Editing Canada

{{country |
native_name = République Canadienne | 
common_name = Canada |
image_flag = Canada 1 jpg.JPG |
image_coat = |
national_motto = (in [[Latin]]) ''A Mari Usque Ad Mare''<br>(From Sea to Sea) |
national_anthem = [[Ô Canada]]|
image_map = Location Canada.PNG|
capital = [[Québec]] |latd=46|latm=48|latNS=N|longd=71|longm=23|longEW=W|
name = Formal Name:République Canadiennel <br>Common Name:Canada |
largest_city = [[Montréal]] |
official_languages = [[French language|French]] |
government_type = Republic|
leader_titles = [[President of Canada|President]]<br>[[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]]<br>|
leader_names = [[Michaëlle Jean]]<br>[[Gilles Duceppe]]|
sovereignty_type = [[Independence]] |
established_events = -[[Declaration of Independence]]<br>-[[Constitution]]<br>-[[1st Presidental Election]] |
established_dates = From [[France]]<br>[[February 29]], [[1852]]<br>[[July 29]], [[1856]]<br>[[July 1]], [[1867]] |
area = n|
area_rank = n|
area_magnitude = n|
percent_water = n|
population_estimate = 32.6 million |
population_estimate_year = 2005 |
population_estimate_rank = n|
population_census = n|
population_census_year = 2001|
population_density = n|
population_density_rank = n|
GDP_PPP_year = 2005|
GDP_PPP = 34,444 F, 26,000 €|
GDP_PPP_rank = n|
GDP_PPP_per_capita = n|
GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = n|
HDI_year = 2005|
HDI = 0.949|
HDI_rank = 5|
HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font> |
currency = [[Piastre]] (P) |
currency_code = CAP |
time_zone = |
utc_offset = -5 to -8 |
time_zone_DST = |
utc_offset_DST = -4 to -7 |
cctld = .ca |
calling_code = [[North American calling codes|12]] |
footnotes =  |}}


The '''Republic of Canada''' (''République du Canada'') is a republic in [[North America]], stretching across the width of the centre of the North American landmass generally to the north of the [[Great Lakes]], [[Saint Lawrence River]], and [[Western Sea]]. 

The national capital is [[Québec]].

Although constitutionally defined as a unitary republic, Canada shares some power with its four regions (''régions'') which regroup the 63 departments (''départements''), and four indigenous territories (''territoires autochthones'').

Inhabited for at least ten millennia by [[Aboriginal peoples in Canada|aboriginal peoples]], Canada is the successor to the [[French colonial empire|French colonies]].  

Canada obtained its sovereignty from France in a process beginning from the declaration of independence in 1852.  Canada was then still part of [[France]], but refused the overthrow of the 2nd French Republic by Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte.  The ensuing negociations were though peaceful, and the process culminated in the promulgation of the Canadian republic in 1856, with Napoleon III as sovereign president of the Republic, represented by a governor-general.

Full independence was then achieved in 1867, with the election of a Canadian president.

Today, Canada is governed as a [[republic]] and [[parliamentary democracy]]. Canada's [[head of state]] is its [[president]].  The head of government is the [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]]. The most recent federal [[Canadian federal election, 2006|general election]] was held on [[January 23|23 January]] [[2006]].

[[Canadian French|French]] is the official language of the country. In the early [[1970s]], Canada began to adopt policies based on the concepts of cultural diversity and multiculturalism.  Many Canadians now view this as one of the country's key attributes.

A technologically advanced and industrialized nation, Canada is a net exporter of energy because of its large fossil fuel deposits, [[nuclear energy]] generation, and [[hydroelectric power]] capacity. 

Its diversified [[Economy of Canada|economy]] relies heavily on an abundance of natural resources and trade within the [[North American Union]], which Canada is one of the founders, and particularly with the [[Philadelphian Union]] and [[California]].  

One of the most important features in Canada's economy is transportation, especially by the [[Western Seaway]], which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the [[St. Lawrence]] river, the [[Great Lakes]] and the [[Orient Canal]].


==Canada's name==

The name ''Canada'' is believed to come from the [[Wyandot|Huron]]-[[Iroquoian languages|Iroquois]] word ''kanata'', which means "village" or "settlement". In 1535, locals used the word to tell [[Jacques Cartier]] the way to [[Stadacona]], site of present-day Quebec City. Cartier used Canada to refer not only to Stadacona, but also to the entire area subject to Donnacona, Chief at Stadacona; by 1547, maps began referring to this and the surrounding area as Canada.



