In what year did Canada become a country?

Canada became a country in 1867, when Confederation created the Dominion of Canada on July 1.

The British North America Act, 1867—now called the Constitution Act, 1867—joined the Province of Canada with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The Province of Canada was then divided into Ontario and Quebec, producing Canada's original four provinces.

Confederation created a self-governing federation within the British Empire, but Canada was not immediately fully independent in foreign policy or constitutional matters. Its autonomy expanded gradually, especially through the Statute of Westminster in 1931 and the Constitution Act, 1982.

A common mix-up is treating 1867 as the date Canada became completely sovereign. The year identifies the country's constitutional creation; July 1 is commemorated annually as Canada Day.