Canada is a rapidly developing country with incredibly beautiful nature. It is the second largest state in the world (after Russia): its huge territory extends from Arctic glaciers to coniferous and mixed forests on the border with the USA. Canada has rich plant world (oak, maple, fir, pine, etc.) and animal world (wolf, lynx, deer, and various species of fish). It is famous for the colossal Great Lakes and national parks.
Канада – это быстро развивающаяся страна с невероятно красивой природой. Она является вторым по величине государством в мире (после России): её огромная территория простирается от арктических ледников до хвойных и смешанных лесов на границе с США. В Канаде богаты растительный (дуб, клён, ель, сосна и т.д.) и животный мир (волк, рысь, олень, различные виды рыбы). Она знаменита колоссальными Великими озёрами и национальными парками.
The history of Canada is tied with two cultures: English and French. Canada was born in the late 16th and early 17th centuries when French colonists settled on the land of the Indian tribes. Later, the British arrived and founded their cities, which led to wars between them, the French, and indigenous people. The French part, with the center in Quebec, and the English part of Canada united in 1840. For a long time, Canada remained the British colony but became sovereign in the 20th century.
История Канады связана с двумя культурами: английской и французской. Канада родилась в конце XVI – начале XVII вв., когда французские колонисты поселились на земле индейских племён. Позднее прибыли британцы и основали свои города, что привело к войнам между ними, французами и местными народами. Французская часть с центром в Квебеке и английская часть Канады объединились в 1840 г. Канада долго оставалась британской колонией, но в XX в. стала суверенной.
Nowadays, Canada is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Although its head is British monarch, the Governor-General and the Parliament sitting in the capital (Ottawa) are independent in their decisions. The country consists of 10 provinces and 3 territories; each subject has its own proportion of Francophone and Anglophone population, but Canada is officially bilingual. Many immigrants from France, Ireland, German, Italy, etc. preserve their native cultures and create the situation of multiculturalism supported by the state.
В наши дни Канада – член Содружества Наций. Хотя её главой является британский монарх, Генерал-губернатор и Парламент, заседающий в столице (Оттаве), независимы в своих решениях. Страна состоит из 10 провинций и 3 территорий; в каждом субъекте представлено собственное соотношение франкоговорящего и англоговорящего населения, но Канада официально двуязычна. Многие иммигранты из Франции, Ирландии, Германии, Италии и т.д. сохраняют свои родные культуры и создают ситуацию мультикультурализма, поддерживаемую государством.
Due to improved mining industry, agriculture, and trade, Canada has a very high living standard. Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver attract tourists, as well as amazing landscapes and numerous ethnic festivals.
Благодаря развитым добывающей промышленности, сельскому хозяйству и торговле, в Канаде очень высок уровень жизни. Торонто, Монреаль, Ванкувер привлекают туристов, как и восхитительные пейзажи и многочисленные этнические фестивали.
1hello.ru
Canada Essay, Research Paper
Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia. It has ten provinces
and 3 territories. It takes up 3,800,000 square miles and stretches from the island of
Newfoundland in the east to the border of Canada and Alaska in the west.
Canada?s climate differs in the regions. In the north there are harsh winters with low
temperatures. Much of the land in the north are in Permafrost where the ground stays frozen
year round. In the Atlantic coast there are storms that have high winds and lots of
precipitation. In the west there are mild winters that are very cloudy and wet.
There are seven separate geological regions in Canada that make up Canada.
The Appalachian region which includes the east coats and the eastern part of
Quebec. This region consists of hills and valleys created by volcanic activity from millions
and millions of years ago.
The Interior Lowlands were formed by glaciers and cover most of southern Quebec
and southern Ontario around the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. This area is full of
valley?s and high cliffs. The Niagara excrement and the sand dunes near Lake Ontario are
examples of the Interior Lowlands.
The Canadian Shield is in the center of Canada. This area is made up of rock that is
about six hundred million years old. It is considered one of the largest continental shields and
contains almost 25% of the worlds fresh water supply.
The Arctic Lowlands are located around the Hudson Bay in northern Ontario and
northern Manitoba. This area is a swampy area with lots of trees there. The two main trees
there are the Tamarack trees and Black Spruce.
The Great Plains cover the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. This
area is allot like the same Great Plains in the United States. It is a wide open flatland with
grass and grains on it.
In the west is a region full of mountains and alpine lakes. In it are the Rocky
mountains, the Caribou Mountains, and the Coastal Mountains. The largest mountain in
Canada can be found there, Mount Logan.
The Arctic Archipelago is a small chain of islands located off the northern coast of
the country. Scientists believe it was once a single land mass. They have found this out by
the jagged cliffs and walls on the side of the island.
Canada?s seasons are a lot like those that we have in the United States although there
winters can be long and harsh. There summers are usually warm. The average temperature
of the summer is 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
Canada has many different plant and animals that live there. In every region there
are different kinds of plant life and animals. In the far-most regions there are plants that can
live in the below zero temperatures, like the juniper and different kinds of the lichen. These
plants can live with only two or three months of warmth to allow them to grow. There are
smaller animals like the beaver, chipmunk, raccoons and groundhogs that are mainly in the
eastern parts of Canada. These animals live by eating nuts and berries. There are lots of birds
in Canada to. The most famous of these birds would be the Canadian goose. There are also
other smaller birds and water fowl that live there. Larger animals like bears, moose, elk, and
caribou also in inhabit the area to.
