Forgotten World (58): Canada
Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia (9.9 million sq km or 3.8 million sq miles), but it hardly features in media reports aound the world. At 32 million, its population is only about one-fifth of Russia’s and nearly 90% of Canadians live within 200 km of the border with the United States, which means that Canada contains vast expanses of wilderness to the north.
Canada is composed of ten provinces and three territories. The provinces are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The three territories are the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon Territory. The provinces have a large degree of autonomy from the federal government, the territories somewhat less.
Canada is a bilingual and multicultural country, with both English and French as official languages at the federal level. The relationship to its powerful neighbour is a defining factor for Canada. The US and Canada have the world’s largest trading relationship.