== Geography ==

Canada has land or water borders with most of the other countries in North America, including, clockwise from the north, [[Nahiyaw]], [[Nunavut]], [[New Wales]], [[Musquodoboit]], [[Massachusetts Bay]], [[Vermont]], the [[Philadelphian Union]], [[California]], and [[British Columbia]]. 

The country's largest cities are [[Québec]] and [[Montréal]] (in Québec), [[Toronto]] (in Ontario), [[La Vérendrye]] (in Manitoba), and [[Séhalte]] (in Île-Ste-Hélène).

Other important cities:
* In Québec: Chicoutimi, Drumont, Gaspé, Gatineau, Grandes-Fourches, Laval, Longueuil, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Jérôme, Saint-Georges, Rimouski, Roberval, Trois-Rivières.
* In Ontario: Barry, La Fayette, Niagara, Sainte-Catherine, Ottawa, Paris, Ste-Anne-des-Pins, Versailles.
* In Manitoba: Coeur-d'Alène, [[Juillet]] (site of the 1988 Winter Olympics), Saint-Albert, [[Saint-Boniface]].
* In Île-Sainte-Hélène: Tacoma, Port-Vancouver.


== Regions, departments and territories ==

=== [[Île Sainte-Hélène]] ===

Capital: [[Olympie]]
* Pacifique (48) (prefecture: [[Olympie]])
* Volcans (63) (prefecture: Tacoma).


=== [[Manitoba]] ===
Capital: [[Saint-Boniface]]
* Assiniboine (05) (prefecture: Portage-La-Prairie)
* Deux-Saskatchewan (11) (prefecture: Batoche)
* Glaciers (17) (prefecture: Coeur-d'Alène)
* Haute-Rouge (21) (prefecture: St-Fargeau)
* Haute-Saskatchewan (22) (prefecture: St-Albert)
* Lac-Winnipeg (30) (prefecture: Beauséjour)
* Mer-de-l'Ouest (36) (prefecture: [[La Vérendrye]])
* Piémont (49) (prefecture: Cerf-Rouge)
* Prairies (50) (prefecture: Gravelbourg)
* Qu'Appelle (51) (prefecture: La Reine)
* Rocheuses (55) (prefecture: [[Juillet]])
* Rouge-et-Assiniboine (56) (prefecture: [[Saint-Boniface]])
* Saskatchewan (57) (prefecture: Dauphin)


=== [[Ontario]] ===
Capital: [[Toronto]]

* Algoma (02) (prefecture: Sault-Ste-Marie)
* Algonquins (03) (prefecture: Bonnechère)
* Baie-Huronne (07) (prefecture: Pénétanguichène)
* Falaises (13) (prefecture: La Fayette)
* Grande-Rivière (18) (prefecture: Berlin)
* Lac-des-Bois (25) (prefecture: Fort-Françoise)
* Lac-Érié (26) (prefecture: Versailles)
* Lac-Ontario (27)  (prefecture: Toronto)
* Lac-Supérieur (29) (prefecture: Duluth)
* Manitoulin (34) (prefecture: Sainte-Anne-des-Pins)
* Mer-Douce (37) (prefecture: St-Ouen)
* Mille-Îles (38) (prefecture: Frontenac)
* Missinaba (39) (prefecture: Barry)
* Missisuaga (65) (prefecture: Missisauga)
* Muscoca (42) (prefecture: Pierrebourg)
* Niagara (43)  (prefecture: Sainte-Catherine)
* Nipigon (44) (prefecture: Baie-du-Tonnerre)
* Nipissin (45) (prefecture: Baie-du-Nord)
* Quinte (52) (prefecture: Belleville)
* Rideau (54) (prefecture: Outaoutais)
* Saint-Laurent-et-Outaouais (59) (prefecture: Bretagne)
* Seine (61) (prefecture: Paris)
* Témiscamingue (62) (prefecture: Nouvelle-Lille)

=== [[Québec (province)|Québec]] ===
Capital: [[Montréal]]