The first people to explore Canada were the Vikings. The captain of the ship was
Eric Ericson, also know as Eric the Red. The Vikings land at L?Anse aux Meadows on the
northern tip of Newfoundland around A.D. 1000. However the Vikings attempts of settling
didn?t last because there was no way to keep the supplies regulated there.
Later in 1497 more explorers came to Canada to explore it. The first of these people
was John Cabot. He went to the coast of eastern Canada. Later In 1534 Jacques Cartier and
Samuel de Champlain, both French explorers. Cartier landed on Prince Edward Island an the
Gspe Peninsula, claiming the land for his country, France.
the Fench claimed Canada theirs and then sent trappers to the central part of Canada
to see if there were many furs there. The trappers found a large abundance of furs and soon
the French set up colonies in big fur trade areas. The British were afraid that the French
would take over the fur industry so they set up the Hudson?s Bay Company. The French
tried to fight for the rights of Canada but in 1760, the French lost the battle of the Plains of
Abraham to the British and they had to give up their Canadian territories. In 1763, the
French and British signed a treaty that gave England all of Canada except for the islands of
St. Pierre and Miquelon.
Canada split into two colonies, Upper Canada and Lower Canada. The population
grew as more Europeans came there to settle. Soon people didn?t like the laws and rules and
started rebellions. In 1841 the two rebellions were unified and the province of Canada and
Nova Scotia (Upper Canada and Lower Canada) were given the right to self -govern and
they formed a confederation. Then the Dominion of Canada was born.
Canada has a Democracy that is a lot like the United States. They have three levels
of government: Federal, provincial, and municipal. The federal government runs the country
as and it?s affairs with other countries. The provincial government runs the territories and
providence?s(state government) and the municipal government runs towns and communities.
Canada is a constitution monarchy. The queen of England is a nominal head of government.
The Canadian Parliament (in Ottawa) has two houses. The House of Commons and the
Senate.
The members of the House of Commons are elected every 4 years or when the
majority party is voted down.
A Senate is like the House of Commons because the have the same duties and are
elected the same ways.
The Prime Minister(president) has the same duties as a president. The Prime
Minister can make a cabinet of advisors to help him with decisions and help him make the
bills and policies that get brought up to the House of Commons and Senate.
Canada has many kinds of manufacturing. They?re apart of the NAFTA(North
American Free Trade Agreement) with America and other North American countries. They
are also ranked in one of the top trade countries in the world. Agriculture and fishing are
also a big part of Canada?s economy. They grow a lot of wheat and grains, wheat is one of
there chief exports. Fishing is also a big part of the economy but in the last years fishing
hasn?t been as good so it has gone down. Canada also has a lot of natural resources and
minerals. One of there number one natural resources is forestry. There are a lot of mills and
factories turning lumber in to items. Industry is also a large part of the economy. It employs
over 16% of the working people of Canada. They are also leaders in technology. They have
made great advancements in software development.
There are many different people in Canada. Some have French backgrounds, Inuit,
English, and some have Norwegian background. There are many different types of
languages and religions in Canada also. Some parts of Canada are small maritime
communities and others are large industrial cities. Canada is a lot like America the way they
live, their customs and religions. The education is a lot like America to, there children attend
preschool at ages of 3 and 4 and then they go on to there k-12 schooling. The religion is
English Protestant and French Catholic.
Canada has two main languages, French and English. Canada although has there
own distinct language that stands out from other societies language.
For entertainment in Canada they do the same things as we do here in America, they
go to the movies, watch TV, go to plays, go to concerts, and they also watch athletics. There
number one sport to watch is hockey. Hockey was created in Canada and many children
start playing in local leagues as early as 5 years old. Two of the first four teams in the NHL
were also Canadian.
There diet includes all sorts of food from Greek to Chinese, Hamburgers to Burritos.
There are all sorts of food in Canada. Some distinctive dishes in Canada are foods that
involve lots of fish and foods like native animals
Bibliography
Sources
Countries of the World:Canada, Bob Barlas, 1998, Gareth Stevens Publishing, 5-40
www.britanica.com Keyword Canada, 2000, Britanica, Britanica
Microsoft Encarta 2000, Search Canada, 2000, Microsoft
www.ronl.ru
Canada Foreign Policy – Trudeau Essay, Research Paper
In 1970 the Trudeau government issued a major statement defining its foreign policy. Three primary policy aims were presented: preservation of Canada as an independent political entity, maintenance of expanding prosperity, and constructive contribution to human needs.
In 1970-72 Canada scaled back its contribution to NATO, reducing the number of its military and civilian personnel and military bases in Europe. Canada established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of in October 1970; ambassadors were exchanged the following year, and an exchange of consuls and most-favoured-nation trading arrangements were agreed upon in 1973. Trudeau’s attitude toward the Cold War and the Soviet Union was decidedly ambiguous for a prime minister of a country that had been a charter member of NATO and was intimately tied to the United States in Norad. He improved relations with the Soviets at first, believing that closer ties with the Soviet Union would restore balance to Canada’s international position and deemphasize Canada’s role as a partisan of the West. But at the same time, Trudeau did not contest fundamental U.S. policy regarding the Soviet Union, the Middle East, and even the war in Southeast Asia. Despite Trudeau’s cautious and skeptical view of the United States, he was ultimately respectful of the realities of American power. Canada also sought closer relations with the European Economic Community and played a more active role in the United Nations. During the 1970s Canada extended its fishing rights and reaffirmed Canadian sovereignty in its Arctic islands and their icebound waters.
