Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomer/guide/section-07.html
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History
Canada is a land of many cultures and many peoples. Aboriginal peoples
have occupied the territory now called Canada for several thousands of
years. Everybody else, either by birth or by descent, has been an
immigrant -- we have all come from somewhere else. It has been said
that Canada is a "nation of immigrants."
There are three main groups of Aboriginal peoples in Canada: the First
Nations, the Inuit and the Métis. There are more than 50 different
languages spoken by Canada's Aboriginal peoples, most of which are
spoken only in Canada. In fact, the name "Canada" may have come from
the word "Kanata," which means a settlement in the language of the
Huron-Iroquois First Nations peoples.
As a country, Canada came into being on July 1, 1867. This event is
known as "Confederation." Before 1867, the French arrived first, then
the British. Each brought their own language, system of government,
laws and culture. In 1763, after a long war between the British and the
French, all of Canada came under British rule and was known as "British
North America."
In the late 18th and into the 19th century, during and after the time
of the American Revolution, many African-Americans and United Empire
Loyalists fled the United States for Canada, where British ties
remained and slavery had been abolished.
During the mid- to late 19th and early 20th century, waves of
immigrants arrived from Europe, attracted by the opportunity of a new
and better life in Canada. Some settled in towns and cities; others
worked in factories, mines and lumber camps. Many were farmers who
turned the Prairie region into wheat fields. Asian immigrants from
China, Japan and India settled mainly in the western provinces during
this time. Many immigrants helped build Canada's national railways,
which joined the east and west coasts and opened up the interior for
settlement.
After both world wars, thousands of Europeans came to Canada as
immigrants and refugees and helped build Canada's post-war economy.
Canada's experience during and after the Second World War raised
awareness of the needs of refugees and the desire of families to be
together.
Over the last 50 years, people from all over the globe have sought a
better life or have sought refuge in Canada, fleeing civil wars,
political unrest and natural disasters.
Canada still needs the skills, talents and enthusiasm of newcomers to
build our country, together with those who have come before them. All
of this has been reflected in Canada's immigration and refugee
policies. Today, Canada is home to immigrants from more than 240
countries. Most newcomers decide to become citizens of Canada, after
they are settled and have met the requirements of Canadian citizenship.
Economy
Canada has a diversified economy. Natural resources industries, such as
forestry, mining, oil and gas extraction, farming and fishing, are
important sources of jobs and export earnings. Canada is also a world
leader in the fields of telecommunications, biotechnology, aerospace
technologies and pharmaceuticals. More and more jobs involve work in
service industries or in information technology. Along with the United
States and Mexico, Canada is a partner in the North American Free Trade
Agreement.
Canada has a decimal system of currency. The Canadian dollar is the
basic unit of money. The most common paper bills are the $5, $10 and
$20, but $50 and $100 bills are also used. Canadian coins include the
penny (one cent), nickel (five cents), dime (10 cents), quarter (25
cents), loonie ($1) and toonie ($2).
Government
Canada is a federation, with a parliamentary system of government.
Being a federation means that powers and responsibilities are divided
between the federal government and the 10 provincial governments.
Canada also has three territorial jurisdictions. Canada has three
levels of government: federal, provincial and municipal (cities and
towns). These governments are elected by the citizens of Canada.
Federal government
(Government of Canada)
The federal government is responsible for:
defence;
foreign policy and foreign relations;
banking;
the postal service;
criminal law;
immigration; and
citizenship.
Provincial governments
Provincial governments are responsible for:
education; and
municipal institutions.
They also share responsibility with the federal government for:
health services;
farming;
social assistance;
transportation; and
the environment.
Territorial governments
The Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut are not sovereign units.
They get their powers from the federal parliament, but they have
elected assemblies that follow many of the same practices as the
provincial governments.
Municipal governments
Municipal governments have functions delegated to them by other levels
of government. They are responsible for local matters and services.
These include:
police and fire protection;
water and sewer services;
recreation; and
local public transportation.
If you are interested, the Web site canada.gc.ca/howgoc/glance_e.html
has more information about how Canadians govern themselves.
Bilingualism
Under the Official Languages Act, Canada is an officially bilingual
country. This means that Canadians have the right to get federal
government services in English or French, no matter what part of Canada
they are living in.
New Brunswick is the only province that is officially bilingual. New
Brunswick residents receive services in both official languages from
all of their provincial government departments and agencies.
In Quebec, French is the official language and in most cases,
provincial and municipal services are provided in French.
In the other provinces and territories, English is the official
language, and the availability of provincial services in both official
languages varies.
At the municipal level, the availability of services in both official
languages varies greatly.
Multiculturalism
Canada is populated by people who have come from every part of the
world. Through the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, the government
encourages Canadians to take pride in their language, religion and
heritage and to keep their customs and traditions, as long as they
don't break Canadian laws.
Protecting the environment --
Sustainable development
Canada has a beautiful natural environment. Because we have lots of
land and a small population, most of our country is wild and unspoiled.
However, it is becoming harder to preserve our environment as our
population and cities grow. Pollution helps cause large-scale
environmental problems, such as acid rain. And as more people use and
live in natural areas, threats to the environment increase.
Canadians are very concerned about environmental issues. They know that
damage to the environment can be hard to fix.
Canadians know that economic growth is crucial for the future
prosperity of Canada. But growth must be managed carefully so that it
does not harm the environment. The Canadian government is committed to
"sustainable development," which is economic growth that does not hurt
the environment and helps people.
A healthy environment is important to quality of life. Everyone living
in Canada should act in a responsible way, both toward the environment
and within their community. This way, future Canadians have the
opportunity to live in a country that is clean and prosperous. Both
individuals and groups can help Canada develop in a sustainable way.
Here are a few things you can do to help protect quality of life:
throw waste paper and other garbage in public garbage cans;
compost, recycle and re-use as many products as possible, such as
paper, glass and cans;
conserve energy and water by turning off lights and taps when you are
not using them;
walk, join a car pool, or use a bicycle or public transit whenever
possible;
use products that are environmentally friendly;
plant trees or grow a garden, but avoid using chemicals;
never pour paint, oil or other harmful chemicals down sinks or toilets,
into sewers or onto the ground (telephone your local government to find
out where you can throw out these hazardous materials);
volunteer with a local organization; and
educate yourself and your children about environmental issues.
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