Canada is often refereed to as a cultural mosaic; built by a society that respects and celebrates the cultures of many countries from around the world. In 2006, Statistics Canada recorded that 6,186,950 foreign-born people now live in Canada. Immigration accounted for virtually one in five, or nearly 20% of the total Canadian population, the highest proportion in 75 years.
The number of new immigrants choosing to make Canada their home is continuing to increase. Between 2001 and 2006, Canada’s foreign-born population increased by 13.6%. The census estimated that 1,110,000 immigrants came to Canada between January 1, 2001 and May 16, 2006.
The 2006 national census recorded a total population of 31,612,897 people which was a rise of 5.4% since 2001. Population growth is largely accomplished through immigration. About three-quarters of Canada’s population live within 160 kilometres (100 mi) of the U.S. border.
Government: Immigrating to a Just Society
Canada is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen of England acting as the monarchy figure head and a centralized federal government that is supported by strong and autonomous provincial and territorial democratic leadership.
Canada’s constitution governs the legal framework of the country and consists of written text and unwritten traditions and conventions.
It may be helpful for new Immigrants to Canada to know that the federal parliament is made up of the Queen and two houses: an elected House of Commons and an appointed Senate. Canada’s four major political parties are the Conservative Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party (NDP), and the Bloc Quebecois. The current government is formed by the Conservative Party of Canada.
Geography and Climate
Canada is the second largest country in the world, occupying most of the northern portion of North America, sharing land borders with the contiguous United States to the south and with the US state of Alaska to the northwest, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west; to the north lies the Arctic Ocean.
New Immigrants to Canada can expect wide open spaces as the population density of 3.5 people per square kilometre (9.1/mi²) is among the lowest in the world. Canadian Immigrants can expect average winter and summer high temperatures across Canada to vary depending on their location.
Education: A Right of Canadian Citizenship
In Canada, the provinces and territories are responsible for education. Immigrants to Canada will be happy to learn that each of the thirteen education systems are similar while reflecting their own regional history, culture and geography.
Canadian Immigration: Helping Build our Economy
Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest nations with a high per capita income, a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Group of Eight (G8). Immigrants to Canada will be happy to learn that Canada is a free market economy with slightly more government intervention than the United States, but much less than most European nations.