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CHAPTER 3 - CANADA

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UNIT 1: THE COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE

Focal points :

1. the search for the Canadian identity

2. the regions of Canada
3. the Yukon and the Northwest Territories
4. British Columbia
5. the prairie provinces
6. Central Canada - Ontario and Quebec
7. the Maritimes (the Atlantic regions)
8. the First Nations (the Aboriginal people)
9. European settlement in Canada
10. the Confederation
11. the origin of the word "Canada”
Area 9 976 139 sq km
Population 31.9 million (2004)
Languages English/French
Government Parliamentary democracy
Official Head of State Queen
Capital City Ottawa
In size, Canada is the second largest country on earth. In terms of economic power, it
is a member of the Big Seven, the world's leading industrial nations, ranking along
with the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and Japan.
Canada plays an active role in international affairs, often taking part in peacekeeping
and humanitarian missions and spearheading aid and development programs. Its
scenery of mountains, oceans, forests and prairies is spectacular. It has a lively and
rich culture, with many world famous actors, pop stars and writers. In annual "quality
of life': surveys produced by the United Nation each year, Canada regularly is rated
as having the best standard of living in the world because of its health care, education,
clean-environment, social welfare, and so on.

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In contrast to its physical size, economic power and international prestige, Canada's
population is very small. The current population is about 31.9 million - about the same
as the Changing city! This paradox of hailing a small number of people in a very large,
resource-rich area gives rise to some of the misleading perceptions people have about
Canada.

Most of Canada lies very far north. Large tracts of the country are wild, virtually
unpopulated Arctic tundra, full of dangerous animals and freezing temperatures. But
most Canadians live in the south of the country. About 90 per cent of the population
is estimated to live within a few hundred kilometers of the Canadian-American border,
in a climate that is much less extreme.

The Regions of Canada

With an area of nearly 10 million square kilometers, Canada is the second largest
country in the world. Located on the North American continent, Canada stretches
"from sea to sea" (the' country's motto) - bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west
coast and the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast. To the south, lies the United States.
Canada and the US share the longest undefended national border in the world, a
symbol of their good relations.

Canada occupies about half of the North American continent. Its physical geography
includes mountains, rivers, oceans, and prairies and a variety of different climates.
Canada consists of ten provinces and two territories, and the nature, culture and
economic life of these provinces are largely dictated by their terrain.

The North

To the north, Canada extends up into the Arctic Circle to the North Pole. The north is
a scarcely populated area of ice and oceans which is sometimes called "the Land of
the Midnight Sun" because during the height of summer the sun does not set. Most of
the inhabitants are aboriginal peoples and indeed, several Aboriginal languages have
been granted the same official status as French and English.

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Along the northern border, the coastlines are literally forming, melting and breaking
away and floating off in the form of ice floes. It is difficult to say exactly where
Canada begins and ends. But in this harsh, inhospitable region, it does not matter very
much as no one is actually counter-claiming what Canada considers its territory-
although during the Cold War, Canada occasionally protested about American nuclear
submarines patrolling the northernmost ocean regions.

The traditional northern economy was based on hunting and trapping animals for food
and pelts, activities which are still carried out by some of native inhabitants. In the
late l800s, thousands of miners poured into the Yukon during the Gold Rush, hoping
to make their fortunes. Nowadays, the northern economy is developing its oil and gas
deposits, and the Inuit peoples depend on arts and crafts, as well as hunting, for their
livelihood.

The West

The Western-most province is British Columbia - popularly known by its initials, BC

- which has three major mountain ranges running through it. The largest range, the
Rockies, is the world-famous mountains which divide BC from Alberta, and contain
over 50 peaks higher than 3.350 meters. You have almost certainly seen pictures of a
turquoise-jewel colored lake surrounded by snowy peaks - this is Lake Louise, located
in the Rockies and it is probably the most famous image of the Canadian landscape.

The mountain ranges in combination with heavy rainfall in BC create ideal conditions
for generating electricity, and BC is Canada's second largest producer of hydroelectric
power. Its main economic mainstay, however, is its forests. British Columbia has the
most valuable forestry industry in Canada. In recent years, this industry has come
under threat as environmentalists have tried to have logging stopped.