The goal of protecting Canada’s economy led to adjustments in relations with the United States. In 1970 Canada increased the price of petroleum and natural gas sold to the United States, and in 1974 a plan to gradually reduce those sales and end them by 1982 was announced. This action was taken to protect domestic supplies of fossil fuels in the face of increasing prices of imported oil used in the eastern provinces. In 1978 Canada initiated purchases of new airplanes and other military equipment to better defend its borders and fulfill its international commitments.
In accordance with the third aim of its foreign policy–to contribute to human needs–Trudeau’s government expanded Canada’s foreign aid efforts and pursued a policy promoting the international control of nuclear weaponry. Canada undertook efforts to control pollution in its coastal waters, and in 1972 Canada and the United States signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to control pollution of the lakes.
In foreign policy, Trudeau’s approach to the Americans and the Cold War changed little after the Clark interregnum. In July 1983, despite his professed disdain for the U.S. preoccupation with the Cold War, Trudeau’s government gave the United States permission to test cruise missile guidance systems in the Canadian north, over the strenuous objections of peace groups and environmentalists. In late 1983, however, possibly to balance his decision on the cruise missiles, Trudeau mounted a well-publicized global peace mission to the capitals of countries possessing nuclear weapons to press for greater international cooperation on nuclear arms control and reduction. He had little success; U.S. President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher were clearly annoyed by his initiative
THE ECONOMIST magazine has an unusually clever cover this week, titled “America’s World.” It shows a distorted world map, with an overly large, continental United States filling up all of the centre space, and the other six continents shrunk down to microscopic size and pushed to the margins of the globe.
The one country besides the U.S. that benefits from this fanciful exercise is Canada. As part of the North American continent, our size expands automatically with that of the U.S.
In the editorial accompanying this cover, The Economist comments that the U.S. “bestrides the world like a colossus,” in every dimension from the economic and financial and political to the cultural and technological.
All true. What the magazine didn’t add – unsurprisingly, since it’s scarcely of world-shattering importance – is that the very fact that the U.S. is now the world’s only super-power, the “indispensable” nation that overshadows all the rest, means that Canada – although we certainly don’t tower over anyone else – can now cast a longer and deeper shadow around the world.
That Canada’s economic performance is contingent upon that of the U.S. is obvious. Almost 85 per cent of our exports go there. When the U.S. booms, as it is doing now, so do we. That the same things happen to us diplomatically, has been less often remarked on.
That the U.S. is now a “colossus” and that we are at one and the same time similar to Americans in so many respects and yet also different from them, does, potentially, extend our diplomatic reach. The very fact that the rest of the world is focused upon the U.S. and is obsessed by it draws attention to us. Other nations are more eager than usual for us to help them get a read on American policies and politics.
All of this augments our diplomatic influence circumstantially and indirectly. How we use this opportunity depends upon us. Most particularly, it depends upon whether we know what we want to do in foreign policy.
At this propitious juncture, we seem to know what we want to do. Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy has developed a coherent foreign policy built upon the concepts of soft power, of sustainable human security and of promoting civic society, or the society of citizens and of voluntary organizations, rather than just that of conventional state power.
Whether this policy is the right one for us and whether we are executing it well or badly is a subject for another time. The point is that it is a distinctively Canadian foreign policy. We have to rely on soft power because we have little hard, military power (just about none). Moreover, human rights issues are central to the contemporary Canadian consciousness, in part as a consequence of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and in part because we are so diverse and polyglot a society that we have to work out ways to live together and, by doing this, gain experience and understanding in how to promote ethnic and other harmonies around the world.
So long as the Cold War lasted, the U.S. was concerned that Canadians at least be seen to be making a military contribution to the Western Alliance. Also, it didn’t like Canada attempting East-West reconciliation, as Pierre Trudeau did by his peace initiative.
Now that the Cold War is history, we are free to develop any foreign policy we wish. The U.S. isn’t even that upset – in part because it’s become so isolationist; mostly because it’s so powerful – when we take issue with its military policy, as Axworthy did last week when he called on the U.S. to be “front and centre” in trying to achieve global nuclear disarmament, rather than retreating from it, as the U.S. Senate did by rejecting the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Here’s the last part of the opportunity that circumstances have presented to us. On a whole range of issues, from free trade to an international criminal court, the U.S. is in an inward-turned, defensive phase. Canadians, though, are astonishingly assertive about international issues. A study by Ekos Research last year found a “streak of moralism” that “pervaded” Canadians’ thinking about foreign affairs.
It would be going too far to say, in a play upon The Economist’s cover, that it is “Canada’s world.” It is, though, a world where Canada can feel more at home, almost everywhere, than we’ve felt in decades.
