Geography of CanadaGeography of Canada

Canada TodayCanada Today

Canada’s GovernmentCanada’s Government Canada’s government is led Canada’s government is led

by the Prime Minister and by the Prime Minister and Parliament with an elected Parliament with an elected House of Commons and an House of Commons and an appointed Senate.appointed Senate.

Canada’s 10 Provincial Canada’s 10 Provincial governments are headed by governments are headed by a Premier. Provincial a Premier. Provincial governments are much like governments are much like our state governments. The our state governments. The federal system allows federal system allows people to maintain loyalty to people to maintain loyalty to their own province.their own province. Stephen Harper – Canadian PM

Canada’s RegionsCanada’s Regions

Canada’s physical Canada’s physical geography separates the geography separates the country into different country into different regions. British regions. British Columbia is isolated Columbia is isolated from the eastern from the eastern provinces and Canadian provinces and Canadian North is, well, a region North is, well, a region all to itself – snow and all to itself – snow and ice and all.ice and all.

RegionalismRegionalism

Cultural differences Cultural differences between English speaking between English speaking and French speaking and French speaking Canadians have led to Canadians have led to problems. Most of Canada problems. Most of Canada speaks English, but Quebec speaks English, but Quebec is French. Sometimes, is French. Sometimes, peoples connections to their peoples connections to their region is stronger than their region is stronger than their country (regionalism). In country (regionalism). In Canada, this is true as well.Canada, this is true as well.

The Eastern ProvincesThe Eastern Provinces

The Eastern Provinces The Eastern Provinces include New Brunswick, include New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island – the Edward Island – the Maritime Provinces and Maritime Provinces and Newfoundland and Newfoundland and Labrador. The provinces Labrador. The provinces have a short growing have a short growing season, although potatoes season, although potatoes are grown on Prince Edward are grown on Prince Edward Island.Island.

Eastern ProvincesEastern Provinces

Most of the economic Most of the economic activity is in forestry activity is in forestry and fishing. Many of and fishing. Many of the people are of the people are of English descent. Many English descent. Many French speaking people French speaking people have come from have come from Quebec. Most people Quebec. Most people live on the coast and live on the coast and Halifax is the regions Halifax is the regions largest city,largest city,

The HeartlandThe Heartland

More than half of Canada’s More than half of Canada’s population lives in the population lives in the Heartland Provinces of Heartland Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, with Ontario and Quebec, with Windsor to Quebec City Windsor to Quebec City being the most urbanized being the most urbanized area in Canada. Quebec is area in Canada. Quebec is the provincial capital and the provincial capital and Montreal is the 2Montreal is the 2ndnd largest largest city in Canada and one of city in Canada and one of the largest French speaking the largest French speaking cities in the world.cities in the world.

The HeartlandThe Heartland

Montreal is the financial Montreal is the financial and industrial centre of and industrial centre of Quebec. Winters are Quebec. Winters are extremely cold and the extremely cold and the city makes good use of city makes good use of underground and underground and overhead tunnels to go overhead tunnels to go from building to from building to building. building.

The HeartlandThe Heartland

Many residents of Many residents of Quebec refer to Quebec refer to themselves as themselves as Quebecois. They Quebecois. They believe their province believe their province should be given special should be given special status and on more than status and on more than one occasion discussed one occasion discussed creating their own creating their own nation.nation.

The HeartlandThe Heartland

However, many English However, many English speakers believe Quebec speakers believe Quebec already gets special already gets special attention – perhaps too attention – perhaps too much! Most Canadians much! Most Canadians have a strong sense of have a strong sense of national pride. national pride. Regionalism will still Regionalism will still play a role.play a role.

The HeartlandThe Heartland

Ontario has an even Ontario has an even larger population than larger population than Quebec. It is Canada’s Quebec. It is Canada’s leading manufacturing leading manufacturing province. Hamilton is province. Hamilton is the center of Canadian the center of Canadian steel industry. It steel industry. It exports most of its steel exports most of its steel to the US.to the US.

The HeartlandThe Heartland

Ontario’s capital is Ontario’s capital is Toronto – a major Toronto – a major center of finance, center of finance, industry, education and industry, education and culture. culture.

Ottawa is the National Ottawa is the National capital. The city is capital. The city is known for grand known for grand government buildings government buildings and its universities.and its universities.

The Western ProvincesThe Western Provinces

West of Ontario you West of Ontario you find the Prairie find the Prairie Provinces of Manitoba, Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan and Alberta. Along with the Alberta. Along with the British Columbia on the British Columbia on the West Coast they make West Coast they make up the Western up the Western Provinces.Provinces.