The Prairies

East of the Rockies lie the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba,
Canada's breadbasket. The prairies are flat and featureless and have a harsh

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continental climate. The winters are cold and the summers are hot, but the terrain is
well-suited to farming. During the late 1800s, the Canadian government encouraged
the settlement of the prairie provinces by offering cheap lands grants to Europeans
who would emigrate and settle there. Over 3 million people, mainly from continental
Europe came, tempted by the cheap land and high prices of wheat.

Wheat is one of Canada’s biggest agricultural crops. Alberta is the country's main beef
and feed producer, and Manitoba - known as the Land of 100 000 Lakes – produces
hydroelectricity as well as a wide variety of crops and livestock. The prairies are also
rich in energy resources.

Central Canada

Moving still further east, we come to the oldest part of Canada, that is, the part of the
country that were first settled, Ontario and Quebec. The first colonist settled in
Quebec, in the early 1600s, and from that point on, the history of Canada was a history
of exploring and pushing further west, conquering new and uncharted territories.

Ontario and Quebec are huge provinces with farming, mining and forestry industries,
but they are actually the industrial heartland of the country, where most manufacturing
and heavy industries are located. They are also the most densely populated provinces
and have the largest cities. Toronto is located in Ontario and, because it is well-known,
it is commonly assumed to be Canada's capital - but in fact that honor goes to the
much smaller city of Ottawa, also in Ontario. Montreal is Canada's second largest city,
located in the mainly French-speaking province of Quebec. Montreal is considered a
rather classy, highly cultured European-seeming city which just happens to be located
on the North American continent More than half of Canada's population live in these
two provinces.

The Atlantic Region

Finally we come to the Atlantic provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince
Edward Island and Newfoundland, which are also known as the Maritimes Nova

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Scotia was actually the first part of Canada to be settled, in 1604, whereas
Newfoundland was the last province to join Canada-in 1949. Newfoundlanders voted
to join Canada. These maritime provinces are small in population and largely rely on
the fishing industry for their economic wealth. They are traditionally rather poor and
so money from the richer Canadian provinces is transferred to them, in order to ensure
they enjoy the same quality of life as the richer areas. However, they are rich in
farming and forestry products, and the spectacular scenery of the region makes it a
popular tourist destination.

In terms of its geography, then, Canada is very varied. Its geography is very important
in understanding the different natures of the Canadian people. Canada is a country
made up of largely immigrants, and it was the geography that largely dictated the
kinds of immigrants which came.

History

While the vast regions of North America were long populated by Aboriginal peoples-
the native Indians-with rich cultures and highly developed societies, Canada as a
concept and a country is a very recent phenomenon. European contact with the
landmass that would one day become Canada is thought to have begun with the arrival
of Norsemen (Vikings) in the 11th century who came from the northern European
regions and explored Canada's far north-but they did not stay.

In 1497, John Cabot, an Italian captain in the pay of the British discovered Canada,
five years after Columbus discovered America.

Settlement by Europeans did not begin until the 17th century. It was French colonists
who first settled Canada. The earliest major settlements were established 1n Nova
Scotia in 1604 and Quebec in 1608. The French were essentially interested in Canada's
rich wildlife which provided the basis of the fur trade and the Company of New France
was set up to facilitate a growing trade in beaver pelts, which were made into highly
sought after fashion items in the rich societies back home in Europe. Indians trapped
animals and traded the pelts for European items they desired.

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The British were jealous of the French success and soon began to compete for territory
and trading centers. The Hudson's Bay Company was founded in 1670 to rival the
French company, and for over 200 years exercised power over the Canadian north.
You can still shop in Hudson's Bay Company stores today-although now they are
fashionable department stores rather than places to trade beaver pelts for snowshoes
and gunpowder.

