Important news from Canada

By Aussiegirl

Another really important article by Paul Jackson. It's a scandal how little we know about Canadian politics--and Canada in general--down here in the Lower 48. Even on the weather maps, I've noticed that all weather seems to stop at the US-Canadian border, and Canada appears to have no cities, territorial markings, or other "distinguishing charateristics".

Perhaps Canada is to us as Ultima Thule was: In ancient times the northernmost region of the habitable world - hence, any distant, unknown or mysterious land.

The American
Thinker

Canadian Conservative Leader Stephen Harper was sworn in as
the nation’s 22nd prime minister on Monday and immediately unveiled a cabinet
line-up that is both 25% smaller than ousted Liberal prime minister Paul
Martin’s cabinet and gave a tilt in foreign affairs, defense and national
security sure to make Washington happier with Ottawa than it has been in years.

[...]Incidentally, the Conservatives are dedicated to reforming the
Senate and making it an elected body as in the U.S.

All in all, though,
the Conservative election win bodes well for U.S.-Canadian relations in many
areas, and for a rebirth of traditional Canadian values in a nation with
basically only the same population and economic size of California alone.

COMMENT: TJ Willms said...

I can offer little help in understanding their politics, but here are some assorted facts about our "neighbor to the north" that I found rather interesting.

1.)Canada is the second-largest country in world in total land area (after only Russia.) Despite that enormous size, roughly 90% of the entire Canadian population is concentrated within 160 km (less than 100 miles) of the US border.

2.)Queen ELIZABETH II is still listed as the official "chief of state" of Canada a title she has held since her coronation in February 1952. Her interests are represented within the government by an appointee (The governor general) selected by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term.

3.)Canada has no Constitution in the form of a single document. The written part of the constitution is made up of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of four provinces. Add to that the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982, which transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as procedures for constitutional amendments.

4.)Canadians celebrate their independence from Britain on July 1st every year.Their independemce was finally recognized by Britain in December 1931.

5.) 28% of the population are described as having British origins as opposed to 23% who are ethnically French.