Post by Canada on Jan 9, 2006 23:53:07 GMT -5
Canada
[/center][/b]Historical Summary
Although originally discovered by the Vikings c.1000 CE and settled by them, the first serious attempts of settlement occured in 1534 by French explorer Jacques Cartier and 1603 by Samuel de Champlain who established settlements in present day Montréal and Quebec City, respectively. They called this new land 'Kanata', a word meaning settlement. Both became reliant upon First Nations inhabitants and the settlers, 'habitants', depended heavily upon them during the first winter on the new continent. The First Nations taught the settlers how to survive the harsh Canadian winters that they had endured for generations. Realizing the natives were essential to their survival, the colonists allowed them to integrate into French culture, and the First Nations replied in kind. In 1645 the British landed in present day Nova Scotia, looking for fertile fishing areas, and founded what is now Halifax. At first, the French and English settlers clashed, but as the harsh winter settled in the French and Huron showd them how to survive in the harsh Canadian winter. Over time the British and French began to trust one another, putting aside centuries of Old World hatred and worked together to create what was termed 'Un Nouveau Monde", A New World where old rivalries were extinguished and a common sense of humanity flourished. For nearly a century both France and Britain laid claim to 'New France'/'British North America' but neither was able to oust the other for Canada's inhabitants had no wish to exile the other. Eventually, the two nations recongnized the colony as a 'neutral zone' and Canada became a place where peace was paramount.
War and conflict ravaged Europe for the next 75 years, and refugees from the various conflicts flocked to the North American continent. While death and destruction littered the European landscape, Canada existed in relative peace. By 1700, the population was almost 7 million, stretching from the Maritimes to the Eastern shores of Hudson & James Bays, through Ontario to what is the current border with the United States. In the beginning of the 18th Century, the Colonial government began authorizing settlement west of Lake Superior, into the heart of the Canadian Shield. The settlers, as their ancestors had a century before, lived as equals with the Natives and existing in peace. Although sporadic incidents of intolerance and death occured, much of this settlement was done in peace. The Canadians bartered for land with warm clothing, farming implements and what other European commodities First Nations lacked. Settlement stretched to the Pacific Ocean, and it would not be long before the eyes of Canada turned Northward.
1734 saw the Union of land and peoples, mostly consisting of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario into the Dominion of Canada, with much of Western Canada being designated as the 'Northwest Territories.' Full autonomy came on July 1st, 1867 which included much of what is now Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the North West Territories and Nunavut. Consolidation of the Yukon Territory came later.
Today, Canada is one of the most populous countries in the world, with a population of approximately 650,000,000.
Geography
Location:
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US.
Area:
total: 9,984,670 sq km
land: 9,093,507 sq km
water: 891,163 sq km
Land boundaries:
total: 8,893 km
border countries: US 8,893 km(includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline:
202,080 km
Natural resources:
iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
People
Population:
640,000,000 (July 2005 est.)
Ethnic groups:
British Isles origin 30%, French origin 26%, other European 14%, Amerindian 25%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 3%, mixed background 2%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 32%, Protestant 43% (including United Church 4%, Anglican 5%, Baptist 2%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 2%, Muslim 4%, other and unspecified 2%, none 4% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (official) 40.3%, French (official) 26.2%, various Amerindian 30% (official), Other 4.5%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% (1986 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada
Government type:
a constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation
Capital:
Ottawa
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Independence:
1 July 1734 (union of British North American/New France colonies); 1 July 1867 (full independence recognized)
National holiday:
Canada Day, 1 July
Constitution:
made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1734, which created a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1867, which transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain & France to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as procedures for constitutional amendments
Legal system:
based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Chief of State: Governor General, ceremonial representative of the English Crown (formerly English and French)
Government led by elected Prime Minister; responsible for appointing cabinet.
Current Prime Minister: Jack Laurent
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; its normal limit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve for up to five-year terms)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the Prime Minister through the Governor General); Federal Court of Canada; Federal Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court of Appeal, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Justice)
Military
Military branches:
Canadian Armed Forces: Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air Command, Canada Command (homeland security)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service
Current Military Manpower, Active Duty:
Total: 1,750,000
Males: 1,165,221
Females: 584,779
Airforce: 400,000
Army: 850,000
Navy: 300,000
Marines: 200,000
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 287,551,111
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 219,471,999
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 8,566,333
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2,135,690,767,728.00
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
8%
Foreign Affairs
Formal Diplomatic Missions:
- Nederland
- United Kingdom
- United Nations