www.ronl.ru
Canada Unity Essay, Research Paper
Canadian National Unity
Canadian National Unity has been a serious debate to all Canadians for close to three decades now. Starting with French President Charles DeGaulle, who in visiting Quebec told a large crowd in Motreal, Vivre le Quebec libre! or, Live in a free Quebec. This one event started the whole modern separtist movement in Canada, and brought us to where we are now. They went from one person with an idea then, to 2 provincial parties, and a federal one as well, now. This is a very serious issue, that could end up in the destuction of an amazing country. It s not like they re bluffing, we ve had two Referendums on this issue (one almost resulting in a Yes vote), and numerous Constitutional meetings to tweak what we live by to be in tune with the wants and needs of many Quebekers, but it hasn t worked to this point, and has been a long, stressful, but interesting affair to this point. A little background is needed in order to understand this whole ordeal. The Parti Quebecois is a provincial party in Quebec City. The party was formed by Ren L vesque, who was its leader from 1968 to 1982. In that time, the PQ formed the government in Quebec from 1976 to 1982. The next leader was Pierre-Marc Johnson, followed in 1988 by Jacques Parizeau. Mr Parizeau was leader until 1996. During that period, the PQ formed the government from 1994-1996. There was a second referendum on sovereignty in 1995 (cost $63.5 million): 60% to 40%. The current leader of the PQ is Lucien Bouchard. The PQ currently forms the provincial government in Quebec City. The Referendum of 1995 saw one of the closest votes possible as the No side squeaked out with a 50.6% to 49.4% victory. The Bloc Quebecois is a separatist party in the federal Parliament in Ottawa. The party was formed by Lucien Bouchard, who was its leader from 1991 to early 1996. The next leader of the party was Michel Gauthier. After a convention in March, 1997, the next and current leader of the party was Gilles Duceppe.The BQ formed Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in the House of Commons during the last Parliament. However, after the 1997 federal election, after getting 37.7% of Quebec’s vote, it lost second place status, and now sits as an official party in the House of Commons. Prime Minister Chr tien sits atop the Federalist side. The longer Mr Chr tien governs, the closer he seems to hold his cards. A very few advisors surround him, giving him aid and have special tasks in order to save the country as a whole. Minister St phane Dion heads this department, and is also President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada (PCO). He is really the man hired to talk to Bouchard and Duceppe and really save our country from a federal aspect. Minister Anne McLellan handles the hottest potato of all: the Supreme Court Reference on Quebec secession, which is the hallmark of the Feds’ tough-love Plan B strategy. The decision sets the legal parameters for any further secession attempt – a clear referendum question and a clear majority (as opposed to a simple majority of 50% +1) are now the law of the land. The Quebec Liberal Party pro Canadian with a twist of Quebec nationalism, this party went digital in early 1997. Daniel Johnson announced in March, 1998 that he would step down as leader, and Jean Charest has taken his place. The party lost the 1994 provincial election by only a couple percentage points, but actually won the last election in terms of vote percentage – a big boost for unity. They currently hold 48 National Assembly seats. Vision Nationale, The new federalist party, led by Jean Briere, will take a stand against any sovereignty referendums, while promoting bilingualism in Quebec. The party opposes distinct society status for the province. Briere wants to tap into the 2.4 million French Quebecers who voted “No” in the last referendum, and fight a perception in the French media that wanting to stay in Canada is radical, while being a separatist is normal. Throughout the world, Canada is known as a tranquil, economically prosperous, multicultural society. Yet, in one of its provinces, Quebec, a number of people are dissatisfied with Quebec s relationship with the rest of Canada and want to seperate. The issue of seperating is not new, in fact, the Quebecois voted on this very same controversial subject in 1980, ending in a sixty-forty split in favor of the federalists; In the weeks before the 1995 vote the polls showed a fifty-fifty split, marking a clear and true division among both the Anglo phone and Francophone Canadians. To secede would create a state of paralysis leading to an economic crisis the likes of which, Canadians have never before experienced and truly cannot imagine. Therefore Quebec should not separate from Canada. Quebec should remain a part of Canada, due to the fact that the problems facing the Quebecois wouldn t diminish or be resolved. Quebec always has been and always will be a respected, distinct society within Canada, and leaving Canada now would adversely affect more than just the Quebecois. First, the problems facing Quebec would not diminish or be resolved through separation. The economic uncertainties that have plagued Quebec, such as unemployment, high taxes, high government spending, as well as high interest rates would not lessen. Businesses would pull out of Quebec due to concerns over instability, thereby causing a higher rate of unemployment. The rising number of people who would require financial assistance would rise dramatically, swamping, and maybe even surpassing, the government s ability to give aid. Quebec would have to create new bureaucracy to replace current Canadian services that are designed to help improve social problems such as teen pregnancy and elevated drop out rates. Without federal funds, this would prove to be impossible, and in all likelihood such problems would grow. Without a well educated work force Quebec will flounder in the global marketplace, adding a further burden to the government and people. History has proven that, in countries where there is such instability and economic hardship crime rates skyrocket. For years the Quebecois have complained of the repression of the French language and culture, and of unfair treatment by the rest of Canada. Yet ninety percent of French Canadians agree that the French language is more secure now than ever and that English speaking Canadians believe that Quebec always has been and always will be a respected, distinct society within Canada. To prove just how much they value Quebec, the Supreme Court of Canada, in its interpretation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, has recognized Quebec s status as a distinct society, and requires the consent of Ottawa and any seven provinces that make up at least fifty percent of the population of Canada to make any changes. even that hasn t stopped Quebec s or rather Parizeau s and numerous other’s whining. To further placate Quebec, many proposals for change have been suggested, such as, 1) The restoration and formal recognition of Quebec s traditional right to a constitutional veto; 2) Jean Chretien has promised to never allow the constitution to be changed in a way that affects Quebec without their consent. It is obvious to anyone that Canada s willingness to create such changes demonstrates their desire to be a whole country, as well as how inflexible and childish Quebec s leaders really are. Third, leaving Canada would adversely affect beyond just Quebec. The United States, Canada, and Mexico would all be forced to decide whether or not they will accept Quebec into NAFTA, the North American Trade Agreement. Also, Canada would