* Abitibi (01) (prefecture: Rouyn)
* Appalaches (04) (prefecture: Lac-Mégantic)
* Bas-Saint-Laurent (08) (prefecture: Rimouski)
* Basse-Chaudière (09) (prefecture: Lévis)
* Côte-Nord (10) (prefecture: Sept-Îles)
* Fjord (14) (prefecture: Chicoutimi)
* Gaspésie (15) (prefecture: Gaspé)
* Gatineau (16) (prefecture: Gatineau)
* Haut-Saint-Laurent (19) (prefecture: Salaberry)
* Haute-Chaudière (20) (prefecture: St-Georges)
* Haute-Yamaska (23) (prefecture: Avignon)
* Île-de-la-Madeleine (24) (prefecture: Cap-aux-Meules)
* Lac-Saint-Jean (28) (prefecture: Alma)
* L'Assomption (31) (prefecture: Joliette)
* Laurentides (32) (prefecture: St-Jérôme)
* Malbaie (43) (prefecture: Baie-St-Paul)
* Memphremagog (36) (prefecture: Grandes-Fourches)
* Montmorency (40) (prefecture: Québec)
* Mont-Royal (41) (prefecture: [[Montréal]])
* Richelieu (53) (prefecture: St-Jean-s/Richelieu)
* Saint-François (58) (prefecture: Drumont)
* Saint-Maurice (60) (prefecture: Trois-Rivières)
* Val-des-Mille-Îles (66) (prefecture: Laval)
* Val-Saint-Laurent (67) (prefecture: Longueil)
* Yamaska (64) (prefecture: St-Hyacinthe)

=== Indigenous territories ===
*[[Athabasca]] (06) (capital: Grande-Prairie)
*[[Eeyou Istchi]] (12) (capital: [[Chibougamau]]) - [[Cree]]
*[[Nitassinan]] (46) (capital: [[Natashquan]]) - [[Innu]]
*[[Nunatsiavut]] (47) (capital: [[Nain]]) - [[Inuit]]


'''''Note on numbering:'''''
<small>The departments and indigenous territories are numbered together in alphabetical order, as in France.  This is reflected in licence plate and postal codes, for example.

Three departments were added in 1967 (Missisauga for the suburbs of [[Toronto]], Val-des-Mille-Îles and Val-St-Laurent for the suburbs of [[Montréal]]), and were numbered after the original sequence.

Nitassinan took over 46 from the former territory of Nord-Est, which included it and Nunatsiavut.  Nunatsiavut took over 47, formerly the number of the territory of Nord-Ouest, which included Denenedeh, Nahiyaw, and Nunavut before they gained full autonomy.</small>


== History ==
* ''See article:'' [[History of Canada]]


== Government ==

[[Image:Assemblée Nationale, Québec]]

Canada is a [[republic]] and a [[parliamentary democracy]] with a unitary system of [[Parliament|parliamentary government]], and strong [[Democracy|democratic]] traditions. The [[political system]] under which Canada operates is derived from that of the French republic, but with some British and Philadelphian influences.  

[[Constitution of Canada|Canada's constitution]] governs the legal framework of the country and consists of written text and unwritten traditions and conventions. The Constitution of the Republic was approved by referendum on July 29, 1856, after the election of a Constituent assembly.  

It has been amended many times since.  The modern amending formula is by referendum (usually), or by two-thirds approval by the Congress, which is when the Legislative assembly and Senate sit together (more rarely used now).


The Constitution includes the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (''French: La Déclaration des droits de l'Homme et du citoyen''), one of the fundamental documents of the French Revolution, defining a set of individual rights and collective rights of the people.


===Republic===

Canada was already a part of the French republic in 1852.  

The declaration of independence was caused by the refusal of Canada's colonial assembly to hold the referendum legalizing the coup by then French president Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte.  Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine, Canadian prime minister, held his own referendum confirming the assembly's declaration.  Tensions mounted, threatening violence, but distance and alliance with Philadelphia prevented violence.

The ensuing stalemate was sloved in 1856, when Napoleon III was confirmed as sovereign president of the Canadian republic.  

A more liberal Imperial government in France accepted full independence with the election of a Canadian president in 1867.  That ended the last tie with France.


=== Head of State ===
[[Image:Michaëlle Jean, President of Canada]]

The head of state is the President of Canada. In keeping with itss parliamentary system of government the President exercises largely a ceremonial role but does possess certain reserve powers. The presidency is open to all citizens who are at least 30. The president was until 1952 chosen by the Congress, that is, the members of the Legislative Assembly and the Senate.  Since then, they are directly elected by secret ballot. However, the old traditon of being chosen by the Congress survives in that a candidate may also be chosen by a consensus among the political parties, in which case it is unnecessary to proceed to a ballot. The President is elected to a six year term; no candidate may serve more than two terms.

The role of the president which on paper seems to be all-encompassing, since it is derived from the imperial governement which governed France at that time.  However, the    president has very few powers, and is largely a ceremonial figurehead. They retain the "right to advise, the right to encourage, and the right to warn."  They retain  most notably the power to appoint and dismiss a prime minister, dissolve the Assembly.  They appointed members of the Senate, but since 1982, Senators are now elected.  However, the great majority of other prerogatives and duties have devolved to the prime minister.