Throughout the 18th century there were battles fought between the various Indian
tribes and the French and British entrepreneurs. The constant wars fought between
Britain and France faraway in Europe also affected the fortunes of what would one
day become Canada, as overseas territories and rights were won, lost and traded.
American history also affected Canada's history: following the American War of Inde-
pendence, many of those who had remained loyal to the British monarchy left the
newly republican America to settle north of the border. The French Revolution also
caused concerns in its far-flung colonies and interests. This age of European
uncertainty provided the impetus for the merging of the different areas into a
confederation. In 1867 Canada was born when Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia all joined together. As time passed, other provinces and territories also
joined.

What’s in a name?

What does the word “Canada” means? Its actual derivation is uncertain, but many
explanations exist. These stories about the very word "Canada" are indications of the
diverse cultural background of the country. Some say that it comes from the Spanish
for "nothing here", which might well have been the comments of the Spanish explorers
who, looking for a passage to Asia, encountered this large, wild, forested, apparently
unpopulated islands off the west coast of the country. (In fact, it was explorers who
mistook Canada for India that began calling Aboriginal peoples "Indians").

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Others suggest the name of Canada comes from one or more of the languages spoken
by the First Nations (a term now use to describe original Canadians). In Cree, it means
"clean land"; in Mohawk, "castle"; to the Iroquois, ka-na-ta meant "village".

Exercises
I. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F):
1. .......... Canada is the largest country in North American continent.
2. .......... Canada is rated regularly as having the highest standard of living in the
world because it has rich natural resources.
3. .......... The majority of the Canadian population live in an area not far away
from the Canadian-US border.
4. .......... French is an official language in. Quebec and maritime provinces.
5. .......... Toronto is the biggest city and the capital of Canada.
6. .......... Canada became a country in 1949 with the entry of Newfoundland into
the Union.
II. Choose the answer that best completes the statement or answers the question:
1. Which of the following statements about Canada is true?
A. Canada has the highest standard of living in the world.
B. Canada is the second biggest economy among the Big Seven.
C. Contrast to its physical size, Canada has a small population.
D. Unlike the United States, Canada has scarce natural resources.
2. Which of the following about the north region is NOT true?
A. The north is a scarcely populated area of ice and oceans.
B. Most of the inhabitants are Aboriginal people.
C. The north has rich oil and gas deposits.
D. People in this region depend only on arts and crafts for living.
3. What is the economic mainstay of British Columbia?
A. The forestry industry.
B. The hydroelectric industry.
C. Mining industry.
D. Manufacturing industry.

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4. Which of the following is NOT one of the prairie provinces?

A. Alberta.
B. Saskatchewan.
C. New Brunswick.
D. Manitoba.
5. Which of the following provinces is known as "the Land of 100 000 Lakes"?
A. Nova Scotia.
B. Newfoundland.
C. Manitoba.
D. British Columbia.
6. Who first came and settled Canada?
A. British colonists.
B. French colonists.
C. American colonists.
D. Spanish colonists.
7. Which of the following statements about Central Canada is NOT true?
A. Early European settlements started from here.
B. More than half of Canada's population live in here.
C. It has the largest cities like Toronto and Montreal.
D. It's well-known for its mining and forestry industries.
III. Fill in the blanks:
1. Canada consists of ..................provinces and...................... territories. But most
Canadians live in the south of the country, along the 49th parallel.
2. Canada is quite a new country, it first became .a .political entity in
....................when four provinces - Quebec, Ontario;..................and Nova
Scotia joined together.
3. Canada's motto is that the country stretches "from sea .to sea", with ,the
........................... Ocean on the west coast and the ......................... Ocean on
the east coast.
4. Canada and the United States have good relations, and they share the 1ongest

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...........................'in the world.

5. In the north of Canada, during the height of summer the sun does not set,
therefore it is sometimes called ...........................
6. The westernmost province in Canada is BC.......................... . The
......................... are Canada’s breadbasket while Ontario and Quebec are
actually the industrial heartland of the country.
7. The capital of Canada is ........................... and the second largest city is
....................... .
8. The first major European settlements were established in ...............................
in 1604 and ...................... in 1608.
9. In the process of earlier settlement, French set up ........................... and Britain
founded ................ to facilitate early fur trade.
IV. Questions for Consideration

1. Why is Canada regularly rated as having the best standard of living in the world?
2.Why do Canadians seek a national identity? What is so unique about Canadian
culture?

