Canada was never the location of a French colony.
Canada . Beginning in the 16th century , British and French claims were made on the area , with the colony of Canada first being established by the French in 1535 during Jacques Cartier 's second voyage to New France . Pursuant to the British North America Act , on July 1 , 1867 , the colonies of Canada , New Brunswick , and Nova Scotia joined to form the semi-autonomous federal Dominion of Canada . New Brunswick ( Nouveau-Brunswick Canadian French pronunciation : [ nuvobʁɔnzwɪk ] ) is one of Canada 's three Maritime provinces ( together with Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia ) and is the only constitutionally bilingual ( English -- French ) province .