Canada's [[predident]] is currently Her Excellency the Right Honourable [[Michaëlle Jean]].  

The president is a non-partisan figure (no party affiliation is mentionned on the ballot) who fulfills many ceremonial and symbolic roles including providing presidential Assent to bills, reading the inaugural speech at the beginning of a legislative session, officially welcoming dignitaries of foreign countries, presenting honours such as the [[Order of Canada]], signing state documents, formally opening and ending sessions of Parliament, and [[dissolution of parliament|dissolving Parliament]] for an election.  The President is also the titular [[Commander in Chief|Commander-in-Chief]] of the Canadian Armed Forces, though, this is only a symbolic role as all actions are done at the request of the prime minister and are never disobeyed.  The position of president also beholds considerable reserve powers, but these have been rarely used.

===Executive branch===

[[Image:Gilles Duceppe, Prime Minister of Canada]]

The position of [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]], Canada's [[head of government]], in practice, belongs to the leader of the political party who can command a majority in the [[National Assembly]], either one party, or with the support of another, either informally or in a coalition.  The Prime Minister and his or her cabinet are formally appointed by the President. However, the Prime Minister usually chooses the cabinet and the President always, by convention, respects the Prime Minister's desired choices. The [[Cabinet of Canada|Cabinet]] is traditionally drawn from members of the prime minister's party in the National Assembly if one party has a majority.  In the case of a minority, the Prime Minister can form a coalition with another party and choose members of that party as well. Executive power is exercised by the prime minister and cabinet. The Prime Minister exercises a great deal of individual political power, especially in terms of the appointment of other officials within the government and [[civil service]]. [[Gilles Duceppe]], a [[Socialist Party of Canada|Socialist]], has served as Prime Minister since [[February 6]], [[2006]].

===Legislative branch===

The legislative branch of government has two houses: the National Assembly and the [[Canadian Senate|Senate]].

Each member in the Commons is elected by majority in one [[electoral district (Canada)|electoral district]] or "district"; general elections are called by the President on the advice of the prime minister, or must occur every three years. 

Members of the Senate used to be appointed by the president and chosen by the prime minister.
However, since the 12th Amendment of 1982, they are elected on a proportional basis by region by party slate.

===Political parties===
Canada has three main political groups today. 

The current government consists of a coalition of the Socialist Party and the Radical Party.

The Socialist Party, led by Gilles Duceppe, the current Prime Minister, is the major party furthest to the political left and espouses social democratic policies. It has held power with René Lévesque (1976-1984) or joined coalitions with the Radical party, recently under Jean Chrétien (1999-2002) and Paul Martin (2002-2005).

The traditionally centrist / left-of-centre Radical Party has formed the government in Canada for much of the 20th century.  Since the 1960's, it has often governed with the support or in a coalition with the Socialist Party, namely under Michel Lapierre (1964-1967), Pierre Trudeau (1967-1976), and Paul Martin (2002-2005).  However, it has also governed with the support of the Liberal party under Jean Chrétien (1990-1999).

The other parties that have been present in the National Assembly are right-of-centre and conservative parties who merge and split over time.  There are basically three currents: centre-right (the Liberal party), Conservative and right-wing, which have merged or separated in the past.

The Conservative Party ("Parti Bleu") has formed governments in the past, and was a dominant political party in the 19th century, especially under the leadership of Georges-Étienne Cartier. 

Most recently it governed under Joseph Leclerc (1984-1987) and Patrice Mulroney (1987-1990).
A Progressist Party joined the Conservatives in the 1920's.  A Liberal party joined it in the 1950's (becoming the Progressist-Conservative Party).  

The right-wing Reformist party formed in the late 1980's, and a small Liberal party (centre-right) split away in 1990.  
The "Rassemblement Républicain" was formed in 2003 when the Parti Libéral joined the "Alliance Canadienne", itself a merger of the Reformist Party and the remnants of the old Conservative Party.  Jean Charest is its current leader.  

* ''Presidents of Canada, Prime Ministers of Canada: see'' [[History of Canada]]


===Judicial branch===
[[Image:Supreme Court of Canada in Québec]]

Canada's [[judiciary]] plays an important role in interpreting laws and has the power to strike down laws that violate the constitution.  The [[Supreme Court of Canada]] is the highest court and final arbiter; its nine members are directly appointed by Cabinet.  All judges at the superior and appellate levels are selected and appointed by the federal government, after consultation with non-governmental legal bodies.  The Cabinet also appoints justices to superior courts at a regional and territorial levels.  