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UNIT 2: THE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF CANADA

Focal points:
1. Canada' s political system
2. a nation based on "peace, order and good government"
3. tolerance of different values and customs
4. English-speaking Canada
5. French-speaking Canada
6. Canada's system of government
7. the Governor General
8. the federal government
9. the House of Commons the Senate

Historical Background

Canada's political system reflects the two major foreign influences on the historical
development of the country: on the one hand, its legacy as a former colony of Britain,
and on the other, the powerful influence exerted by its neighbor to the south, the
United States.

In Britain, the central government in London wields most political power. Canada
retained British structures, but it was impossible to recreate British conditions in a
vast, unknown, unpopulated wilderness. Over time, strong provincial governments
were persuaded to join into the Canadian "confederation", usually after the founding
fathers in Central Canada promised to grant new members special favors. For ex-
ample, British Columbia agreed to join confederation on the basis that the railroad
would be extended all the way to the west coast. In the 1980s, when the federal
government tried to save money by closing down little used rail services in the west,
British Columbians fought back with the argument that their railway was protected by
the Canadian constitution.

Provincial governments operate on the same model as the federal government at a

lower level. Each province is led by a Premier, who is head of the provincial house,

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called the legislative assembly. Provincial governments have a great deal of power
over controlling the local economy, and education and health systems. For example,
China might be visited by trade delegations from a particular province as well as
representatives of the whole country.

American ideas influenced the Canadian system to some degree. For example,
freedom of speech and freedom of information are much more valued in contemporary
Canada than they are in Britain, and these values owe much to the American
protection of such rights. Nowadays, when Canadian society appears to outsiders to
be so similar to American society at first glance, it can be difficult to capture the
essence of what makes Canadian society feel different. The answer can in part be
found in the two slogans which define the political aspirations of the two countries.
While the United States was founded on the idea of individualism - Americans aspire
to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" - Canadians chose to found a nation based
on "peace, order and good government". In other words, for Canadians, the well-being
and liberty of individuals must sometimes be sacrificed for the greater good of the
community.

Structures of Government

As a former British colony, Canada's system of government was based on the British
system of parliamentary democracy. This is often referred to as "Westminster-style"
democracy, named after the British House of Commons. Like other former colonies
like New Zealand and Australia, many Canadian laws, political practices and customs
were brought from the "Old Country" and adapted to the different conditions of the
new country. At first glance, the similarity between British and Canadian political
conditions are great; but when you look more closely, you can see important
differences which have arisen from the experience of governing a huge but sparsely
populated country.

Like Britain, Canada is a monarchy. The official head of state is the Queen, who is
also the Queen of Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and other former British

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colonies. The Queen is Canada's queen in her own right; if, for example, Britain
decided to become a republic, the Queen would still be the Queen of Canada. Because
she does not live in Canada, she is represented by an official called a Governor-
General. When heads of state visit Canada, they will first be greeted by the Governor-
General, before being welcomed by the Prime Minister.

Both the Queen and the Governor General occupy roles which are largely ceremonial.
Most Canadians would be unable to tell you the name of the current governor general,
or identify him or her in a picture. And while the Queen and her family are regarded
with affection by most Canadians, the monarchy as such bears little relevance to the
governing of modem Canada.

The biggest difference between Canada and the UK is that Canada is a federation -
that is, it is ten provinces and two territories, each with their own government, which
have joined to form one country. The government of the whole country is referred to
as the "federal government", to distinguish it from the lower level governments of
each province. These provinces all have a great deal of power in relation to the federal
government.

The Canadian parliament is divided into a lower house, the House of Commons, and
an upper house called the Senate. Canadians vote in elections for people they want to
represent them .in the House of Commons. These Members of Parliament (MPs) each
fill a "seat" in the House of Commons, which represents a particular electoral district.

