 However, the Crimean War saw the diversion of a significant number of British soldiers from British North America.Fearing possible incursions from the United States, the Parliament of the Province of Canada passed the "Militia Act of 1855", creating the Active Militia.The Active Militia, later splitting into the Permanent Active Militia (PAM), a full-time professional army component (although it continued to use the label militia), and Non-Permanent Active Militia (NPAM), a military reserve force for the Canadian militia.