When Canada received the right to self-rule, who did Canadians model their government after?
1 Answer
The British
Explanation:
Canada has a Prime Minister and a Governor General who is a representative of the Queen of England.
Self rule was an evolutionary process. 1867 Canada became a Dominion. Canada didn't have a navy before 1909. The British Navy had taken that role. When they started asking for money for the service, Canada created its own Navy.
There was a disagreement between the Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King and the Canadian Governor General Lord Julian Byng (a Briton). King asked for and got a Commonwealth Conference.
In 1931 the Statute of Westminster gave Canada (and other Commonwealth Countries) more independence from Britain.
The changes made the Governor General more at the command of the Prime Minister.
If there was a "Constitution" change or ruling even after being ruled on by the Canadian Supreme Court it could be taken to the British Privy Council and ruled on.
After 1949 the Canadian Supreme Court was the Court of last resort in Canada. The Canadian "Constitution" still needed the British Privy Council to enact changes.
In 1982 the Canada Act repatriated the Canadian Constitution and Constitutional change now happens in Canada.
Canada still keeps the Queen of England as titular Head of State.