Electoral districts are based on population rather than geographic size, so there are
more MPs from urban areas and very few from the sparsely settled, wilder regions of
Canada. The House of Commons contains about 300 seats. Because most of the
Canadian population is concentrated in Ontario and Quebec, these two provinces have
the most seats and therefore the most power in the House of Commons. This has
caused a lot of trouble because the provinces with smaller population; feel they are
not adequately listened to by "Central Canada".

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As is the case in Britain, MPs generally all belong to political parties. The party that
wins the most seats forms the government; the party leader becomes Prime Minister,
and so, like in the UK, the most important person in Canadian government is the Prime
Minister. The Cabinet, chosen by the Prime Minister, consists of senior MPs from the
governing party. They are usually given particular areas of responsibility, like external
affairs, multiculturalism, or health and education.

The Senate, the upper house, is not elected. It is appointed by the Governor General,
who acts on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Senate is not like the US
Senate, but analogous to the House of Lords in the UK, although the Lords can earn
their seat by right of birth as well as by being appointed. To balance the fact that the
Commons is dominated by MPs from populous Ontario and Quebec, senators are, by
tradition, picked to represent the regions more equally. There have been calls in recent
years to reform the Senate and make it an elected body.

Exercises
I. Decide if the following statements are true (T) or false (F):
1. .......... In history, British Columbia agreed to join confederation on condition
that the railroad would be built to the west coast.
2. .......... Provincial governments are responsible for the local economy,
education and health system.
3. .......... The Governor-General is the representative of the Queen and is the head
of the government.
4. .......... The Canadian government is divided into an upper house called the
House of Commons, and a lower house called the Senate.
5. .......... Canada is a monarchy.
6. ………. The Senate is controlled by the House of Commons.
7. ……….. The Senate is appointed by the Governor General.
II. Choose the answer that best completes the statement or answers the question:
1. Who is the most influential person in the Canadian government?
A. The Queen.

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B. The Cabinet Minister.

C. The Prime Minister.
D. The Governor General.
2. Which of the following about the Queen is true?
A. She is the official head of state.
B. She is a member of the Cabinet.
C. She is a symbol of parliamentary democracy.
D. She is a symbol of Canada.
3. Which of the following provinces are densely populated in Canada?
A. Saskatchewan and Ontario.
B. Ontario and Quebec.
C. Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
D. Quebec and Manitoba.
4. Which of the following is not correct?
A. The Senate is controlled by the House of Commons.
B. The Senate is not elected by Canadian people.
C. The Senate is recommended by the Prime Minister.
D. The Senate is appointed by the Governor General.
5. Which of the following provinces is the home of most French-speaking people in
Canada?
A. Manitoba.
B. Ontario.
C. Saskatchewan.
D. Quebec.
III. Fill in the blanks:
1. Canada preferred to establish a nation based on ....................... , .......................
and good government.
2. Canada's political system was greatly influenced by the two major foreign
forces: ....................... and .................. .
3. Most of the Canadian population is concentrated in ....................... and

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Quebec, which have the most seats and therefore have the most power in
....................... .
4. Canada's system of government was based on the British system of
parliamentary democracy. The Canadian Parliament is divided into a lower
house named ....................... and an upper house called ....................... .
5. The official head of Canada is ....................... .As she doesn't live in Canada,
she is represented by an official called ...................... .
6. The Senate is not ......................., whereas the House of Commons is elected
based on population rather than geographical size, so there are more MPs from
....................... areas than from wilder regions of Canada.
7. In Canada, each province is led by a ......................., who is head of the
provincial house, called the ....................... .

IV. Questions for Consideration

1. Discuss the similarities and differences in the government systems between the
United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
2. What are some of the characteristics of the Canadian party system?
3. What are some of the things that make Canada a unique and interesting
country?

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UNIT 3: THE CANADIAN MOSAIC

Focal points:
1. the Canadian mosaic
2. multiculturalism
3. the First Nations
4. the Inuit
5. the Metis
6. immigration policy of Canada
7. Immigration Act 1976
8. Quebec and French Canadians

Many people are familiar with the notion that American society is a “melting pot”.
The melting pot conveys the idea of successive waves of immigrants coming to the
new country of the United States and throwing off their old customs, languages and
traditions in flavor of becoming “American”.

