfoundland religion classes.s. 43: House of Commons, Senate and Newfoundland House of AssemblyConstitution Amendment, 2001 (Newfoundland and Labrador)every instance of the word "Newfoundland" in the schedule to Newfoundland ActChanged the name of the "Province of Newfoundland" to the "Province of Newfoundland and Labrador".s. 43: House of Commons, Senate and Newfoundland House of Assembly
Previous Newfoundland Acts
Prior to the 1949 act there were a handful of acts with revisions to the Newfoundland's Constitution:
Newfoundland Act 1698 (10 Will. 3 c. 14) – encourage and established trade (fisheries) links in the region; also called King William's Act
Newfoundland Act 1832 (2 & 3 Will. 4. c. 78)
Newfoundland Act 1842 (5 & 6 Vict. c. 120) – established an appointed upper Legislative Council and elected lower House of Assembly
Newfoundland Act 1933 (24 & 25 Geo. 5. c. 2) – suspended responsible government with the General Assembly of Newfoundland dissolved and established rule by Newfoundland Commission
See also Malaysia Act 1963 Hong Kong Act 1985
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