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Occupying
the greater part of North America, Canada is the world's second largest
country. Formerly established French colonies among the aboriginal people, it
became a union of the British
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Quebec at night
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empire during its expansion in North America. Slowly but surely the French
Canadians won their independence from the UK in 1982.
Canada is based on a parliamentary system where there is no clear separation
between executive and legislative powers giving more of a flexible response to
the French people. Included in the fabric of the government is a constitution
consisting of written and unwritten conventions which guarantees a basic bill
of rights for it's citizens.
Temperatures
in Canada near the Prairie provinces can have a daily average 5°F and drop
as low as -40°F during the winter. Sharing borders between the United States
and the US state of Alaska Canada is just smaller than Russia. Canada showcases
many beautiful lakes such as the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence river
producing the Horseshoe Falls in Ontario and Niagara Falls.
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Niagara Falls
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A
member of Organization for Economic Development, Canada is said to be amongst
the wealthiest nations in the world. With perhaps more government
intervention, Canada is considered to be a free market economy with wealth more
evenly divided amongst its citizens. Low employment of 6.3% and large
government surpluses is a key signature of Canadian wealth. Oil and
logging have created a dominate service sector which has kept a large number of
Canadians employed. In addition, vast natural resources as well as gas and oil
reserves are centerpiece factors in
Canada's rich economy.
Some
of the major cultural influences have been those of British, French and
aboriginal which have also had a major impact on American culture as
well a symbiotic cultural exchange of resources, entertainment, language,
media are popular both in Canada and the United States. Interestingly, many
diverse changes are evident between provinces of Canada due to immigration from
all over the world.
Canadians
enjoy a wide variety of entertainment including its national sport Hockey.
Perhaps due to
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Canadian Hockey
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the colder temperatures, hockey seems to adapts very well in
Canada with over 1.5 million people participating in the sport. Next to
hockey are Canadian football and curling which are the countries second
professional sports. Like hockey, Canadians spend a good part
of leisure time at in other types of entertainment such as
theme parks, water parks and zoos which dominate many provinces such
as Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova
Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.
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