In contrast, Canada, also a nation of immigrants, is usually described as being a

“mosaic”. When the British allowed the defeated French the right to retain their
language, religion and customs in Canada, the stage was set for a different kind of
country to emerge in which no particular concept of an overarching Canadian identity
would be promoted. Instead, both French speakers and English speakers were equally
“Canadian”. When new settlers brought their different customs and ways of life to
their new Canadian home, they did not throw them off completely, but adapted them
to the new environment. Thus Canada, it is felt, resembles a mosaic of different
cultures which overlap but do not overwhelm each other.

Multiculturalism has caused something of a problem in that Canadians often feel they
lack a "national identity." But in fact, this patchwork quilt of different nationalities
and communities is central to what Canada is: a multicultural, bilingual country where

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efforts are made to protect, promote and celebrate the ways of the different kinds of
people who live there.

The first Canadian

Thousands of years before the first European explorers "discovered" it, the land that
would one day become known as Canada was populated by tribes of aboriginal
people. These people used to be called "Indians: it is said that when Columbus
discovered America, he thought he had arrived in India and thus accidentally
misidentified the native population as being "Indian". Since the 1980s native
Canadians have' been officially referred to as "the First Nations": "first" because they
are the original inhabitants of the country, and "nations" because there is not one
single group or culture-there are many "nations", or tribes, which have different
languages, customs and beliefs. The term "Indian" was discarded because it did not
reflect the rich cultural diversity and contributions of these peoples. Calling them
"Indians" is like calling all the people who live in Europe and North America "western
people." While it is not incorrect, it is not very descriptive. The First Nations now
make up about 3% of the Canadian population, and their numbers are increasing due
to high birthrates.

The languages, beliefs, customs and activities of the First Nations varied according to
where they lived. The life-style of the people who inhabited Canada's coasts depended
on fishing and hunting; those who lived on the prairies were nomads that hunted herds
of buffalo which provided them with food, clothing and tools; and in central and
eastern Canada. the First Nations grew crops as well as hunted.

In addition to the First Nations, Canada's constitution officially recognizes two other
special groups of aboriginal peoples. In the far north are the Inuit (Eskimo), a group
who adapted to the harsh conditions of the arctic climate by hunting seals, whales,
caribou and polar bears. Today, some of these people still live this way; others can
now make a living through selling their carvings and handicrafts which are prized by
collectors for their beauty. The final group is the Métis, who emerged when French

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fur traders married Indian women. In appearance and in life-styles, their children
inherited characteristics from both their European and aboriginal backgrounds and
their close involvement in the fur trade made their economic development different
from other aboriginal peoples. For these reasons it was decided that the Métis consti-
tuted an aboriginal people different from the other two groups.

Canada's aboriginal peoples were vital to the fur trade and thus played a huge role in
Canada's economic development, but they were treated very badly by their white
Europeans who came to colonies Canada. Native peoples were coerced into signing
treaties which allowed settlers to take over their land, and they had been treated as
second class Canadians for centuries. They were forced to live on reserves, and until
1961, were forbidden to vote or consume alcohol. They are a sector of Canadian
society that remains discriminated against today.

While in recent years their situation has improved, and they have become more
politically active, aboriginal peoples are still, as a group, Canada's poorest inhabitants.
They have less money than any other ethnic group, including new immigrants. Their
income is less than half the Canadian average; their life expectancy is 10 years lower
than the Canadian average; their infant mortality rate twice as high they are vulnerable
to diseases like tuberculosis which are more commonly seen in the third world than
the first world. The suicide rate of native Canadians is the highest in the world, and
the second highest incidence of lung cancer in the world is found in Inuit women.
International human rights groups and the United Nations have criticized the Canadian
government's systematic discrimination against its native population, and Amnesty
International has called Canada "barbaric" in its treatment of the First Nations.

The situation is improving slowly. Federal and provincial governments are engaged
in negotiating land claims and rights settlements which are aimed at giving Native
Canadians more control over their economic, social, and political futures. In general,
while there is still a lot of work to be done before the First Nations will be able to
flourish as a distinct and integral part of Canada, nowadays most Canadians agree that
they have been treated badly for far too long and that it is time for a change.