face the possibility of breaking up completely. “There are no guarantees,” predicts Gordon Gibson, author of Plan B: The Future of the Rest of Canada, “that there will be only one new country.” (If Quebec Goes, pg. 45). The secession of Quebec would separate the Maritime provinces from mainland Canada and a unilateral declaration of independence would most certainly result in a sharp drop in the value of the Canadian dollar, plunging Canada into a terrible recession. Canada’s dilemma, typically put, is the separation of Quebec. At least since the rebellions of 1837-38, Quebeckers seemingly have been revolting against Canada. The question has always been, “Will Quebec separate?” After a recent referendum in Quebec almost answered yes, Canadians have begun to ask other questions in more heated tones, such as, “Should Quebec be partitioned?” Quebeckers, for their part, call partition dangerous, undemocratic, and contrary to law. They regard it as a precedent that would threaten the geopolitical balance in North America. So the tensions increase. From the perspective of the United States, the right question is: What would follow separation? This deeper question contemplates a Canada that may not only split into two parts — Quebec and the rest of Canada — but that may continue to break up. This view of the problem is much broader, and it holds consequences in political, economic, and security terms that immediately draw the United States into a far more dramatic set of developments. Continuing separation potentially involves powers outside North America in special treaties and coalitions. What starts as a simple breakup, could end in a complex process of redefining the entire Canadian system, rooted in nationalist stresses that turn out not to be restricted to former communist states and poor Third World countries but to affect all multi-ethnic states in the post-Cold War order. This more complicated picture of Quebec’s separation and its consequences may be described as a worst-case scenario. But is the thesis of continuing Canadian seperation after Quebec’s secession possible? Could North America fall apart? (Will Canada Unravel?, Pg. 2) The United States must take the possibility seriously enough to draw up plans for a form of supranational affiliation with the remnants of Canada. Ottawa, regardless of the party in power, has always argued that its problems of unity are manageable. While its strategy for dealing with Quebec has changed over time, it remains confident that the province can be convinced to remain in the confederation. Ottawa is similarly confident that if Quebec were to separate, the rest of Canada would remain united. The principal argument is that the problem is Quebec’s crazy demands for more everything. If these demands are met, separation ideas will die. If they cannot be met and Quebec does secede, English-speaking Canada will nonetheless remain unified because the source of the difficulties would be gone. Separatist Quebec agrees with Ottawa on this interpretation. Jacques Parizeau, former head of the separatist Parti Queb cois and premier of Quebec, argues that if and when Quebec goes, the remainder of Canada will remain united. Part of the argument is surely cultural, namely, that English speakers can better communicate and defend their culture without Quebec; culture will unite. With Quebec gone, Ottawa will no longer be obliged to try and make every one feel equal, and English Canada will survive as a unit and probably flourish. Some outside Quebec believe, like Quebec nationalists, that separation would be good for Canada. Their argument stresses that so much redundancy exists in administration and so much money is spent on bilingualization and transferred needlessly from rich province to poor province in an effort to keep Quebec inside the confederation that after separation both Quebec and English-speaking Canada would be better off, financially and otherwise. Without addressing this contention, the same assumption occurs here: after Quebec leaves, Canada remains united. The assumption that Quebec voters would not accept the economic costs and risks of separation and were not subject to romantic sentiment on this issue proved wrong. Until a week before the referendum, virtually no one predicted the closeness of the vote. Only an enormous last-minute rally in Montreal by the no vote halted the separatist surge. An index of the bind in which Canada now finds itself is that the solution Ottawa has proposed to meet Quebec’s demands is exactly the one a large majority of English-speaking Canadians oppose. To quench Quebec’s desire for separation, Prime Minister Jean Chr tien has proposed three things: acknowledgement that Quebec is a distinct society; creation of a veto against constitutional change, usable by every region including Quebec; and Quebec control over worker retraining. A nationwide poll at the end of 1995 showed the massive dislike among English-speaking citizens with such attempts to save Canada. Eighty-three per cent of respondents across Canada did not want Quebec to have a constitutional veto. Indeed, the same percentage disagreed with Quebec nationalists on the issue of whether Canada is composed of two founding peoples, preferring instead to think of Canada as ten equal provinces. Some 61 per cent said that Quebec should not even be constitutionally recognized as a distinct society. (MacLeans, pg. 14, Nov. 6/95) Given the bitter history of constitutional struggle in Canada and the current public disfavour toward reform, Quebeckers can hardly be faulted for their skepticism that the legal reforms will ever be constitutionally entrenched. So, despite the welcome boldness of the prime minister’s legal initiatives, neither English-speaking nor French-speaking Canada, in the end, accepts the terms of these initiatives. Separatist preference is generational. The youth are most supportive. As each generation ages, the support within that generation retains its strength. If the trend in support for Quebec independence is to be reversed, the federalists need new vision and energy. Ottawa probably has felt it must downplay all hints of the danger of disunity. Yet recently Ottawa has reversed that policy by stating that if Quebec separated, anglophone Montreal would have an incentive to secede and indeed would secede. So Ottawa is now taking the possibility of further fragmentation seriously. People tend to look only at the economic savings of a breakup and not the political consequences of additional seperation. It is time that they carefully examine the basis of continuing seperation of Canada, and of Quebec. Three major difficulties would confront the federal government in its attempt to keep English-speaking Canada united after Quebec’s secession. First, once the glue of federalism is gone, the rich provinces: British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta would no longer have any reason to give pay outs to the poor provinces like Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba. The average Albertan pays an annual tax of $900 to enable a province like Newfoundland, which receives 60 per cent of its budget from the general slush fund, to remain semi-solvent and attached to the confederation (If Quecec Goes, Pg. 71). But in the absence of a unified country, would that resident of Alberta or British Columbia be so inclined to pay this confederation tax? Second, an independent Quebec would geographically destroy four provinces: Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island; from the rest of Canada. Undoubtedly, Quebec as an independent country would allow Canadians all the privileges of transit, communications, and the flow of goods, services, and