The British North America Act of 1867 was a significant piece of legislation that united the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a single Dominion known as the Dominion of Canada. This act established a federal system of government, dividing powers between the national and provincial governments, and laid the foundation for Canada's political structure. The act also outlined the responsibilities of the Parliament of Canada and the provincial legislatures, ensuring a balance of power. It marked the beginning of Canada's journey toward full sovereignty, eventually leading to the patriation of the constitution in 1982 with the Constitution Act.