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The Settlers

Canada, like the US, is very much a nation of immigrants. The number of aboriginal
peoples was very small compared to the size of the country and in the last two
centuries the Canadian population has grown because of official government
immigration policies. These policies have largely been determined by economic
considerations, and while nowadays Canadians celebrate their multicultural heritage,
the policies which brought settlers to Canadian shores were always based on practical
economic considerations. In short, immigration meant importing labor, and even
today immigration policy is based on who the country needs to help it prosper.

Immigration policy has traditionally followed the demands of the changing Canadian
labor market. From the 1890s through the 1920s, for example, the governments
wanted to settle the Prairie Provinces and develop the mining industry and so it
encouraged immigration from central and Eastern Europe, a source of farmers and
miners who would bring the skills necessary to develop these two industries in the
new country. In the same period, Chinese laborers fled the political upheavals and
economic deprivations in their country and came to Canada to help build the railroad.
They were denied many rights, but nevertheless decided to stay in Canada and now,
for example, the west coast city of Vancouver is home to the second largest Chinese
community in North America, after San Francisco. Japanese came to fish, Ukrainians
came to farm and Finns came to harvest the forests. Sometimes, Canada had difficulty
tempting enough new immigrants: for many, the United States was and remains the
first choice.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, when thousands were thrown out of work,
Canada's immigration market was closed to virtually everyone but Britons and
Americans. It refused to accept refugees fleeing from Hitler's Germany and banned
Asian immigration. But when World War II ended, an economic upturn, demand for
raw materials and increased consumer spending meant that Canada opened its doors
again and looked abroad for workers. Nevertheless, it was those nationalities
Canadian policy-makers thought would fit most easily into Canada that were courted,

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and restrictions on Asians persisted, while Britons, Americans and Northern

Europeans were welcomed. They were offered special low fares, land grants, and
other incentives to come, and come they did. Between 1947 and 1991, the Canadian
population doubled, rising from 13 million to 27 million - and this was largely due to
immigration.

Immigration policy is directed by both provincial and federal governments, and at

time this has led to particular tensions. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in
1941, in both Canada and the United States, the Japanese population, which was
mainly concentrated on the west coast of North America, suddenly seemed to be a
potential security threat to the local population, who feared they would assist in an
invasion. In Canada, federal policy-makers were not worried about the small numbers
of west coast Japanese, but local governments campaigned hard to have this "threat"
dealt with. In the end, the Japanese were removed from the coasts and kept in camps
east of the Rocky Mountains.

In more recent years, the federal government has encouraged Asian immigration,
offering passports to those with capital and/or entrepreneurial skills. Would-be
immigrants with more than $250 000 (Can) to invest in businesses that will create jobs
and wealth were welcomed to apply to come to Canada, along with their families, in
the Immigration Act of 1976. Again, this federal policy, which created a new category
of "entrepreneurial immigrants”, has had consequences for local populations. In the
late 1980s: Vancouver, already the home of a long-established Chinatown, became a
magnet for rich business people from Hong Kong. In most cases, immigrants are poor
and begin their new life at the lowest rung of society, but wealthy Hong Kong
immigrants arrived able to buy up property and businesses, and their presence rapidly
changed the way Vancouver looks. Cantonese traffic signs and shopping centers that
catered to Chinese customers soon sprang up in areas of the city.

Canada continues to encourage new settlers to its shores. The incentive remains
largely economic. Canada has an aging population and a falling birthrate. Policy-
makers realize that they need to encourage immigration in order to ensure a strong

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work force and the tax base the government needs to support its expenditures into the
next century.

There have long been racist overtones to Canadian attitudes to immigration, in that
white Europeans have been favored because it was felt they would fit most easily into
Canadian society. This, along with the purely economic concerns that have informed
immigration policy, makes Canada look hardheaded rather than humanitarian.
Canada's refusal to assist refugees in World War II is a particular source of shame,
and more recent governments have tried to make amends for such injustices, such as
apologizing to loyal Japanese Canadians who were imprisoned and had their property
taken away during the war.

