Canada - Geography, Political system, Cities, Population, History, Economy and transportation

Most of inhabitants live near the border with the USA by the St Lawrence River where first French colonists settled.

Canada is bilingual country, but majority of people speak English (70%), less French (20%) and the rest are bilingual. Most of the French-speaking population lives in the province of Quebec.

Canada’s population in 1994 was 28,8 million.

Indians

In Canada live about 300 000 of Indians. Majority of them (180 000) lives in special reservations. These reservations are about 2200 and their surface is about 2,5 million hectares. They spoke with about 50 languages, but they can be divided into 10 groups. Till second world war their population was dying out, but after it their population was stabilised on today’s number. Indians have in Canada almost the same problems like the Romas in Czech Republic. They have problems to get the work, because they are less qualified than “normal” people, government is trying to include them in normal society, but it is long and difficult process.

Eskimos

Number of Eskimos and Inuits, which are similar to Eskimos, is much more smaller than number of Indians. They are only 19 000 and it is 0,1% of Canada’s population. Most of them live in the northern part of Labrador and on Arctic Isles. Today’s Indians mostly do not use dog teams, but they rather use motorised sledge. They mostly live from hunting and they earn some money on making of souvenirs. Eskimos are in the same social situation as Indians are. Both these nations are in state represented by minister for “indian and northern affairs”.

History

1000 Vikings came 1497 G. Caboto landed on Newfoundland 1535 territory became French dominion 1605 founded first colony Port Royal 1608 founded Quebec, centre of New France 1623 New Scotland is first English colony in Canada 1670

founded Company of Hudson’s Bay6

společnost Hudsonova zálivu

1713 in Utrecht peace gave French to England area around Hudson bay 1754-63 seven years war 1759

French defeated7 near Quebec

poraněni

1760

French surrender8 near Montreal

kapitulovat

1763 peace in Paris 1774-83

Quebec law (all territories located western from Appalachian Mountains9 joined to Quebec) - against American colonists

Apalačské pohoří

1775-76 Americans attempt at conquest British Canada 1791 by constitutional act was Quebec separated to French-speaking Lower Canada and English-speaking Upper Canada 1818 created border with USA on 49° 1837-38

unsuccessful anti-british insurrection10

povstání

1840 joined Upper and Lower Canada by act of union 1867 Canada became British dominion 1896 founded gold in valley of Klondike river, golden rush started 1931 Westminster status - independent of Canada in Commonwealth 1945 member of OSN 1981 English and French languages are equal 1982 canceled last formal law connections with Great Britain 80’s-90’s referendum about political reforms - federalists were unsuccessful 1993 Canada joined agreement NAFTA 1994 in elections in Quebec won separatistic party 1995 conflict with countries of EU about fishing 1995 - October in referendum in Quebec won federalists