THE CONSTITUTION ACTS 1867 to 1982

VI. Distribution of Legislative Powers

Powers of the Parliament

Marginal note:Legislative Authority of Parliament of Canada

91 It shall be lawful for the Queen, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate and House of Commons, to make Laws for the Peace, Order, and good Government of Canada, in relation to all Matters not coming within the Classes of Subjects by this Act assigned exclusively to the Legislatures of the Provinces; and for greater Certainty, but not so as to restrict the Generality of the foregoing Terms of this Section, it is hereby declared that (notwithstanding anything in this Act) the exclusive Legislative Authority of the Parliament of Canada extends to all Matters coming within the Classes of Subjects next hereinafter enumerated; that is to say,

• 1. 

  Repealed.End note ⁽⁴⁴⁾
• 1A. 

  The Public Debt and Property.End note ⁽⁴⁵⁾
• 2. 

  The Regulation of Trade and Commerce.
• 2A. 

  Unemployment insurance.End note ⁽⁴⁶⁾
• 3. 

  The raising of Money by any Mode or System of Taxation.
• 4. 

  The borrowing of Money on the Public Credit.
• 5. 

  Postal Service.
• 6. 

  The Census and Statistics.
• 7. 

  Militia, Military and Naval Service, and Defence.
• 8. 

  The fixing of and providing for the Salaries and Allowances of Civil and other Officers of the Government of Canada.
• 9. 

  Beacons, Buoys, Lighthouses, and Sable Island.
• 10. 

  Navigation and Shipping.
• 11. 

  Quarantine and the Establishment and Maintenance of Marine Hospitals.
• 12. 

  Sea Coast and Inland Fisheries.
• 13. 

  Ferries between a Province and any British or Foreign Country or between Two Provinces.
• 14. 

  Currency and Coinage.
• 15. 

  Banking, Incorporation of Banks, and the Issue of Paper Money.
• 16. 

  Savings Banks.
• 17. 

  Weights and Measures.
• 18. 

  Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes.
• 19. 

  Interest.
• 20. 

  Legal Tender.
• 21. 

  Bankruptcy and Insolvency.
• 22. 

  Patents of Invention and Discovery.
• 23. 

  Copyrights.
• 24. 

  Indians, and Lands reserved for the Indians.
• 25. 

  Naturalization and Aliens.
• 26. 

  Marriage and Divorce.
• 27. 

  The Criminal Law, except the Constitution of Courts of Criminal Jurisdiction, but including the Procedure in Criminal Matters.
• 28. 

  The Establishment, Maintenance, and Management of Penitentiaries.
• 29. 

  Such Classes of Subjects as are expressly excepted in the Enumeration of the Classes of Subjects by this Act assigned exclusively to the Legislatures of the Provinces.

And any Matter coming within any of the Classes of Subjects enumerated in this Section shall not be deemed to come within the Class of Matters of a local or private Nature comprised in the Enumeration of the Classes of Subjects by this Act assigned exclusively to the Legislatures of the Provinces.End note ⁽⁴⁷⁾

Exclusive Powers of Provincial Legislatures

Marginal note:Subjects of exclusive Provincial Legislation

92 In each Province the Legislature may exclusively make Laws in relation to Matters coming within the Classes of Subjects next hereinafter enumerated; that is to say,

• 1. 

  Repealed.End note ⁽⁴⁸⁾
• 2. 

  Direct Taxation within the Province in order to the raising of a Revenue for Provincial Purposes.
• 3. 

  The borrowing of Money on the sole Credit of the Province.
• 4. 

  The Establishment and Tenure of Provincial Offices and the Appointment and Payment of Provincial Officers.
• 5. 

  The Management and Sale of the Public Lands belonging to the Province and of the Timber and Wood thereon.
• 6. 

  The Establishment, Maintenance, and Management of Public and Reformatory Prisons in and for the Province.
• 7. 

  The Establishment, Maintenance, and Management of Hospitals, Asylums, Charities, and Eleemosynary Institutions in and for the Province, other than Marine Hospitals.
• 8. 

