Inuits in Nunavut, Canada, construct an igloo.

Colonization and immigration have given Canada great cultural diversity. This multiculturalism has proven to be both a strength and a challenge.

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Unit 2

Canada Today

O Canada! Immigrant RootsSECTION 1

A Constitutional MonarchySECTION 2

Canada’s EconomySECTION 3

A Multicultural SocietySECTION 4

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Canada Today

Section 1

O Canada! Immigrant RootsCanada’s population includes many groups of people from different lands who retain their cultural identities.

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Who Are the Canadians?

From Many Countries• Canada has more than 50 ethnic groups• Two-thirds have European ancestry

- 40% of British heritage, 25% of French heritage• Other backgrounds include German, Italian,

Ukrainian- people also come from nations in Africa, Asia

• Under 5% are people of the First Nations

O Canada! Immigrant Roots1SECTION

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Settlers from Asia• People have been in North America for at least

12,000 years• In the past, lower ocean levels connected Asia,

North America• People crossed the Bering Strait land bridge,

settled the Americas• First Nations—Canadian descendants of first

Asian settlers- Inuits, other native people make up half the Arctic north population- Cree, Micmac, Abenaki, Ojibwa live in south, near U.S. border

The First Nations

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Chart

The French and Indian War• Major European settlement begins in 1600s

- Britain, France establish colonies• French and Indian War fought from 1754-1763

- France loses; Britain takes over most Canadian territory- many French remain, continue disputes with British settlers

European Immigrants

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1SECTION

Continued . . .

Canada and the United Kingdom• In 1791, British divide Canada into two areas:

- Upper Canada, now Ontario, is mostly British- Lower Canada, now Quebec, is mostly French

• In 1867, Dominion of Canada includes Nova Scotia, New Brunswick- Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia are soon added

• Now part of Commonwealth of Nations, but not legally tied to Britain

continued European Immigrants

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1SECTION

Continued . . .

Later Immigrants• Early immigrants were mostly English,

Scottish, Irish, French • After WWI, others arrive from Italy, Poland,

Ukraine• Germans, Dutch settle in Ontario, British

Columbia after WWII• In 1960s, new immigration laws are passed

- people arrive from Africa, Latin America, Asia, Pacific Islands

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Continued . . .

continued European Immigrants

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A Multicultural Country• French and English Canadians keep separate

identities, languages- other Canadian groups also retain their homeland traditions

• Canada has policy of multiculturalism— acceptance of many cultures

• As in the U.S., Canadian citizens vote, participate in legal system- have freedom of religion, speech, assembly- equal protection and treatment under the law

Canadian Citizens and Citizenship

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A Small Population in a Large Area• Relatively small population of 31 million• Three-fourths live in southern cities, towns• South has convenient transportation

- Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, rivers, good railway system

• Some farm central prairies, others live in coastal port cities

• Few live in rugged, cold northern regions

Where Do Most Canadians Live?

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Map

Continued . . .

Vancouver, Gateway to the Pacific• Vancouver is Canada’s largest port—trades heavily

with Asia• Many Chinese, Japanese arrive in late 20th century

- also Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians• Refugees—people who flee a country due to war,

disaster, persecution

continued Where Do Most Canadians Live?

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Continued . . .

Toronto, City of Immigrants• Toronto, Ontario’s capital, is home to 25% of

Canada’s immigrants• Over 70,000 immigrants arrive each year from

over 100 countries• 40% of population is foreign born, 10% arrived

after 1991• City is center of industry, international trade

continued Where Do Most Canadians Live?

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1SECTION

Section 2

A Constitutional MonarchyCanada is a democracy that protects the rights of individuals and of different cultures.

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2SECTION

A Nation of Provinces and Territories

Levels of Government• Canada has ten provinces, three territories• Central government handles defense, trade

and banking, immigration - also criminal law, postal service

• Provincial governments handle education, hospitals, taxes

• Territorial governments have few responsibilities

A Constitutional Monarchy

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2SECTION

A Constitutional Monarchy• Constitutional monarchy—constitution explains

government powers- owes allegiance to a monarch—a king or queen

Organization of Canada’s Government

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Continued . . .

Head of State• British monarch is Canada’s head of state

- selects governor-general as representative• Monarch, governor-general have little real power

- represent historical traditions

Chart

2SECTION

Legislature• Parliament—House of Commons and Senate—

is Canada’s legislature• Citizens elect members of House of Commons• Leader of largest Commons party is prime minister

- the prime minister is the head of government- runs the executive branch within the legislature

• Senators are chosen from provinces, territories by prime minister

continued Organization of Canada’s Government

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Continued . . .

