This is a timeline of the
territorial evolution of the borders of Canada, listing each change to the internal and external borders of the country.
The central expanse of Canada was originally settled by the Hudson's Bay Company of the Kingdom of England, which had a royal monopoly over trade in the region; Rupert's Land was named after the company's first director, Prince Rupert of the Rhine. The North West Company later moved into a large portion of the region, and competition and minor hostilities between the two companies forced their merger. The western colony of British Columbia was for a time shared with the United States as Oregon Country, until the border was fixed at the 49th parallel north. French influence on the western regions of Canada was far less than in the east.
Since it was formed, Canada's external borders have changed six times, and it has grown from four provinces to ten provinces and three territories. It has only lost territory in the small border dispute with the Dominion of Newfoundland over Labrador, which joined Canada some time later.
The Dominion of Canada was formed from three provinces of British North America the Province of Canada, which was split into the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and the colonies of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
