Canada Presentation
Transcript: Canadian Facts 101 SIZE: Canada is the second-largest country at 9,970,610 square km. PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES: Canada is comprised of ten provinces and three territories POPULATION: 35 millions CAPITAL: Ottawa (Ontario) OFFICIAL EMBLEM: The Maple Leaf OFFICIAL ANIMAL: The Beaver OFFICIAL MOTTO: “From coast to coast” Forests cover 50% of Canada Canada has 10% of the world’s forests. Mount Logan in the Yukon Territory is Canada’s tallest peak at 5,959 metres The Trans-Canada Highway at 7,604 km is the longest national highway in the world. In 1937 Bombardier invented the first snowmobile Hockey is the national sport of Canada. In Canada $1 and $2 are represented by coins. Nicknamed the “loonie” and the Twonie Canada became The Dominion of Canada on July 1st, 1867. We officially became a country in 1982. Over 1 million Aboriginal people: Metis, Inuit, Iroquois, Micmac, Huron, Ojibwa, Haida, Cree, Blackfoot, Assiniboine and the Inuit. The name “Canada” comes from the Huron and Iroquois word “Kanata” meaning “village” Canada Jacques Cartier (1535). Canada has the world’s longest coastline Nearly 25% of all the fresh water in the world (in about 2 million lakes) NATIONAL ANTHEM: “O Canada” NATIONAL POLICE FORCE: RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) TIME ZONES: 6 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English and French, French is spoken by 6m Canadians POLITICAL STRUCTURE: Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a federal state with a democratic parliament. Canadian Myths We live in igloos…We live in houses, and they are very well built houses. In the war of 1812, started by America, Canadians pushed the Americans back...past their 'White House'. Then we burned it...and most of Washington, under the command of William Lyon McKenzie who was insane and hammered all the time. We got bored because they ran away, so we came home and partied... How national sport is Hockey… In 1994, the Federal Government introduced Bill C-212 that officially made Hockey Canada’s 1 . National Winter Sport and Lacrosse Canada’s National Summer Sport. The Hudsons Bay Company once owned over 10% of the earth's surface and is still around as the worlds oldest company. POLITICS 2 levels of government: provincial and federal Both follow the Westminster (British) model of government At the head is the Prime Minister of Canada, and there is a prime minister for each province There is a multi-party system on each level, but only a few major parties ever get elected The Question: « The Government of Quebec has made public its proposal to negotiate a new agreement with the rest of Canada, based on the equality of nations; this agreement would enable Quebec to acquire the exclusive power to make its laws, levy its taxes and establish relations abroad — in other words, sovereignty — and at the same time to maintain with Canada an economic association including a common currency; any change in political status resulting from these negotiations will only be implemented with popular approval through another referendum; on these terms, do you give the Government of Quebec the mandate to negotiate the proposed agreement between Quebec and Canada? » 1995 Oct. 30 34% support independence 54% oppose 74% think it is very unlikely or not at all likely to ever occur 28% want outright independence 30% want more autonomy from Canada 32% are content to have Quebec remain a province of Canada Provincial This formula is helpful to understand what Québec is: 2 Q + Fr + GB + (USA) - R Quebec’s history and identity (Q) are made up of less France (F) than we believe, more Great Britain (GB) than we want to admit, a much larger American influence than we think, and much less imput from Rome (R) and the clergy than thought According to Yvan Lamonde (1996) Hydroelectric Plants Robert-Bourassa Generating Facility 53-storey building “giant’s staircase” each the size of two football fields, largest underground powerhouse 140 metres (459 feet) down! Dr. Frederick Banting Insulin Alexander Graham Bell Telephone Tommy Douglas HealthCare Terry Fox Inspiration Wayne Gretzky Hockey Player Sir John A. Macdonald 1rst Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson UN Blue Helmets David Suzuki Environment Pierre Elliott Trudeau Kept Canada United Hockey Riots April 2008 Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Boston Bruins 2nd round April 2002 Montreal Canadiens eliminated Boston Bruins in 1rst round June 1993 Stanley Cup Champions February 1955 Maurice Richard is suspended for playoffs RailRoad WHY? dream of Prime Minster Sir John A. Macdonald Montreal to the Pacific Ocean. 1868 the people of British Columbia having trouble making money So, on July 20th, 1871 the colony of BC joined Canada promise that the railroad would be built they were given money to pay debts they owed BC would become part of the U.S. Macdonald found a private group : the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) The cost for building the line was $100,000,000 The CPR would pay for the railroad construction and then own it C hinese Workers in BC 1879 Fraser