Canada Day is the national day of Canada. Canada Day is frequently referred to as "Canada's Birthday" The occasion marks the joining of the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada was divided into Ontario and Quebec) on July 1, 1867. Canada became a nation in its own right on that date, but the British parliament and Cabinet kept limited rights of political control, that were shed by stages over the years until the last vestiges were surrendered in 1982. Canada Day was originally called Dominion Day, and renamed in 1982.