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2SECTION

Judiciary• Canada has both federal, provincial courts• The highest court is the federal Supreme Court

- made up of the chief justice and eight other judges

continued Organization of Canada’s Government

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Civil Rights• Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau leads rights effort

in 1982- adds Charter of Rights and Freedoms to the Constitution

• Charter guarantees freedom of speech, religion- right to vote, to have a lawyer if arrested- Canadians can live, work anywhere in Canada- equality regardless of race, religion, gender, age, ethnicity

Equality and Justice

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2SECTION

Quebec’s Importance• Some French-speaking Canadians are separatists

- want Quebec to become independent; defeated by vote in 1980, 1995- Quebec’s high-tech industries are important to Canada’s economy

Many Cultures, Many Needs

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Laws Protecting Multiculturalism• Quebec’s government passes laws to preserve

French heritage• Federal 1988 Canadian Multicultural Act

- guarantees right to preserve cultural heritage

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Section 3

Canada’s EconomyCanada has a strong economy built on natural resources, a variety of industries, and good transportation.

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3SECTION

Contributors to the Economy

Industry Based on Natural Resources• Industry—any area of economic activity• Europeans first drawn to area by fishing, fur trade• Central prairie provinces’ land is ideal for beef

cattle, wheat• Fishing off Newfoundland’s Grand Banks and off

Pacific coast• Timber industry is important, especially in British

Columbia• Northern territories mine iron ore, gold, silver,

copper

Canada’s Economy

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Continued . . .

3SECTION

Trade• 80% of Canada’s raw materials are shipped as

exports• Exports are goods traded to other countries

- main exports are wood, paper, fuel, minerals, aluminum, wheat

• Canada and U.S. have valuable trade partnership- most of Canada’s exports go to U.S.- most of its imports—goods brought into the country—are from U.S.

continued Contributors to the Economy

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From Rural to Industrial• After WWII, Canada shifts from rural to industrial,

urban economy• Tertiary (service) industries occupy 2/3 of work force

- include health care, education, transportation, banking, government

• 30% work in secondary, manufacturing industries- transportation equipment like cars, trucks, subway cars, airplanes- food processing, chemicals, medicines, metal products, paper

Industry and the Economy

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Chart

3SECTION

Moving Goods Across A Vast Land• Transportation corridors—paths that make

transportation easier- St. Lawrence Seaway allows travel between Atlantic, Great Lakes- transcontinental railway runs from coast to coast

• Transportation barriers—geography that slows, prevents transportation- snow, ice block travel in north, as do the Rocky Mountains out west- industry develops slowly in such areas

Transportation

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Section 4

A Multicultural SocietyMany immigrant groups have contributed to Canadian culture while preserving their own identities.

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Canadian Identity

Seeking A Sense of Belonging• Ranked best country based on citizens’ health,

education, wealth • Still seeks national identity—a sense of

belonging to a nation

A Multicultural Society

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Languages• Many Canadians are bilingual—speak two

languages- English and French are official languages

• Francophones—French-speaking people• Some words, pronunciations in Canadian

English differ from U.S.

Chart

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Rich Traditions• Arts are actively supported by federal, provincial

governments- Canadian Council for the Arts gives money to artists, art groups

• Many of the same newspapers, television shows, movies as in U.S.

• Many Canadian musicians are popular in both Canada, U.S.- Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Céline Dion, Shania Twain

• Comedian-actors Dan Aykroyd and Jim Carrey are from Canada

Arts and Entertainment

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Freedom to Worship• Christianity is widely practiced

- other religions include Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism

• Some religions are grounded in spirituality- based on respect for Earth and all forms of life

• All cultural groups are free to worship as they choose

Religion

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Groups Living Together• From 1600s to 1900, most immigrants were European• Recently more have arrived from Asia and South

America• Culture regions—areas with people who share

language, background- many French-speaking people live in Quebec- Nunavut is 50% Inuit- Vancouver is 16% Chinese (mostly from Hong Kong)

Culture Regions

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Continued . . .

4SECTION

Conflict and Cooperation• Differences in language, customs can lead to

cultural conflict• Some thought Vancouver’s Chinese immigrants

might alter the culture- government began reviewing immigration policy in 1975

• Vancouver Chinese groups held Chinese-Canadian conference- they supported multiculturalism and open immigration laws

• The problem was solved through human rights laws

continued Culture Regions

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