people now accorded Americans with Canada or Mexico. But the feeling of being cut adrift would still live strong in Atlantic Canada… A third difficulty, expressed by western Canada, would be the feeling of alienation from and dominance by the economic power of Ontario. This feeling of dependence has been put in place by a tarrif policy that forced westerners to buy dear in Toronto and sell cheap east or west, rather than follow the more travelled and profitable lines of commerce that flow north to south. The purpose of this so-called national policy was to jump-start the industrial base in central Canada, but, in the opinion of westerners, at their expense. With the advent of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and NAFTA, the distortions of trade resulting from tariffs have disappeared, but the feelings of political and economic dependence in the west live on. For example, the federal Liberal Party of Canada has its power base in the industrial heartland of central Canada and is not well-represented west of Winnipeg. After a breakup, the English-speaking remains of Canada would contain a lopsided distribution of power. Ontario would be like a king, the remaining provinces like slaves, not so much in terms of territory as in industrial capacity and population. Surely western Canada would demand a change of government along the lines of the United States, with an equal Senate and perhaps a more powerful House to lower the strength of the prime minister. But such a change of power within a smaller Canada, and away from Ottawa toward the western provinces, might likewise fail. It might amount to too much sacrifice for central Canada, but not enough gain for Alberta and British Columbia. Politically, an independent Quebec could survive adjustment, capital flight, and exchange-rate fluctuation in the short term and a lessened growth rate over the long term, if at a price. But could it remain whole? On the heels of Quebec’s independence, English is the language in the Ottawa River valley, west Montreal, and the Eastern Townships region might attempt to create separate city-states of their own. Also, the Cree and other Indian tribes and Inuit communities reject Quebec independence, either because their lands would be divided by separation, or because they believe that Ottawa looks better than Quebec City on their eventual self-government. Only in the twentieth century was the northernmost section of Quebec, Rupert’s Land, formally granted to the province by British imperial authority. Potentially resource-rich, this territory contains such assets as the James Bay hydroelectric project( If Quebec Goes, Pg. 112). If Canada is divisible, then why is Quebec indivisible? If Quebec is indivisible then on what grounds should Canada be obliged to allow Quebec’s secession? In an age of mini-states like Singapore and Luxembourg, the minimum requirement for self-government, however compromised, is not very substantial. Seperation of an independent Quebec cannot be ruled out by the possibility of a minimum state size. Washington must be prepared for all possibilities. Seperationn of Canada, depending on its nature and extent, would transfer some of the cost of administration from Ottawa to Washington. Washington increasingly would take on the jobs of peacemaker, rule-maker and police officer. These are not roles that the United States should seek. Nor are they responsibilities Washington would necessarily be able to carry out better than any of the Canadian provinces or the Canadian federal government. To conclude, this issue is still a huge burden on the always awkward Canadian economy. Both the federal and Quebec governments should get down to business with this and figure it all out as best they can, so it won t hurt our country anymore then it already has. All the other Provincial governments should have representatives there, and all get their opinions heard and then come to some sort of a conclusion, so we can get on with it all. If they can t come to some sort an agreement, or there s a stalemate, then fine let them have another referendum, and if that works, great, let them leave, it can t hurt anymore then having them complaining and talking about what they want to do. Really it s been a series of threats and no real serious go at seperation, it s all a big thing, seeing how far the feds will go before they lose it and say fine, get out of here. All in all, this is Canada s biggest problem to this point and should be solved as soon as possible, because one of the scenarios above is going to happen, and the longer they wait the harder it gets, so someone better go out and take a stranglehold on this whole issue and get it settled, one way or the other, or you could see a great country spiral from the greatest country in the world today, to a sad story in a hurry… Only the future can tell, and the politicians have got to come up with the answers, and let the people tell them what is needed, and then maybe we can get on to living, with or without Quebec, well that s what the future is going to tell…
Bibliography
Cote, Marcel, and David Johnson. If Quebec Goes… Toronto: Stoddart, 1995. Encarta 97. Computer Software. Microsoft, 1996. PC, CD-Rom, 17.1 MB. Geddes, John. A New Departure. MacLeans 15 Feb. 1999: 35. If Quebec goes, Natives might stay- Dion. Chronicle-Herald [Halifax, NS] 24 Feb. 1998: Page Unknown. Internet Document, An Act respecting the sovereignty of Quebec. www.ola.bc.ca/online/cf/documents/sovereignty.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Impact of ruling uncertain. www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court5.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Native leaders put spin on a few sentences. www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court3.html, 2 pages. Internet Document, PQ claims victory- of a sort. www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court2.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Press Release. www.premier.gouv.qc.ca/communiques/ca970416.htm, 1 page. Internet Document, Quebec Can t unilaterally separate, Supreme Court rules. www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court1.html, 5 pages. Internet Document, Ruling splits voters in the rest of Canada. www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court4.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Signs of desperation in PQ ads. www.montrealgazette.com/PAGES/990227/2321105.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Unity Chronology. www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court6.html, 2 pages. Internet Document, Unity Link- 21st Century Cheat Sheet. www.uni.ca/cheat_sheet.html, 2 pages. Internet Document, Unity Link- Canada after UDI. www.uni.ca/udi2.html, 5 pages. Internet Document, Unity Link- National History and Perspective. www.uni.ca/history.html, 8 pages. Internet Document, Unity Link- Team Canada for Unity. www.uni.ca/tcu.html, 2 pages. Internet Document, Will Canada Unravel? ttp://forum.theglobeandmail.com/globenet/NUdoran.html, 5 pages. Quebec needs OK to separate. Chronicle-Herald [Halifax, NS] Unknown date, unknown page. The Quebec Question. Chronicle-Herald [Halifax, NS] 24 Feb. 1998: page unknown.
www.ronl.ru
Canada Essay, Research Paper
Canada
Hi my name is insert your name and I?ll be writing about Canada. Canada is the greatest country in the world and it has been voted the best country in the world to live in for the past 3 years in a row by the United Nations. Canada consists of ten provinces and three territories, the newest territories is Nunavut. Nunavut is the land of the Indians (Natives). The capital of Nunavut is Iqaluit and it is located on Baffin Island.
