Canada

Canada is the world's second largest country by total area, occupying most of northern North America. Extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, Canada shares land borders with the United States to the south and to the northwest. Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. Currently, Her Majesty Queen of Canada Elizabeth II is the head of state, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean is Governor General, and the Right Honourable Stephen Harper is the Prime Minister.

History

The geographic area that Canada inhabits was first occupied by the First Nations and Inuit, although there was a Viking settlement in what is now now Newfoundland. European fishermen and explorers, notably John Cabot, first encountered North America in the 15th Century. In the 1530s, the French explorer Jacques Cartier explored the valley of the Saint Lawrence River. The first permanent European settlements were founded by Sieur de Monts in Acadia in 1604 and by Samuel de Champlain in Quebec in 1608.

Politics

Canada acheived confederation in 1867.

Canada is composed of ten provinces and three territories. The provinces are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The three territories are the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon Territory. Provincial jurisdiction is laid out in the Canada Act.

Geography

Many parts of Canada are covered by Boreal forest.

Language

English and French are Canada's two official languages. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms enshrines the personal freedoms and language rights in Canada.