[[Civil law]] prevails everywhere. Criminal law is uniform throughout Canada. Law enforcement and policing is contracted to the Gendarmerie Canadienne. It is one of few police forces in the world to perform municipal and national enforcement.

===Foreign relations===

Canada has a close relationship with the Philadelphian Union,  California, and other nations of North America.  Almost all borders in North America are undefended. Canada also shares a history and long relationship with France as its "mother country."

In the last century, Canada has been an advocate for [[multilateralism]], making efforts to reach out to the rest of the world and promoting itself as a "[[middle power]]" able to work with large and small nations alike.  This was clearly demonstrated during the [[Suez Crisis]] when Michel Lapierre mollified the tension by proposing [[peacekeeping]] efforts and the inception of the [[UN peacekeeping|United Nations Peacekeeping Force]]. In 1957, Lapierre was the recipient of the [[Nobel Peace Prize]]. In that spirit, Canada developed and has tried to maintain a leading role in [[peacekeeping|UN peacekeeping efforts]]. Canada has cumulatively contributed more troops to peacekeeping operations worldwide than all other nations combined and currently serves in over 40 different peacekeeping missions. Canada has contributed in some way to all UN peacekeeping missions.

Canada is a member of the [[United Nations]], [[La Francophonie]], the [[Organization of American States]] (OAS), [[North Atlantic Treaty Organisation]] (NATO), the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD), the [[North American Union]] (NAU), the [[World Trade Organization]], the [[G8]], and [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]] (APEC).

===Military===

Canada is a founding member of the NATO alliance.  However, Canada defines itself as a pacifist country, ands its forces serve now only for peacekeeping abroad and disaster relief.

Canadian forces have served in various wars including  [[World War I]], [[World War II]].  Since Michel Lapierre proposed the first [[United Nations|UN]] peacekeeping force in 1956, the Canadian Forces have served in 42 [[peacekeeping|peacekeeping missions]] &mdash; more than any other country.  Battles significantly contributing to Canada's development and self-identity include the [[Battle of Vimy Ridge]], the [[Second Battle of Ypres]], the [[Third Battle of Ypres]] (also known as the Battle of Passchendaele), and [[Juno Beach]]. At the end of WWII, Canada was the fourth strongest military power in the world, behind the [[Philadelphian Union]], the [[United Kingdom]] and the former [[Soviet Union]].

Currently, Canadian personnel are involved in missions in [[Haiti]] and [[Kosovo]].  Canada's [[Disaster Assistance Response Team]] (DART) has participated in two relief operations in the last year.  The two-hundred member relief crew helped in [[Southeast Asia]] after the [[2004 tsunami|December 2004 tsunami]], and DART was also deployed in response to the devastating earthquake that [[2005 Kashmir earthquake|struck]] the [[Kashmir]] region in [[South Asia]] in [[October]] [[2005]].  Moreover, forces (and Gendarmerie) personnel recently assisted in [[Hurricane Katrina]] relief efforts.

== Economy ==

==== Money ====
'''Bills'''

At 1 February 2006: 1# = 0,67€ = 0,95$P
{| {{prettytable}}
! Value
! Face
! Back theme
! Colour
|-
| 5#
| Maurice Richard
| Hockey
| Blue
|-
| 10#
| Michel Lapierre
| Remembrance and peacekeeping
| Purple
|-
| 20#
| 
| Indegenous art
| Green
|-
| 50#
| 
| Human rights
| Red
|-
| 100#
| 
| Technology
| Brown
|}

'''Coins'''
* The piastre is divided in 100 centimes.

{| {{prettytable}}
! Value
! Heads
! Tails
! Metal
|-
| 1c
| La Fontaine
| maple leaf
| copper
|-
| 5c
| Cartier
| beaver
| chrome
|-
| 10c
| Laurier
| trillium
| chrome
|-
| 20c
| E Lapointe
| snowy owl
| chrome
|-
| 1#
| Trudeau
| loon
| bronze
|-
| 2#
| Lévesque
| buffalo
| bronze and chrome
|}

== Demographics ==

== Aboriginal Peoples ==

== Culture ==


===Press===



===Radio===

===TV===

{| {{prettytable}}
! 
! Logo
! Name
! Type
! Ownership
|-
| 1
| SRC1
| Radio-Canada
| gen
| public
|}

== Practical information ==
====Holidays====

====Roads====

====Telephone====

====Post codes====

{{North America}}