  Municipal Institutions in the Province.
• 9. 

  Shop, Saloon, Tavern, Auctioneer, and other Licences in order to the raising of a Revenue for Provincial, Local, or Municipal Purposes.
• 10. 

  Local Works and Undertakings other than such as are of the following Classes:
  • (a) 

    Lines of Steam or other Ships, Railways, Canals, Telegraphs, and other Works and Undertakings connecting the Province with any other or others of the Provinces, or extending beyond the Limits of the Province:
  • (b) 

    Lines of Steam Ships between the Province and any British or Foreign Country:
  • (c) 

    Such Works as, although wholly situate within the Province, are before or after their Execution declared by the Parliament of Canada to be for the general Advantage of Canada or for the Advantage of Two or more of the Provinces.
• 11. 

  The Incorporation of Companies with Provincial Objects.
• 12. 

  The Solemnization of Marriage in the Province.
• 13. 

  Property and Civil Rights in the Province.
• 14. 

  The Administration of Justice in the Province, including the Constitution, Maintenance, and Organization of Provincial Courts, both of Civil and of Criminal Jurisdiction, and including Procedure in Civil Matters in those Courts.
• 15. 

  The Imposition of Punishment by Fine, Penalty, or Imprisonment for enforcing any Law of the Province made in relation to any Matter coming within any of the Classes of Subjects enumerated in this Section.
• 16. 

  Generally all Matters of a merely local or private Nature in the Province.

Non-Renewable Natural Resources, Forestry Resources and Electrical Energy

Marginal note:Laws respecting non-renewable natural resources, forestry resources and electrical energy

• 92A (1) In each province, the legislature may exclusively make laws in relation to

  • (a) exploration for non-renewable natural resources in the province;

  • (b) development, conservation and management of non-renewable natural resources and forestry resources in the province, including laws in relation to the rate of primary production therefrom; and

  • (c) development, conservation and management of sites and facilities in the province for the generation and production of electrical energy.

• Marginal note:Export from provinces of resources

  (2) In each province, the legislature may make laws in relation to the export from the province to another part of Canada of the primary production from non-renewable natural resources and forestry resources in the province and the production from facilities in the province for the generation of electrical energy, but such laws may not authorize or provide for discrimination in prices or in supplies exported to another part of Canada.

• Marginal note:Authority of Parliament

  (3) Nothing in subsection (2) derogates from the authority of Parliament to enact laws in relation to the matters referred to in that subsection and, where such a law of Parliament and a law of a province conflict, the law of Parliament prevails to the extent of the conflict.

• Marginal note:Taxation of resources

  (4) In each province, the legislature may make laws in relation to the raising of money by any mode or system of taxation in respect of

  • (a) non-renewable natural resources and forestry resources in the province and the primary production therefrom, and

  • (b) sites and facilities in the province for the generation of electrical energy and the production therefrom,

  whether or not such production is exported in whole or in part from the province, but such laws may not authorize or provide for taxation that differentiates between production exported to another part of Canada and production not exported from the province.

• Primary production

  (5) The expression primary production has the meaning assigned by the Sixth Schedule.

• Marginal note:Existing powers or rights

  (6) Nothing in subsections (1) to (5) derogates from any powers or rights that a legislature or government of a province had immediately before the coming into force of this section.End note ⁽⁴⁹⁾

Education

Marginal note:Legislation respecting Education

93 In and for each Province the Legislature may exclusively make Laws in relation to Education, subject and according to the following Provisions:

• 1. 

  Nothing in any such Law shall prejudicially affect any Right or Privilege with respect to Denominational Schools which any Class of Persons have by Law in the Province at the Union;
• 2. 

  All the Powers, Privileges, and Duties at the Union by Law conferred and imposed in Upper Canada on the Separate Schools and School Trustees of the Queen’s Roman Catholic Subjects shall be and the same are hereby extended to the Dissentient Schools of the Queen’s Protestant and Roman Catholic Subjects in Quebec;
• 3. 

