Canada

The People The Canada Mosaic Though colonized primarily by the English and the French, people in Canada represent many different ethnic groups. Canada also has two official languages, English and French. Canadians describe their country as a mosaic, a pattern or picture made up of many small pieces of stone or glass. People in Canada keep their separate identities while forming parts of the whole.

The Indians and the Inuit The Indian and Inuit people are among the first Canadians. Indians live throughout the entire country. The Inuit live in villages in the north where they hunt and fish.

A Cultural Mix Europeans colonized Canada from east to west starting in the 1600s. The French were the first to colonize Canada followed shortly by the British. French Canadians are a minority overall but are the majority in Quebec province. A province is a self governing area within a nation, similar to a state in the U.S.

The British Canadians are mostly of the Protestant faith and follow British customs. The French Canadians follow French customs, use the French language, and are primarily Roman Catholics. The French Canadians considered breaking away from Canada in order to preserve their way of life. This kind of movement is called separatism.

The U.S. has great influence on the Canadian culture because most Canadian people live within 100 miles of the U.S. border in the most fertile, warmest region of the country.

The Economy Mining Canada has a developed economy. Most of Canada’s wealth comes from its natural resources. Canada is a leading producer of minerals (nickel, lead, zinc, and silver) and fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, and natural gas).

The Polaris Mine Many of the most valuable resources are located in extremely cold areas. The Polaris Mine is located north of the Arctic Circle. The sea route is open only 50 days a year. All materials must be shipped in and out during this time period.

Farming Large scale farming occurs on the interior plains. Though only 5% of Canada’s land is arable, they are one of the world’s leading wheat exporters. Canada also produces corn, oats, barley, and dairy products.

Manufacturing Canadian industry uses materials from its mines, forest, and farms to produce many items. The wood from the vast forests are used to produce newsprint. The Golden Horseshoe is an urban area along Lake Ontario where many cars and metal products are made.

Foreign Trade International relations with the U.S. are important for trade and the environment. Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. have created a trade agreement known as NAFTA. The North American Free Trade Agreement’s goal is to increase trade among the three nations. In order to do this, NAFTA nations will not be subject to tariffs, a tax, on goods exported to these neighbors.

Acid Rain An environmental concern for Canada is acid rain. Factories in Canada and the U.S. spew chemicals into the air that when mixed with rain can pollute lakes, waterways, and timberlands. Acid rain can kill fish and damage trees and buildings.

The Government Parliamentary Democracy Canada has a parliamentary democracy. Parliament, a national legislature, consists of the House of Commons and the Senate. Representatives of the House of Commons are elected. Members of the Senate are appointed by the governor general.

The Prime Minister is the leader of Canada’s national government. The Prime Minister of Canada is Justin Trudeau. The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party that has a majority of members in the House of Commons. Without the support of Parliament, the Prime Minister must resign.

The Prime Minister heads both the executive and the legislative branches of government. A cabinet helps the Prime Minister govern. The cabinet is made up of the Prime Minister and about 30 members of the House of Commons.

Canada is one of the members of the Commonwealth of Nations, a group of independent nations once ruled by Great Britain. Commonwealth nations think of the British monarch as the head of their governments. A monarchy is a government headed by a hereditary ruler like a king or queen.

The British monarch is represented in Canada by the Governor General. The Governor General is Julie Payette. The Governor General has little real power. This official will approve decisions made by Parliament and the Prime Minister.

Arts and Recreation Love of the Outdoors Most of the Canadian traditional crafts center around the nature and beauty of the Canadian land. From Canada’s artists, we know that Canadians have a great love of the outdoors.

Because Canada is a mosaic of cultures, arts and recreation reflect the traditions of ethnic cultures. For example, the Inuit sculpture in soapstone, which is a soft soapy-feeling stone.

Sports and other Amusements Canada’s national sport is ice hockey. Canadian’s also enjoy baseball, basketball, and football too. Because of Canada’s cold climate, many recreational activities take place indoors.

West Edmonton Mall in Alberta is the largest indoor shopping mall in North America. It contains 800 stores, an indoor lake, water park, amusement park, and the world’s largest parking lot. Montreal built a huge shopping complex underground to keep shoppers out of the weather.