British North America Acts
There was also precedent for religious references in Canadian politics in the national motto ("A Mari usque ad Mare"), which is derived from Psalm 72. The reference to the supremacy of God was new to the Canadian Constitution itself, however. The "British North America Acts" made no mention of this, even though as author George Egerton remarked, "It is doubtful if the Canadian political elites of 1982 were as firm as the patriarchs of 1867 in their devotion to the supremacy of God"; indeed, many were aiming for more separation of church and state.