The Territorial Evolution of Canada On
July 1, 1867 the Dominion of Canada was formed by the confederation of three
provinces in British North America. These maps depict the evolution of the
nation's international, provincial and territorial boundaries.
The maps and their texts are based on a map sheet of the National
Atlas of Canada, 5th Edition, entitled Canada
- Territorial Evolution. This map, published in 1982, has information
current to 1981.
Since 1981, Canada has signed two international agreements to clarify offshore
boundaries: in 1985, with the United States of America to establish the Gulf of
Maine boundary; and in 1992, with France, to establish the boundary with
Saint-Pierre et Miquelon.
There have been no changes to Canada's land boundaries since 1949. However, in
1993, legislation was passed to establish a new northern territory called
Nunavut, which will consist of the eastern part of the present Northwest
Territories. Nunavut will come into being on or before April 1, 1999.