CANADA

Section 1: A Resource-Rich Country Canada is the world’s 2nd largest country in land area. Russia is larger. Canada does not have states; Instead it has 10 provinces, or regional political divisions. Canada has 3 territories – Yukon, Northwest, and Nunavut. In 1999, a third territory – Nunavut was carved out of part of the Northwest Territories. This is the homeland of the Inuit.

The Effect of Glaciers Glaciers – giant sheets of ice, covered most of Canada. Canada today has many lakes and inland waterways-more than nay other country in the world. Tundra – a vast rolling, treeless plains in which only the top few inches of ground thaw in summer.

Southern Canada from Atlantic to Pacific Landforms shared between Canada and U.S. are: Appalachian Highlands and the Laurentian Highlands. St. Lawrence River Great Lakes Rocky Mountains Prairie – a rolling inland grassy area with fertile soil. Cordillera is a group of mountain ranges that run side by side. – The Canadian Rockies.

Canada’s Economic Regions Like the United States, Canada has a free market economy in which people start and run businesses with limited government involvement. Canada’s national and provincial governments provide health care for citizens; Broadcasting, transportation, and electric power companies are heavily regulated.

Quebec Quebec is Canada’s largest manufacturing and service industries. Quebec is Canada’s largest province. Montreal is an important port on the St. Lawrence River – Canada’s 2nd largest city.

Ontario Ontario is Canada’s 2nd largest provinces. Ontario has the most people and greatest wealth. Canada’s capital city lies in the province of Ontario. Ottawa is the national capital, which lies in Ontario near the border with Quebec.

The Prairie Provinces 3 Provinces that are good agricultural areas are: Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Canada produces large amounts of wheat, most if exported to Europe and Asia. Canada is some of the world’s largest reserves of oil and natural gas are found in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Newsprint is the type of paper used for printing newspapers. Vancouver is a hustling trade center and Canada’s main Pacific port.

Section 2: The Canadians Inuit and other Native North Americans lived for thousands of years in Canada before European settlers arrived. In 1500’s and 1600’s Britain and France claimed area of Canada. The French explorers, settlers, and missionaries founded several cities, the most important were Quebec and Montreal. In 1867 the different colonies of Canada became one nation known as the Dominion of Canada. Dominion is a self governing nation with British monarch.

Canada’s Government The Canadians have a British-style parliamentary democracy. Parliamentary Democracy – voters elect representatives to a Parliament. These representatives choose an official called the Prime Minister to head the government.

A Bilingual Country Canada has 2 European languages, French and English. People of Quebec refuse to give up their French language and customs, because they do not want to “become English.” Because of not wanting to give up their French language, Canada today is a bilingual country with 2 official languages. The French-speaking people would like Quebec to become an independent country, being apart from the rest of the Canadian provinces. Because they do not believe that French culture can be protected in a largely English-speaking country.

Nunavut, A New Territory In 1999 the new territory of Nunavut was created for the Inuit. Nunavut is an Inuit word that means “our land.” The Inuit now control the government and mineral rights in this new territory. Most of the Inuit living in Canada have autonomy – the right to govern themselves. Nunavut is almost 3 times the size of Texas.

CANADA