  Where in any Province a System of Separate or Dissentient Schools exists by Law at the Union or is thereafter established by the Legislature of the Province, an Appeal shall lie to the Governor General in Council from any Act or Decision of any Provincial Authority affecting any Right or Privilege of the Protestant or Roman Catholic Minority of the Queen’s Subjects in relation to Education;
• 4. 

  In case any such Provincial Law as from Time to Time seems to the Governor General in Council requisite for the due Execution of the Provisions of this Section is not made, or in case any Decision of the Governor General in Council on any Appeal under this Section is not duly executed by the proper Provincial Authority in that Behalf, then and in every such Case, and as far only as the Circumstances of each Case require, the Parliament of Canada may make remedial Laws for the due Execution of the Provisions of this Section and of any Decision of the Governor General in Council under this Section.End note ⁽⁵⁰⁾

Marginal note:Quebec

93A Paragraphs (1) to (4) of section 93 do not apply to Quebec.End note ⁽⁵¹⁾

Uniformity of Laws in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick

Marginal note:Legislation for Uniformity of Laws in Three Provinces

94 Notwithstanding anything in this Act, the Parliament of Canada may make Provision for the Uniformity of all or any of the Laws relative to Property and Civil Rights in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, and of the Procedure of all or any of the Courts in those Three Provinces, and from and after the passing of any Act in that Behalf the Power of the Parliament of Canada to make Laws in relation to any Matter comprised in any such Act shall, notwithstanding anything in this Act, be unrestricted; but any Act of the Parliament of Canada making Provision for such Uniformity shall not have effect in any Province unless and until it is adopted and enacted as Law by the Legislature thereof.

Old Age Pensions

Marginal note:Legislation respecting old age pensions and supplementary benefits

94A The Parliament of Canada may make laws in relation to old age pensions and supplementary benefits, including survivors’ and disability benefits irrespective of age, but no such law shall affect the operation of any law present or future of a provincial legislature in relation to any such matter.End note ⁽⁵²⁾

Agriculture and Immigration

Marginal note:Concurrent Powers of Legislation respecting Agriculture, etc.

95 In each Province the Legislature may make Laws in relation to Agriculture in the Province, and to Immigration into the Province; and it is hereby declared that the Parliament of Canada may from Time to Time make Laws in relation to Agriculture in all or any of the Provinces, and to Immigration into all or any of the Provinces; and any Law of the Legislature of a Province relative to Agriculture or to Immigration shall have effect in and for the Province as long and as far only as it is not repugnant to any Act of the Parliament of Canada.

VII. Judicature

Marginal note:Appointment of Judges

96 The Governor General shall appoint the Judges of the Superior, District, and County Courts in each Province, except those of the Courts of Probate in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Marginal note:Selection of Judges in Ontario, etc.

97 Until the Laws relative to Property and Civil Rights in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, and the Procedure of the Courts in those Provinces, are made uniform, the Judges of the Courts of those Provinces appointed by the Governor General shall be selected from the respective Bars of those Provinces.

Marginal note:Selection of Judges in Quebec

98 The Judges of the Courts of Quebec shall be selected from the Bar of that Province.

Marginal note:Tenure of office of Judges

• 99 (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the judges of the superior courts shall hold office during good behaviour, but shall be removable by the Governor General on address of the Senate and House of Commons.

• Marginal note:Termination at age 75

  (2) A judge of a superior court, whether appointed before or after the coming into force of this section, shall cease to hold office upon attaining the age of seventy-five years, or upon the coming into force of this section if at that time he has already attained that age.End note ⁽⁵³⁾

Marginal note:Salaries, etc., of Judges

100 The Salaries, Allowances, and Pensions of the Judges of the Superior, District, and County Courts (except the Courts of Probate in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick), and of the Admiralty Courts in Cases where the Judges thereof are for the Time being paid by Salary, shall be fixed and provided by the Parliament of Canada.End note ⁽⁵⁴⁾

Marginal note:General Court of Appeal, etc.

