Tuques, Two-Fours, and Tourtieres: Things You

(Probably) Didn’t Know About Canada, Eh?

(An encore presentation)

Week 2: Politics & CultureDanny Szpiro

Course Overview

• Goals• Mine: share some interesting information about the

United State’s greatest ally and, historically, largest trading partner (until quite recently)

• Yours?

• Structure• 4 sessions: History, Culture, Geography, Fun facts

• Interaction – lots, eh?

Today: Politics & Culture

• While there may be no other country as similar to the United States, Canada has some distinct differences in politics and culture• For example:• US is a “melting pot”; Canada is a …• What is the Canadian counterpart to the US statement

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”?

• The US has a Senate & Canada has a Senate: what are the key differences between the two?

• Who heads the executive branch of the Canadian government?

Early Political History

• American Loyalists arriving in Quebec led British to split Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada in 1791• Through early 19th century, efforts in both colonies to

achieve greater autonomy and control from British• This led to separate rebellions in both Upper and

Lower Canada in 1837-1838• In response, the Crown merged the two into the

Province of Canada in 1841• Help support financially troubled (English) Upper Canada• Dilute the political power of more populous (French)

Lower Canada

Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776

Charlottetown Conference

Sept. 1-9, 1864

Confederation: 1867• Britain warmed to the idea of

a confederation of North American colonies forming a consolidated government• Influenced by American Civil

War and Alaska purchase

• Influenced by withdrawal of British troops

• British North America Act passed 1867; enacted July 1• “Dominion of Canada” created

• “Peace, order, and good government” founding principles

• Statute of Westminster passed in 1931

Timeline for Other Provinces• 1867: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick (original 4)

• 1870: Manitoba• 1871: British Columbia

• 1873: Prince Edward Island• 1905: Saskatchewan

• 1905 Alberta• 1949: Newfoundland and Labrador

• This took two referenda – in the first, Newfoundlanders rejected joining with Canada

Structure of Government in Canada• Canada is a federal constitutional monarchy

• Elizabeth II is the Queen of Canada, and the head of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government

• Federal government (bicameral) organized into House of Commons (lower house, elected) and Senate (upper house, appointed)• Provincial government are unicameral – elected body only

• Governments in Canada (federal and provincial) based on the Westminster parliamentary system• Political party leaders chosen by party members• No separate election for Prime Minister• Lower house can call snap election (~5 years maximum

between federal elections)

Structure of Gov’t in Canada (cont’d)

• In principle, jurisdiction of federal and provincial governments specified and residual jurisdiction lies with federal government (lesson from American Civil War) • In practice, complex and many court rulings over the years

• Canadian constitution patriated in 1982 finally removing the jurisdiction of the UK to amend• Multiple political parties hold seats in House of

Commons (338 seats; 5 parties)• No primaries• Additional parties at the provincial (e.g., Quebec)• Minority Governments possible

Canadian Culture & Values• The most common response by an English-speaking

Canadian to define what it means to be Canadian: “We’re are not Americans”• French-speaking Canada focuses on its own history and

culture instead and sees no parallel to (not) draw with US

• Canadian values seem to be designed to contradict US• “Peace, order, and good government” versus “life, liberty,

and the pursuit of happiness”• “Cultural mosaic” versus “melting pot”• Collectivism versus individualism• Canadian “conservatives” versus American “conservatives”• Voting patterns (e.g., voting along party lines)

Other Canada – US Differences• Thanksgiving (October versus November)• French fries (vinegar normally available)• Football (110x65 yds. and 3 downs versus 100x53.3

yds. and 4 downs)• Metric System (since 1970s but some lingering

Imperial measures still persist) • Passports (66% in Canada & 42% in the US, but

Canadian passport provide access to 185 countries without a visa, one less than the US)• Birthrate (2016 statistics: 1.6 per woman in Canada

versus 1.8 per woman in the US)

Canada – US Differences (cont’d)• Health Care (each province has it’s own ”single payer”

system; hospitals are public but some private clinics for specialized services)• Health Insurance (payroll deductions for insurance;

everyone receives “basic” coverage; private insurance for additional coverage)• Marijuana / Cannabis / Weed / Grass (legal in Canada

as of Oct 17, 2018; second country in the world to do so after Uruguay)

Canadian Culture Trivia (time permitting)• Tuques, Two-Fours, and Tourtieres: what are these?• For extra points, what is poutine?

• What do Rachel Adams and Ryan Gosling have in common?• For extra points, where was each born?

• What was the D-Day beach attacked by the Canadian military in 1944?• Name as many Canadians who have been in the cast of

Saturday Night Live as you can• Lorne Michaels, Dan Akroyd, Martin Short, Phil Hartman,

Norm Macdonald, Mike Myers, and more…

Thoughts? Comments?

• I hope you had fun, eh?• Next week – more stuff you (probably) didn’t know

about Canadian culture• Until then, don’t be a hoser, eh?

Sorry!