Manitoba Act, 1870

Document Summary:
This act creates Manitoba as a province in Confederation from lands in the North-Western Territory. The initial boundaries were quite small (see section 1). It set the rules and composition of the government. Other important sections:

• Section 22: Allows for denominational (religious) schools.
  
  
• Section 23: English and French to be used in government and all official documents to be in both languages.
  
  
• Section 31: Allows for the provision of land grants to "half-breeds" (Métis).
  
  
• Section 30: Crown takes control of "ungranted or waste lands."