History and Government of Canada

Colonization -During the 1500-1600s, French explorers claimed much of Canada -Called their settlements “New France” -British explorers also colonized parts of Canada along the Atlantic coast -By the 1700s, led to a country with two distinct cultures: Roman Catholic French and Protestant English

Colonization -1791: the British government split the country into two provinces -Upper Canada: majority English speaking -Lower Canada: majority French speaking -province: a political unit (similar to a state)

Growth and Expansion -Quebec City, Montreal, and Toronto developed as major cities -1885: railroad between Montreal and Vancouver was completed -The two coasts of Canada were linked -About a decade later, gold was discovered in Northwest Canada

Growth and Expansion -Most development and industry in Canada takes place within 100 miles of the United States border -Climate is warmer -Land is more fertile -Transportation between the two coasts is more available

Government -Gained independence from Great Britain in 1931 -Parliamentary Government: government of Canada, legislative and executive functions are combined in a legislature called a parliament -Prime Minister: majority party’s leader in Parliament, head of the government -Each of the 10 provinces has their own legislature

Stephen Harper, Canada’s Prime Minister

Economy, Culture, and Subregions of Canada

Economy -Canada’s biggest industries: farming, logging, mining, and fishing -No other country exports more wood pulp and paper products -Coastlines on the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans create many opportunities for fishing

Economy -Importance of the manufacturing industry -Cars, steel, electronics, and household appliances are the most manufactured items -Service industries: employ more Canadians than all other industries combined -Examples: finance, transportation, tourism, real estate, and insurance

Culture -First inhabitants of Canada: the Inuit people and the First Nations people -First Nations: Canada’s Native American people -Over 700,000 First Nations people live in Canada -Concentrated mostly in Ontario and British Columbia -métis: people of mixed French and native heritage

Culture -Many members of the First Nations tribes live on more than 2,300 reserves throughout Canada -reserves: public land set aside by the government -Inuit people live in areas in the remote Arctic north

Culture -The majority of Canadian citizens live in urban areas such as Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver -Canada is officially a bilingual country -Majority speak English, minority speak French -Only in Quebec are French speakers the majority

Culture -Inuit carvings: animals and scenes from everyday life made from soapstone, ivory, and whalebone

Culture -First Nations Totem Poles: Created to commemorate ancestry, events, and history

Subregions of Canada -Four subregions of Canada: -Atlantic Provinces -Core Provinces -Prairie Provinces -Pacific Province and the Territories

Atlantic Provinces -Consists of: -Prince Edward Island -New Brunswick -Nova Scotia -Contains just 8% of Canada’s population -Industries: logging, mining, fishing

Core Provinces -Consists of: -Quebec -Ontario -60% of Canadians live in either Quebec or Ontario -The political and economic centers of Canada

Prairie Provinces -Consists of: -Manitoba -Saskatchewan -Alberta -Known as “Canada’s Breadbasket” -Produces 50% of Canada’s agricultural production

Pacific Province and the Territories -Consists of: -British Columbia -Yukon Territory -Northwest Territories -Nunavut -Largest populations are in southwest British Columbia (Vancouver) -Yukon Territory: population of 34,000 -Northwest Territories: population of 43,500