The Western ProvincesThe Western Provinces

More people live in More people live in Quebec than all of the Quebec than all of the Prairie Provinces Prairie Provinces combined. The combined. The southern grasslands are southern grasslands are part of the breadbasket part of the breadbasket or wheat belt, producing or wheat belt, producing more wheat than more wheat than Canadians need. Oil Canadians need. Oil and natural gas are and natural gas are important to Alberta.important to Alberta.

The Western ProvincesThe Western Provinces

British Columbia is the British Columbia is the westernmost province. westernmost province. The mountains provide The mountains provide vast natural resources vast natural resources and minerals, forestry and minerals, forestry and fishing. Nearly half and fishing. Nearly half the population lives in the population lives in Vancouver. Vancouver Vancouver. Vancouver has been ranked as one has been ranked as one of the worlds best of the worlds best metropolitan areas.metropolitan areas.

The Canadian NorthThe Canadian North

The North is quite cold The North is quite cold – close to the Arctic, I – close to the Arctic, I guess so. It includes the guess so. It includes the Yukon and Northwest Yukon and Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Territories and Nunavut. These territories cover These territories cover 1/3 of the land but have 1/3 of the land but have only about 100,000 only about 100,000 people. people.

The Canadian NorthThe Canadian North

Nunavut is a relatively Nunavut is a relatively new territory created for new territory created for Canadian Inuit. Canadian Inuit. Nunavut means “our Nunavut means “our land”. Even though it is land”. Even though it is part of Canada, Nunavut part of Canada, Nunavut has its own distinct has its own distinct culture and government. culture and government. About 30,000 people About 30,000 people live there.live there.

The Canadian NorthThe Canadian North

The physical geography The physical geography of the region includes of the region includes forests and tundra. The forests and tundra. The frozen Arctic Ocean frozen Arctic Ocean separate towns and separate towns and villages. Part of the villages. Part of the winter, sunlight is winter, sunlight is limited to just a few limited to just a few hours and in summer, hours and in summer, just a few hours of lightjust a few hours of light

Canada’s EconomyCanada’s Economy

Canada is one of the Canada is one of the world’s leading mineral world’s leading mineral producers. Iron, producers. Iron, titanium, zinc, silver, titanium, zinc, silver, gold and coal are all gold and coal are all mined. Canada’s steel mined. Canada’s steel industry produces industry produces planes, cars and planes, cars and appliances. However, appliances. However, most work in the service most work in the service industry.industry.

TradeTrade

Canada’s economy Canada’s economy depends on trade. The depends on trade. The natural resources natural resources Canada is blessed with Canada is blessed with is traded all over the is traded all over the world. Canada’s world. Canada’s leading trading partner leading trading partner is the US. 60% of is the US. 60% of Canada’s imports are Canada’s imports are from the US and 85% of from the US and 85% of its exports go to the USits exports go to the US

TradeTrade

The US place a tariff of The US place a tariff of Canadian timber as US Canadian timber as US lumber companies lumber companies argued that Canadian argued that Canadian firms were selling at firms were selling at unfairly low prices. unfairly low prices. Canada argued that it Canada argued that it was unfair to place tariff was unfair to place tariff because of North because of North American Free Trade American Free Trade Agreement – NAFTA.Agreement – NAFTA.

TradeTrade

Export of cattle to the US is Export of cattle to the US is another area of dispute. A another area of dispute. A cow was discovered with cow was discovered with mad cow disease in 2003, so mad cow disease in 2003, so the US banned imports of the US banned imports of cattle from Canada. cattle from Canada. Canadian ranchers maintain Canadian ranchers maintain their cows were disease their cows were disease free. After 2 years, the ban free. After 2 years, the ban was lifted.was lifted.

Canadian SportsCanadian Sports

Canada has a variety of Canada has a variety of professional sports to professional sports to boast about. The boast about. The Toronto Raptors in the Toronto Raptors in the NBA and Toronto Blue NBA and Toronto Blue Jays in MLB. Hockey Jays in MLB. Hockey is king with several is king with several teams in the NHL teams in the NHL including the including the Canadiens, Canucks and Canadiens, Canucks and Maple Leafs.Maple Leafs.

Geography of CanadaGeography of Canada

Exit: What is the greatest source of unity Exit: What is the greatest source of unity between the US and Canada?between the US and Canada?

Stay tuned next time for The Inuit ( If I can Stay tuned next time for The Inuit ( If I can find it).find it).