More positively, Canadian public opinion was moved by the plight of the Vietnamese
"boat people" who fled their country in large numbers in 1979. Public opinion
persuaded the government to assist the boat people and by the end of 1980, Canada
had the highest per capita intake of Vietnamese refugees in the world, topping 60000
Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Laotians.

In recent years, there has been increasing fear that Canada as we know it will
disappear. This is because the mainly French-speaking province of Quebec has
thought that its linguistic and cultural heritage is threatened by remaining in a country
that is mainly English-speaking. Quebeckers have also felt that they have been
economically dominated by English Canada. As a result of these worries, many
French Canadians feel they should separate from the rest of Canada and become an
independent state, since they have not been able to reach an agreement to protect
Quebec's "distinct society".

Many Canadians both inside and outside Quebec regard the possibility of Quebec
independence with despair and continue to work to find a way to meet the concerns
and interests of all Canadians, including French speakers throughout the country.

Some 600000 French speakers live outside Quebec. The federal government tries to
keep their culture alive by offering French-language radio and television programs

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and protecting the right of French speakers to attend French-speaking schools. In areas
where there are enough francophone to warrant it, government offices offer bilingual
services. And everyone throughout the country has the right to a criminal trial in either
official language.

Exercises

I. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F):
1. ........ Officially, Canada refers to itself as a multicultural society within a
bilingual framework.
2. ........ The Metis are a group of aboriginal people who inherited both their French and
aboriginal backgrounds.
3. ........ The aboriginal people in Canada gained the right to vote in 1920s.
4. ........ From the 1890s through the 1920s, the Canadian governments encouraged
immigrants from northern Europe to farm and harvest the forests.
5. ........ The majority residents in Quebec are French speakers, and there are about 600
000 French speakers living outside Quebec.
6. ........ Provincial government offices all over Canada offer bilingual services.
7. ........ During the Great Depression, Canada welcomed refugees fleeing from German
but banned Asian immigration.
8. .......... The Canadian immigration policies are directed by both provincial and federal
governments, and have been largely determined by economic considerations.
II. Choose the answer that best completes the statement or answers the question:
1. What is the other official language besides English in Canada?
A. German
B. Japanese
C. French.
D. Finnish
2. Around the beginning of 20th century, Chinese labourers came to Canada to ........
A. work as farmers and miners
B. build the railroad
C. do fur trade
D. open shops

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3. Which of the following group would fit easily into Canada according to the Canadian
policy-makers?
A. Britons.
B. Japanese.
C. Ukranians.
D. Mexicans.
4. According to the text, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour in 1941, who
considered the Japanese population in the west coast of North America a potential
security threat?
A. The federal government of Canada.
B. The local governments in Canada.
C. The United Nations.
D. Amnesty International.
5. In Vancouver schools, it is estimated that more than half of the students speak .......
A. English
B. French
C. Mandarin Chinese
D. Cantonese
III. Fill in the blanks:
1. Many people use the notion that American society is a ................ while Canada is
described as a ......................
2. Multiculturalism has caused something of a problem in that Canadians often feel they
lack a “.....................”.
3. The life-styles of the people who inhabited Canada's coasts depended on fishing and
.....................; those who lived on the prairies were ..................... that hunted herds of
buffalo; in the central and eastern Canada, the First Nations grew crops as well as hunted.
4. Generally speaking, the ................ people are still, as a group, Canada's poorest
inhabitants.
5. The Canadian policies which brought settlers to Canada were always based on
..................... considerations.
6. The city of ..................... has the second largest Chinese community in North
America, after ..................... .
7. The Immigration Act 1976 created a new category of ..................... .

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8. In addition to the First Nations, Canada's constitution officially recognizes two other
special groups of aboriginal peoples: ..................... and ..................... .
IV. Questions for Consideration·
1. How do you understand "multiculturalism"? What is the advantage of living in a
multicultural society? Do you think there is multiculturalism in China?
2. Give your comment on Canada's practical economic approach to immigration. Is it
natural that people tend to accept more readily those who fit more easily into their
society?
3. Why is immigration an explosive political issue?

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