The location of the capital city of the Province of Canada changed six times in its 26-year history . The first capital was in Kingston ( 1841 – 1844 ) . The capital moved to Montreal ( 1844 – 1849 ) until rioters , spurred by a series of incendiary articles published in '' The Gazette '' , protested against the Rebellion Losses Bill and burned down Montreal 's parliament buildings . It then moved to Toronto ( 1849 – 1852 ) . It moved to Quebec City from 1852 to 1856 , then Toronto for one year ( 1858 ) before returning to Quebec City from 1859 to 1866 . In 1857 , Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the permanent capital of the Province of Canada , initiating construction of Canada 's first parliament buildings , on Parliament Hill . The first stage of this construction was completed in 1865 , just in time to host the final session of the last parliament of the Province of Canada before Confederation
burned down Montreal 's parliament buildings
Burning of the Parliament Buildings in Montreal
Province of Canada