Canada has many professional sports teams in all the major sports except football. Some people say that the CFL is a professional football league but the players are mostly NFL rejects. Our sports teams for the NHL include the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple leafs, Ottawa Senators, and the Montreal Canadians. Canada?s most successful NHL team has been the Montreal Canadians, they have won an astonishing 23 Stanley Cups. Two NHL teams have left Canada because they were located in small markets, Canada has lost the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix and we have also lost the Quebec Nordiqs to Colorado. Losing NHL teams to the U.S is a growing epidemic because players are demanding more and more money and the ticket prices are going up to accommodate the players demands. Another reason that we are going to lose more NHL teams is that the Government taxation on the Canadian teams, the Montreal Canadians alone have paid more taxes in a year than all the American teams combined, the Government has to let NHL teams pay less taxes then they are right now if anyone ever wants to see hockey in the small markets in Canada. The last reason hockey teams are being lost to the U.S is the declining Canadian dollar and the players wanting their money in U.S funds. I think that Canada is going to lose the Senators, the Oilers, and the Flames in the next ten years.
Canada also has two NBA teams and they are the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors. They are both relatively new teams, thee Grizzlies are going to build their team around Shareef Abdur-Rahim a young small forward and the Raptors are going to build their team around Vince Carter a young power forward.
Finally, Canada has two MLB (Major League Baseball) teams, the teams are the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Expos. Toronto has won two World Series titles and Joe Carter hit the winning homerun in the second World Series. The Montreal Expos have not been as successful as the Blue Jays but they were first in the whole league in the 1993-1994 season but the players went on strike in August.
I think sports have always been a major part of Canada and it always will be.
One thing I like about Canada is its multiculturalism, people from any country can come to Canada and practice their religion openly and freely. I like the Immigration policy because people can come into the country if they want too and if they have a good reason. I don?t like it when people get into the country by sneaking in because they should try to get in the legal way. I think the Immigration system is being taken advantage of because of the recent rash of ships carrying illegal migrants.
I think multiculturalism is the reason Canada is such a great country.
There are numerous famous people from Canada and I will tell you about some of them. Some of the singers include, Shania Twain, Celine Dione, The Rascalz, Bryan Adams, Corey Hart, The Bare Naked Ladies, and The Tragically Hip. Some of the sports stars include, Wayne Gretzky, Dr. James Naismith (creator of basketball), Owen Hart, Bret Hart, and Patrick Roy. Some of the actors and actresses include, Michael J. Fox, Mike Myers, Jim Carey, and Pamela Anderson.
Canada has produced some of the best singers, actors, and sports figures in the world and I think this is a trend that?s going to continue well into the next millennium.
I think that it?s good that Canada isn?t a nuclear country because that makes it so we have fewer enemies because we?re not a nuclear threat.
I think that there are lots of stereotypes about Canada?s weather, television and movies portray Canada as a cold snowy place but its not that bad. It?s cold in most of Canada but in most of the area that is really cold is unpopulated. In the summer it?s hot and sunny, in the winter it?s cold and snowy, and in the spring it?s sunny and rainey.
I think Canada is one of the best countries to live in and I wish I could live here for the rest of my life.
.
www.ronl.ru
Canada is situated on the north of Northern America, washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the east, the Pacific Ocean in the west, and the Arctic Ocean in the north and in the northeast by the Baffin Bay and the Davis Strait, which separate it from Greenland, In the south and in the north Canada borders on the USA. It is a land of vast distances and rich natural resources. Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Canada's territory is the world's second largest country, surpassed in size only by Russia. It includes many islands, notably the Canadian Arctic Islands, also called Arctic Archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbour to the south. The total area is about 10 million sq km. Canada is slightly larger than the US. It is an important manufacturer, and its major cities, such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg are centres of commerce and industry.
The climate of Canada varies from temperate in the south to subarctic and arctic in the north. The highest Canadian point is Mount Logan 5,959 m. The population of Canada is about 32 million people. There are two state languages: English and French. English is spoken by 60 % of population; French is spoken by 23 % of people.
Most of Canada's inhabitants live in the southern part of the country and vast areas of the north are sparsely inhabited. The country is divided into ten provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan) and three territories (Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory, Nunavut Territory). The third territory called Nunavut, to be carved from the present Northwest Territories, was created in 1999.The name Canada is derived from an Iroquoian term meaning «village».
Among the great rivers of Canada there are the Saint Lawrence River, draining the Great Lakes and emptying into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence; the Ottawa and the Saguenay rivers, the principal affluents of the Saint Lawrence River; the Saint John River, emptying into the Bay of Fundy.
The government type is confederation with parliamentary democracy. The capital of Canada is Ottawa.
Canada became independent from the United Kingdom on July, 1, 1867. Legal system is based on the English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on the French law prevails.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the Canadian people is diversified. About 35 percent of the population is composed of people of the British origin. People of the French origin total about 25 percent of the population. The vast majority of French-speaking Canadians reside in Quebec, where they make up about three-fourths of the population; large numbers also live in Ontario and New Brunswick.