101 The Parliament of Canada may, notwithstanding anything in this Act, from Time to Time provide for the Constitution, Maintenance, and Organization of a General Court of Appeal for Canada, and for the Establishment of any additional Courts for the better Administration of the Laws of Canada.End note ⁽⁵⁵⁾

VIII. Revenues; Debts; Assets; Taxation

Marginal note:Creation of Consolidated Revenue Fund

102 All Duties and Revenues over which the respective Legislatures of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick before and at the Union had and have Power of Appropriation, except such Portions thereof as are by this Act reserved to the respective Legislatures of the Provinces, or are raised by them in accordance with the special Powers conferred on them by this Act, shall form One Consolidated Revenue Fund, to be appropriated for the Public Service of Canada in the Manner and subject to the Charges in this Act provided.

Marginal note:Expenses of Collection, etc.

103 The Consolidated Revenue Fund of Canada shall be permanently charged with the Costs, Charges, and Expenses incident to the Collection, Management, and Receipt thereof, and the same shall form the First Charge thereon, subject to be reviewed and audited in such Manner as shall be ordered by the Governor General in Council until the Parliament otherwise provides.

Marginal note:Interest of Provincial Public Debts

104 The annual Interest of the Public Debts of the several Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick at the Union shall form the Second Charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Canada.

Marginal note:Salary of Governor General

105 Unless altered by the Parliament of Canada, the Salary of the Governor General shall be Ten thousand Pounds Sterling Money of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Canada, and the same shall form the Third Charge thereon.End note ⁽⁵⁶⁾

Marginal note:Appropriation from Time to Time

106 Subject to the several Payments by this Act charged on the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Canada, the same shall be appropriated by the Parliament of Canada for the Public Service.

Marginal note:Transfer of Stocks, etc.

107 All Stocks, Cash, Banker’s Balances, and Securities for Money belonging to each Province at the Time of the Union, except as in this Act mentioned, shall be the Property of Canada, and shall be taken in Reduction of the Amount of the respective Debts of the Provinces at the Union.

Marginal note:Transfer of Property in Schedule

108 The Public Works and Property of each Province, enumerated in the Third Schedule to this Act, shall be the Property of Canada.

Marginal note:Property in Lands, Mines, etc.

109 All Lands, Mines, Minerals, and Royalties belonging to the several Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick at the Union, and all Sums then due or payable for such Lands, Mines, Minerals, or Royalties, shall belong to the several Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick in which the same are situate or arise, subject to any Trusts existing in respect thereof, and to any Interest other than that of the Province in the same.End note ⁽⁵⁷⁾

Marginal note:Assets connected with Provincial Debts

110 All Assets connected with such Portions of the Public Debt of each Province as are assumed by that Province shall belong to that Province.

Marginal note:Canada to be liable for Provincial Debts

111 Canada shall be liable for the Debts and Liabilities of each Province existing at the Union.

Marginal note:Debts of Ontario and Quebec

112 Ontario and Quebec conjointly shall be liable to Canada for the Amount (if any) by which the Debt of the Province of Canada exceeds at the Union Sixty-two million five hundred thousand Dollars, and shall be charged with Interest at the Rate of Five per Centum per Annum thereon.

Marginal note:Assets of Ontario and Quebec

113 The Assets enumerated in the Fourth Schedule to this Act belonging at the Union to the Province of Canada shall be the Property of Ontario and Quebec conjointly.

Marginal note:Debt of Nova Scotia

114 Nova Scotia shall be liable to Canada for the Amount (if any) by which its Public Debt exceeds at the Union Eight million Dollars, and shall be charged with Interest at the Rate of Five per Centum per Annum thereon.End note ⁽⁵⁸⁾

Marginal note:Debt of New Brunswick

115 New Brunswick shall be liable to Canada for the Amount (if any) by which its Public Debt exceeds at the Union Seven million Dollars, and shall be charged with Interest at the Rate of Five per Centum per Annum thereon.

Marginal note:Payment of interest to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

116 In case the Public Debts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick do not at the Union amount to Eight million and Seven million Dollars respectively, they shall respectively receive by half-yearly Payments in advance from the Government of Canada Interest at Five per Centum per Annum on the Difference between the actual Amounts of their respective Debts and such stipulated Amounts.