CANADA

BASIC INFORMATION Capitol: Ottawa Largest city: Toronto Official Languages: English, French Government: Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy Monarch: HM Queen Elizabeth II Governor General: Michaëlle Jean Prime Minister: Stephen Harper Population: 33,794,000 Currency: Canadian Dolar

INSTITUTIONS The monarchy of Canada, also referred to as The Crown in Right of Canada, Her Majesty in Right of Canada, or The Queen in Right of Canada, is the constitutional system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Canada

The Governor General of Canada (French [masculine]: Gouverneur général du Canada, or [feminine]: Gouverneure générale du Canada) is the viceregal representative in the federal jurisdiction of the Canadian monarch and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II

Canada has a parliamentary government Parliament is made up of the Crown, an elected House of Commons, and an appointed Senate. Each Member of Parliament in the House of Commons is elected by simple plurality in an electoral district. Members of the Senate, whose seats are apportioned on a regional basis, are chosen by the prime minister and formally appointed by the governor general and serve until age 75.

Main Political Parties Conservative Party of Canada Liberal Party of Canada New Democratic Party Bloc Québécois

LAW The constitution is the supreme law of the country, and consists of written text and unwritten conventions. Common law (law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals) prevails everywhere except in Quebec, where civil law (to provide all citizens with an accessible and written collection of the laws which apply to them and which judges must follow) predominates RCMP – Federal Police

Land division Canada is a federation composed of ten provinces and three territories

National Anthem O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, We stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Currency

Canadian Holidays Victoria Day (Monday preceding May 25) – originally from the birthday of Queen Victoria; today celebrated as the sovereign’s birthday) Canada Day (July 1) Labour Day (first Monday of September) Thanksgiving (second Monday of October) Remembrance Day (November 11) Christmas, Easter, New Years Day

Toronto

Montreal

Vancouver

Quebec City

Calgary

Winnipeg

National Symbols Maple leaf RCMP Maple syrup Multiculturalism Hockey Canadian Pacific Railway Animals: Beaver, Moose, Canada Goose CBC: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Molson: Canadian Beer

Famous Canadians (pop culture) Bryan Adams Jim Carrey Celine Dion William Shatner Michael J. Fox Brendan Fraser Mike Myers Christopher Plummer Keanu Reeves Donald Sutherland Nelly Furtado Leonard Cohen

Themes in Canadian Literature Mild anti-Americanism Multiculturalism Nature Search for self-identity Urban vs rural French Canadian literature Margaret Atwood; Alistair Macleod; Robertson Davies; Alice Munro

Cultural Protectionism Since the mid-20th century, cultural protectionism taken the form of conscious, interventionist attempts on the part of various Canadian governments to promote Canadian cultural production and limit the effect of foreign, largely American, culture on the domestic audience; eg.: CBC handbook for announcers