French-speaking Canadians maintain their language, culture, and traditions, and the federal government follows the policy of a bilingual and bicultural nation. During the 1970s and 1980s the proportion of Asians among the Canadian population increased, and today those who count their ancestry as wholly Asian make up 8 to 10 percent of the population. More than two-thirds of the Asian immigrants live in Ontario or British Columbia. The remainder of the population is composed of people of various ethnic groups, such as German, Italian, Ukrainian, Netherlands Dutch, Scandinavian, Polish, Hungarian, Greek, and Native American. Blacks have never constituted\a major segment of the Canadian population. Indigenous people make up nearly 2 percent of Canada's inhabitants.
The largest religious community in Canada is Roman Catholic. Nearly half of Canadians who are Roman Catholic live in Quebec. Of the Protestant denominations in Canada the largest is the United Church of Canada, followed by the Anglican Church of Canada. Other important Protestant groups are the Baptist, Presbyterian and Lutheran. Nearly 2 percent of the population are Orthodox. Muslim and Jewish adherents each number about 1 percent. A substantial number of Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs have been brought to the country in recent years by immigration. Nearly 13 percent of Canadians claim no religion.
Канада расположена в северной части Северной Америки, омывается Атлантическим Океаном на востоке, Тихим океаном на западе и Северным Ледовитым океаном на севере и на северо-востоке, заливом Баффина и проливом Девиса, которые отделяют ее от острова Гренландия* На юге и на севере Канада граничит с США. Канада является землей огромных расстояний и богатых природных ресурсов. Канада стала самоуправляющимся доминионом в 1867 году, сохраняя при этом связи с британской короной.
Канада является второй по величине страной в мире, уступая по размеру только России. Ее территория включает много островов, особенно канадские Арктические острова, также называемые Арктическим архипелагом в Северном Ледовитом океане. Экономически и технологически нация развилась параллельно с США, своим южным соседом.
Общая площадь территории — приблизительно 10 миллионов кв. км. Канада немногим больше, чем США. Страна является важным производителем, а ее главные города, такие как Торонто, Монреаль, Ванкувер, Оттава, Эдмонтон, Калгари и Виннипег являются центрами торговли и промышленности.
Климат Канады меняется от умеренного на юге до субарктического и арктического на севере. Самая высокая точка Канады — гора Маунт Логан — 5959 м. Население Канады — приблизительно 32 миллиона человек. В Канаде два государственных языка: английский и французский. На английском языке говорят 60 % населения, на французском языке говорят 23 % населения.
Большинство жителей Канады живут в южной части страны, а обширные северные области практически не заселены. Страна разделена на десять провинций (Альберта, Британская Колумбия. Мантоба, Новый Брансвик, Ньюфаундленд, Новая Скотия, Онтарио, Принц Эдвард Исланд, Квебек, Саскатчевань) и три территории (Северо-западная территория, территория Юкон, территория Нунавут). Третья территория Нунавут была создана в 1999 году путем отделения от уже существующей Северо-западной территории.
Название Канада происходит от ирокезского термина «деревня».
Среди самых больших рек Канады — река Святого Лаврентия, текущая из Великих озер и впадающая в залив Святого Лаврентия, Оттава и Сагенай, основные притоки реки Святого Лаврентия; река Сейнт Джон (Святой Джон) впадает в залив Фанди.
Тип правительства — конфедерация с парламентской демократией. Столица Канады — Оттава. Согласно административному делению в Канаде есть 10 провинций и 3 территории.
Канада стала независимой от Великобритании 1 июля 1867 года. Юридическая система основана на английском общем праве, кроме территории Квебек, где преобладает система гражданского права, основанная на французском законодательстве.
Расовый и этнический состав населения Канады разнообразен. Приблизительно 35 процентов населения составляют люди британского происхождения. Люди французского происхождения составляют приблизительно 25 процентов от общего числа населения. Подавляющее большинство французоговорящих канадцев проживает в Квебеке, где они составляют примерно три четверти всего населения; многие живут в Онтарио и Новом Брансвике.
Говорящие на французском языке канадцы хранят свой язык, культуру и традиции, а федеральное правительство следует политике двуязычной нации, основанной на двух культурах. В течение 1970-х и 1980-х годов среди канадского населения возросло количество азиатов, и сегодня те, кто считают свое происхождение полностью азиатским, составляют от 8 до 10 процентов всего населения. Более двух третьих иммигрантов-азиатов живут в Онтарио, или Британской Колумбии. Остальная часть населения представлена людьми различных этнических групп, таких как немцы, итальянцы, украинцы, голландцы, скандинавы, поляки, венгры, греки и коренные американцы. Чернокожие никогда несоставляли существенную часть канадского населений- Местные народы составляют почти 2 процента от общего числа жителей Канады.
Самым большим религиозным сообществом в Канаде является римско-католическое сообщество. Почти половина его членов проживает в Квебеке. Из протестантских сообществ в Канаде самым большим является Объединенная церковь Канады, за которой следует Англиканская церковь Канады. Другие важные Протестантские сообщества — баптисты, пресвитериане, лютеранцы. Почти 2 процента от всего населения исповедуют православие. Мусульмане и евреи насчитывают каждый приблизительно по 1 проценту от общего числа населения. Иммиграция последних лет принесла в страну значительное число буддистов, индусов и сикхов. Почти 13 процентов канадцев заявляет, что не исповедуют никакой религии.
www.engwebcountry.ru