WHAT IS NEXT FOR CANADA
Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games
A PROUD NATION IN A TRIUMPHANT CELEBRATION
After 17 remarkable days, Canada rediscovers itself as a proud, resilient nation. With a record number of gold medals, including the gold medal for our Olympic Hockey team, we are now a nation of people in celebration that has been seen and applauded by citizens around around the world by our hosting the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Now the Games have ended, our guests have returned home, the arenas are quiet, the demolitions begin and only the debts remain.
Behind the brilliant events of the Opening Ceremonial, the excitement of the games, the joys of our hosting and celebrating these games lies another Canada, one that has been with us for the past one hundred and forty three years.
DO WE CANADIANS LIVE IN A NATION, A COUNTRY OR A COLONY?
WHAT IS A NATION
A nation,is a tightly-knit group of people which share a common culture.
A State is a self-governing political entity. The term State can be used interchangeably with country.
A nation, however, is a tightly-knit group of people which share a common culture.
A nation-state is a nation which has the same borders as a State.
Independent Countries
What defines a State or an independent country.
An independent State:
Has space or territory which has internationally recognized boundaries
Has people who live there on an ongoing basis.
Has economic activity and an organized economy.
A country regulates foreign and domestic trade and issues money.
Has the power of social engineering, such as education.
Has a transportation system for moving goods and people.
Has a government which provides public services and police power.
Has sovereignty.
No other State should have power over the country's territory.
Has external recognition.
Nations are culturally homogeneous groups of people,larger than a single tribe or community,which share a common language,institutions,religion,and historical experience. When a nation of people have a State or country of their own, it is called a nation-state. Places like France, Egypt, Germany, and Japan are excellent examples of nation-states.There are some States which have two nations,such as Canada and Belgium. Even with its multicultural society,the United States is also referred to as a nation-state because of the shared American culture.
A COUNTRY IS THE TERRITORY OCCUPIED BY A NATION
A COLONY IS A COUNTRY OWNED AND CONTOLLED BY ANOTHER SOVEREIGHTY
CANADA IS A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY.
CANADA'S GOVERNOR GENERAL
Role of the Governor General
A Governor in all but name, Samuel de Champlain fulfilled 400 years ago several duties and responsibilities that would later be carried out by the Governors of New France and after Confederation, by the Governors General of Canada.
Canada became a country at Confederation in 1867. Our system of government is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of Canada and Head of State. The Governor General is the representative of the Queen in Canada.
The responsibilities of the governor-general have evolved over time.In 1947,letters patent signed by King George VI redefine the powers of the governor-general. These letters patent“authorize and empower Our Governor General,with the advice of Our Privy Council for Canada or any members thereof or individually,as the case requires,to exercise all powers and authorities lawfully belonging to us in respect of Canada”. Since then,the governor-general has daily and fully exercised the duties of the Head of State,not only in Canada,but also abroad.As per the letters patent, the governor-general is also the commander-in-chief of Canada.
The governor-general represents Canada during State visits abroad and receives Royal visitors,heads of State and foreign ambassadors at Rideau Hall and at the Citadelle of Québec.
The governor-general presents honours and awards to recognize excellence, valour, bravery and exceptional achievements.The governor-general is also the head of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Sworn in on September 27, 2005,Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean is the 27th governor-general since Confederation. As Governor-General, Her Excellency wants to create a space where,more than ever,dialogue prevails and the words of citizens are heard.
Canada,the world’s second largest land based country in the world remains,after one hundred and thirty-five years of national development,a country whose land forms are ninety percent virgin forest covered lands,mountains,interior plains and innumerable bodies of fresh water.Invaluable natural resources abound in the land, both exposed to the eye and hidden in the ground.Seasonal recreational facilities and leisure nature sanctuaries have been developed,some have achieved worldwide approval and success.Without the immediate presence of the United States as a neighbor,Canada would face a nebulous future of remaining a quasi British Colony and a member of the British Commonwealth.Canada is separated from the United States only by a loose network of rivers,lakes,and chalk lines marking out their mutual national borders. If the day ever comes that the Homeland Security Department of the United States decides that these Canadian Borders are too numerous,too porous,and far too expensive to secure and maintain and become an impediment to the American Economy, that will indeed be a sad day for Canada.
One can imagine what a new Super Nation the United States of America would be if it added Canada’s three million,eight hundred and forty-nine thousand plus square miles (3,849,674 square miles)of territory and thirty million(30,000,000)people to its present size. American governments can imagine it and assuredly are ever mindful of this potential and its advantage for the future growth and needs of the American people.Canada lies between Alaska and the lower Forty-Eight States of America. A new American Republic could one day stretch from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Circle.For now there is no pressing need or political urgency to act sooner rather than later. In the meantime an inextricable web of inclusive relationships and a complex tangle of seemingly mutually beneficial trade pacts and agreements support the ever growing establishment of American corporate presence in the national and provincial affairs of Canada. Millions of people and billions in dollars of commerce cross these borders daily.It gives daily commuters a sense of being in one country.
POPULATIONS
Canada - 30,000,000
U.S.A. - 300,000,000
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCTION
PER CAPITA 2000
Canada - 20,822 $
U.S.A. - 32,788 $
No comments:
Post a Comment