LEARNING ABOUT THE COUNTRY

If you are considering working in Canada you probably know something about the country already. This section will help reinforce your knowledge.

Size and population

Canada covers 9,970,610 square km, which is about the size of all of Europe. Since the dissolution of the USSR Canada is the largest country in the world. With over 32 million inhabitants it ranks twenty-eighth in the world in terms of population. So we really are talking land of the wide open spaces!

It is worth noting, however, that approximately 77 per cent of those 32 million live in the major towns and cities, and 31 per cent of those are in the three major cities of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. (See Figure 2 for details of population distribution by provinces and territories.)

Climate

It is impossible to give an overall view of the climate of this vast country which stretches from the temperate southern area bordering on the United States to the frozen wastes of the Arctic Circle. Temperatures can range from a summer daytime high of 35°C in some southern areas to daytime winter lows of – 25°C in the far north.

Understanding government structure

If you are coming from Britain you will find the Canadian system of government very familiar. It is based on the British model and has a constitutional monarchy. The Governor General of Canada represents the Queen, the Senate is similar to the UK House of Lords and the main body of government is an elected House of Commons.

What can be confusing for the newcomer is the allocation of power between the federal and the provincial governments. Canada comprises 10 provinces and three territories, each of which has its own autonomous provincial government responsible for education, local taxes, transportation, aspects of health care, etc. The federal government, as described above, deals with national issues such as foreign policy, national taxation and the economy.

UNDERSTANDING THE PEOPLE

Knowing about multiculturalism

The vast size and varying environments within Canada affect the people and their attitudes. But perhaps the most influential factor is multiculturalism. Canada is officially proud of its multicultural heritage and although not everyone may share this sentiment, most Canadians have, by necessity, a healthy and open attitude towards those from diverse cultures.

This attitude is necessary because of the great number of people from many countries who have made Canada their home over the years. Over 11 million Canadians have some ethnic origin other than British or French, including German, Italian, Ukrainian, Dutch, Polish, Chinese, South Asian, Jewish, Caribbean, Portuguese and Scandinavian. Indeed, one in every six Canadians in their 20s is an immigrant, while one in every five has at least one parent who is an immigrant.

Speaking the language

As you are probably aware, there are two official languages in Canada: English and French. Official forms and consumer goods produced in Canada appear with both languages on them. So, if nothing else, English speakers will soon learn the French for ‘taxable allowance’, ‘flakes of corn’, and ‘free gift inside’.

In fact, 16 per cent of Canadians are bilingual, with 16 million having English as their mother tongue and 6.5 million claiming French as their first language. Interestingly, the third most common language is Chinese.

You will not find it necessary to be bilingual in most parts of Canada, although it would probably be foolish to try to get a job in the Province of Quebec without excellent written and spoken French. No matter where you choose to work, though, you will need to have a good grasp of English and French if you are aiming for any sort of federal government job.

Not to be confused with...

The United States! If you really want to rile a Canadian, call him an American or say that you can’t see much difference between the two countries. There are huge differences: in attitude, culture and politics. And it is true that Canadians are healthier, live longer, spend more on health care and have lower rates of chronic disease than their neighbours to the south.