About Canada
Canada Quick Facts
Area: 9,970,610 km2
Population: 32.4 million
Density: 3/km2
Capital: Ottawa
Major languages: English, French (both of official status)
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 77 years (men), 82 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Canadian dollar = 100 cents
Main exports: Machinery and equipment, automotive products, metals and plastics, forestry products, agricultural and fishing products
GNI per capita: US $28,310 (World Bank, 2004)
Internet domain: .ca
International dialing code: +1
History
According to the most probable theories, Canada's original settlers came from Asia across a strip of land that joined Alaska and Siberia about 30,000 years ago. In the 15th century, before colonial expansion, Canada was inhabited by some 300,000 natives of very diverse cultures, who occupied all regions of the country and lived a nomadic or sedentary life; they hunted, fished or grew their own food.
In the 16th century, French and British explorers crossed North America. The first colonies were founded in the early 17th century and took advantage of the great opportunities offered by the fur trade. Throughout that century, colonization and economic activity intensified and the commercial rivalry between the colonies of New France and New England began.
In the 18th century, a conflict broke out between France and Great Britain and spread to the colonies; it ended with a British victory. In 1763, with the Treaty of Paris, New France became a British colony. A few years later, Great Britain officially recognized French civil law and guaranteed religious and linguistic freedom for the French-speaking people of Canada.
On July 1, 1867, Great Britain in the British North America Act joined its four North American provinces in a single nation. They were Upper Canada (now Ontario), Lower Canada (now Quebec), Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. This territory was given the name "Dominion of Canada" and became an independent nation (it acquired full sovereignty for external affairs in 1932). It had its own government based on the British parliamentary system. In later years, Canada's borders expanded to the northwest to take in the other British colonies in North America. New provinces were created and new territories were annexed to make Canada what it is today.
In 1982, a significant constitutional reform occurred: the British North America Act of 1867 and its numerous amendments became the Constitution Act of 1982, Canada's current constitution. In recent years, Quebeckers have expressed their opinion on the matter of national unity. Quebeckers have voted twice on the province's sovereignty in referendums, in 1980 and 1995. At the polls, the majority voted in favor of Quebec remaining in Canada.
From its historic, social and cultural development, Canada is a country of compromise, characterized by moderation and tolerance; it is a country united in its own diversity.
In its short history, Canada has developed into a thoroughly modern, knowledge-based nation with world-class governance, corporations, culture and lifestyle. Canada is home to stunning natural attractions, and vast open spaces. With a strong commitment to education, the environment, and health care for all, Canadians look to the future with confidence and optimism.
About Government: Canada has three levels of government: the federal government, provincial and territorial governments as well as municipal governments. The responsibilities of the federal government include national defense, interprovincial and international trade and commerce, immigration, the banking and monetary system, criminal law and fisheries.
Canada has a federal form of democratic government that brings together a number of different political communities under a common government for mutual purposes, and separate regional governments for the particular needs of each region. It takes into account Canada's geographical realities, the diversity of its cultural communities and its dual legal and linguistic heritage.
Within the federal structure, elected officials – the Cabinet of ministers under the leadership of the Prime Minister– make up the chief decision-making body. Through consultation with other elected officials, provincial and municipal representatives as well as Canadians in general, the federal government leads the country's democratic system of governance.
The principal role of the Canadian government is to ensure and support the country's economic performance. Other responsibilities include national defense, interprovincial and international trade and commerce, immigration, the banking and monetary system, criminal law and fisheries. The federal government also oversees such industries as aeronautics, shipping, railways, telecommunications and atomic energy.
Provincial and territorial governments organize themselves similarly to the federal structure and are responsible for such matters as education, property and civil rights, the administration of justice, the hospital system, natural resources within their borders, social security, health and municipal institutions.
Recently, the federal government has begun transferring greater responsibility for some programs and services to the provinces. Examples of some of the areas in which these changes are taking place include labour-market training as well as mining and forestry development.
Local and regional governments play a significant role in areas such as the delivery of education, land development, local business regulations as well as civic and cultural activities, to name a few. The structures of local and regional governments vary more widely throughout the country.
Society and Culture: Year after year, the United Nations lists Canada as one of the countries with the best quality of life, based on the standard of living, life expectancy and educational level of its population. Canada's move toward creative excellence in culture depends on a multilingual, multi disciplinary population. With a population of more than 30 million, Canada absorbs more than 200 000 immigrants annually. We benefit from their diverse new backgrounds and outlooks that constantly enrich our culture and society.
The Official Languages Acts of 1969 and 1988 make English and French the two official languages of Canada
Population by mother tongue (2001): English: 59%, French: 23%, other: 18%
The Multiculturalism Act was promulgated in 1988
More than 200 ethnic groups live together in Canada
In 2001, 18% of the population was born outside of Canada
Toronto is the most multicultural city in the world: 44% of its population was born abroad
In 2005, 262,236 immigrants came to Canada
Provinces and Territories: Canada has ten provinces and three territories that make up its 9 970 610 km2 area. The land, history, people and economy of each province and territory are unique and help to make Canada the exciting and diverse country it is.
For more information about Canada's provinces and territories, including links to their respective web sites, click on the information below.
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Québec
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Newfoundland
Yukon
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
The Name "Canada" - Where did it come from
In 1535, two Indian Youths told Jacques Cartier about the route to "Kanata." They were referring to the village of Stadacona; "Kanata" was simply the Huron-Iroquois word for "village" or "settlement." But for want of another name, Cartier used "Canada" to refer not only to Stadacona (the site of present day Quebec City), but also to the entire area subject to its chief, Donnacona. The name was soon applied to a much larger area: maps in 1547 designated everything north of the St. Lawrence River as "Canada."
Cartier also called the St. Lawrence River the "rivière de Canada", a name used until the early 1600s. By 1616, although the entire region was known as New France, the area along the great river of Canada and the Gulf of St. Lawrence was still called Canada.
Soon explorers and fur traders opened up territory to the west and to the south and the area depicted as "Canada" grew. In the early 1700s, the name referred to all lands in what is now the American Midwest and as far south as the present day Louisiana.
The first use of "Canada" as an official name came in 1791 when the Province of Quebec was divided into the colonies of Upper and Lower Canada. In 1841, the two Canada's were again united under one name, the Province of Canada. At the time of Confederation, the new country assumed the name of Canada.
The previous information was taken of the web site of The Embassy of Canada in Bogotá Colombia, for more and completes information please to visit:
http://geo.international.gc.ca/latin-america/colombia/about_canada/canada-facts-en.asp
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