Canada's Provinces and Territories

Canada's Provinces and Territories

• Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories, which are different from states in the United States.
• Provinces have their own constitutional powers and operate similarly to American states, while territories are organized by statute and are under federal governance.
• The provinces are home to 97% of Canada's population, and each province has its own capital city.

Provinces of Canada

• The 10 provinces of Canada are:
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Nova Scotia
  • New Brunswick
  • Quebec
  • Ontario
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
• Each province has its own unique characteristics, such as Newfoundland and Labrador having its own time zone, and Prince Edward Island being the smallest province.
• Many provinces have French and Indigenous influences in their names and etymology.

Territories of Canada

• The 3 territories of Canada are:
  • Nunavut
  • Northwest Territories
  • Yukon
• The territories have small populations but rich histories, and are often challenging places to live due to their extreme weather and geographical isolation.
• Nunavut is a landmark case in indigenous self-governance, with the majority Inuit population having a large degree of control over the government of the territory.

History of Canada

• People have lived in the area that is now Canada for at least 12,000 years, with some estimates suggesting that people have been in Canada for as much as 40,000 years.
• The earliest European contact with the people of Canada came from Viking people, who created a small settlement in what is now Newfoundland around 1,000 years ago.
• Canada was a British colony before becoming its own country in 1867, and the Hudson's Bay Company played a significant role in the early Canadian fur trade.

Effects on Indigenous Peoples

• The history of Canada as a colonial settlement is inseparable from the harm caused to indigenous groups, including the forced sending of indigenous children to residential schools.
• Today, indigenous people (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) make up around 5% of Canada's population, and efforts are being made to revive indigenous languages in many communities and school districts across the country.

Government Structure

• Each province and territory has its own government, with some styled as legislative assemblies and others having unique names such as the House of Assembly or National Assembly.
• Provincial and territorial governments have their own responsibilities and powers, but typically have less individual power than American states.

Fun Facts About Canada

• The word Canada likely derives from the Huron-Iroquois word kanata, meaning "village".
• Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land mass, but has only around 1/10th of the population of the United States.
• Canada has the longest coastline in the world, at a staggering 243,042 km.

Learn about the difference between provinces and territories in Canada, including their government structures and population distribution.