Canada is a large country with ten provinces and three territories. Provinces derive their powers from the Crown, while territories obtain their powers from the federal government. Each province and territory has its own identity, with unique economic and cultural activities. The territories are relatively wild, while the provinces have larger cities and commercial centers. Quebec is controversial due to its large French-speaking population, some of whom want independence.
Canada is a large country, with vast lands and many cities, towns and cultures. It is the second largest country in the world, in terms of the total area of land and water within its borders. It is relatively young as a country, however, the country was only formally formed in 1867. There are ten Canadian provinces and three territories that together make up the country as a whole.
The provinces of Canada are Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan. The territories are the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon Territory. The main difference between a Canadian territory and a province is that a Canadian province derives its powers directly from the Crown, according to the Constitution Act, 1867. Territories obtain their powers from the Canadian federal government.
The original Canadian provinces are New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. These included the Dominion of Canada, which had a central government in the present capital of Ottawa. Three other provinces joined the country during the six years following confederation: Manitoba, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island. In 1905, two more came aboard, Alberta and Saskatchewan. The last to join was Newfoundland and Labrador, in 1949.
Ontario is the most populous of Canada’s provinces, by a large margin. Quebec is second in population, and British Columbia and Alberta are third and fourth respectively. Quebec is often the most controversial of Canada’s provinces due to its large French-speaking population, some of whom want independence from Canada’s other English-speaking provinces.
Canada’s various provinces and territories have similarly federated legislative assemblies, although many have different formal names. Seven of them have a Legislative Assembly. Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador have one House of Assembly. Quebec’s main legislative body is called the National Assembly. In all cases, the province or territory has only one legislative house. In contrast, the national government is bicameral.
This idea of provincial and territorial independence also extends to economic and cultural activities, with each of Canada’s provinces or territories having its own identity. In western Canada, British Columbia is known as a major tourist mecca, Alberta is known for its oil and natural gas reserves, and Saskatchewan is known for its vast cornfields. Looking east, Manitoba is known for its agriculture and bison, Ontario is known as the business center of the country, especially with the largest city, Toronto, and Quebec is known for being different from the rest of the Canada.
Of the coastal provinces, Newfoundland and Labrador is known for its fisheries and independent heritage. New Brunswick has the largest French presence outside of Quebec and Port Hardy, one of the largest ports in the country. Nova Scotia is known for its lighthouses and lobsters. Potatoes are Prince Edward Island’s main source of fame.
The Canadian Territories are relatively wild by comparison, though the Yukon Territory comes closest to having an urban feel. The gold rush helped drive the population increase in this territory and the frontier mentality still exists despite the presence of larger cities and commercial centers. The Northwest Territories and Nunavut are vast, frozen places with small populations and more old-fashioned ways of life. Some big cities exist, of course, but they come nowhere near the urban nature of Toronto and Quebec City.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
