A British Act of Parliament establishing the Dominion of Canada. As the American Civil War drew to a close there were increasing fears in British North America of US expansionist ambitions. In 1864 representatives from United Canada joined others from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland to discuss federation. In 1867 proposals were agreed, although Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland would not ratify them. The British Parliament passed an Act in July 1867 uniting the colonies of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia with the province of Canada, which itself was to be divided into the two provinces of Quebec (Canada East) and Ontario (Canada West), thus creating ‘one Dominion under the name of Canada’.