6.3 Canada Bell-Ringer

Government Democratic government led by a prime minister who oversees the parliament. Parliament: House of Commons and the Senate People elect members of the House of Commons. Prime minister appoints members of the Senate. Ten provincial governments are led by premiers. Provincial and central system is similar to U.S. state and federal system.

Main Idea 2: Canada has four distinct geographic and cultural regions. Canada’s physical geography splits the country into regions. Cultural differences between French-speaking and English- speaking Canadians also leads to regionalism. In Canada, most people speak English. In Quebec, most people speak French. Regionalism is the strong connection that people feel toward the region in which they live. Some Canadians have a stronger connection to their region than to the country as a whole.

Eastern Provinces Includes Newfoundland, Labrador, and the Maritime Provinces Maritime means on or near the sea. Short growing season, so economy relies mostly on forestry and fishing Both English and French-speaking people Most people live in coastal cities. Cities are industrial, fishing, and shipping centers. Halifax, in Nova Scotia, is the region’s largest city.

The Heartland Includes Quebec and Ontario Most urbanized region French-speaking Montreal in Quebec is Canada’s second largest city. Many residents of Quebec, or Quebecois, argue that Quebec should be independent or be given special privileges. Ontario has a larger population than Quebec and is the manufacturing center. Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is an industrial, financial, educational, and cultural center. Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is in Ontario.

Western Provinces Includes the prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta and British Columbia More people live in Quebec than in all the prairie provinces. Wheat, oil, and natural gas production are important industries. British Columbia Four million people Resources: forests, salmon, and minerals Vancouver is a coastal city that trades with Asia.

Canadian North Includes Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut Extremely cold due to location near Arctic Circle Only 100,000 people although this region covers more than a third of Canada. Nunavut is a new territory for the 30,000 native Inuit people who live there. Mostly forest, tundra, and towns isolated by frozen waters of the Arctic Ocean.

Revenue One of world’s leading mineral producers: titanium, zinc, iron ore, gold, and coal Iron and steel industry supports plane, car, and household appliance manufacturing industries. Tourism is a fast-growing service industry.

Revenue 2 Canada’s economy depends on trade. Canada and the U.S. have the world’s largest trading relationship. – 60 percent of Canada’s imports are from the United States. – 85 percent of Canada’s exports goes to the United States Recent issues include a tariff on Canadian lumber and a 2003 case of mad cow disease.