Canadá - Everything about it.

                          Politics of Canada

The politics of Canada function within a framework of parliamentary democracy and a federal system of parliamentary government with strong democratic traditions. Canada is a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is head of state. The country has a multi-party system in which many of its legislative practices derive from the unwritten conventions of and precedents set by Great Britain's Westminster Parliament. However, Canada has evolved variations: party discipline in Canada is stronger than in the United Kingdom and more parliamentary votes are considered motions of confidence, which tends to diminish the role of non-Cabinet Members of Parliament (MPs). Such members, in the government caucus, and junior or lower-profile members of opposition caucuses, are known as backbenchers. Backbenchers can, however, exert their influence by sitting in parliamentary committees, like the Public Accounts Committee or the National Defence Committee. The two dominant political parties in Canada have historically been the Liberal Party of Canada and Conservative Party of Canada (or its predecessors), however, as of the 2011 election the social-democratic New Democratic Party (NDP) has risen to prominence. This rise of prominence mirrors a historic decline in the Liberal party's popularity. Smaller parties like the Quebec nationalist Bloc Québécois and the Green Party of Canada can exert their own influence over the political process.

                                  Religion

Religion in Canada encompasses a wide range of groups and beliefs. The preamble to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms refers to "God", and the monarch carries the title of "Defender of the Faith". However, Canada has no official religion, and support for religious pluralism (Freedom of religion in Canada) is an important part of Canada's political culture. The 2011 Canadian census reported that 67% of Canadians claim adherence to Christianity, followed by no religion at 24%, but rates of religious adherence have been steadily decreasing.

Pre-colonization Aboriginal religion was largely animistic. This included an intense reverence for spirits and nature. French settlement beginning in the 17th century established a Roman Catholic francophone population in Acadia, now Nova Scotia and Lower Canada, now Quebec, followed by English settlement that brought Anglicans and other Protestants to Upper Canada, now Ontario. The religious, cultural, and political antagonism between Canadian Protestants and Catholics remains a central theme of Canadian history.

It has been recently suggested that with Christianity on decline, having once been central and integral to Canadian culture and daily life;  Canada has come to enter a post-Christian period in a secular state, with irreligion in Canada on the rise. The practice of religion is now generally considered a private matter throughout society and within the state.  Additionally a majority of Canadians consider religion to be unimportant, but still believe in God.

                       

                         Culture of Canada

Canadian culture is a term that embodies the artistic, culinary, literary, humour, musical, political and social elements that are representative of Canada and Canadians. Throughout Canada's history, its culture has been influenced by European culture and traditions, especially British and French, and by its own indigenous cultures. Over time, elements of the cultures of Canada's immigrant populations have become incorporated into mainstream Canadian culture. The population has also been influenced by American culture because of a shared language, proximity and migration between the two countries.

Canada is often characterised as being "very progressive, diverse, and multicultural". Canada's culture draws influences from its broad range of constituent nationalities, and policies that promote a just society are constitutionally protected. Canadian Government policies – such as publicly funded health care; higher and more progressive taxation; outlawing capital punishment; strong efforts to eliminate poverty; an emphasis on cultural diversity; strict gun control; and most recently, legalizing same-sex marriage – are social indicators of Canada's political and cultural values.

Canada's federal government has influenced Canadian culture with programs, laws and institutions. It has created crown corporations to promote Canadian culture through media, such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), and promotes many events which it considers to promote Canadian traditions. It has also tried to protect Canadian culture by setting legal minimums on Canadian content in many media using bodies like the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

                   

                       Tourism and attractions

Stanley Park

Vancouver is famous for the number of gardens and parks. One of them is the Stanley Park, the largest urban park in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Facing the sea, the park was created as a military reserve in the mid- nineteenth century to protect the entrance to the port of Vancouver. Today, with hundreds of acres of woodland , lakes and meadows covered with beautiful grammed , Stanley Park is home to squirrels , raccoons , ducks , gulls and geese , and is one of the favorite places of tourists and locals.

CN Tower

The main tourist attraction in Toronto is also its most famous postcard , the CN Tower. With 553 meters high, or the equivalent of a 173 story building , the CN Tower offers a wonderful view of the city . They say that , on a clear day , you can see Niagara Falls, on the border with the U.S.

At the top is a revolving restaurant, or restaurant 360. At lunch or dinner , you will have access to various areas of the CN Tower , including the Glass Floor , a path made of tempered glass with an incredible view of the city under your feet.

Casa Loma

Casa Loma is a house of neo - romantic style , located in the upper part of Toronto. It was built between 1911 and 1914 to serve as home to a financier and Industry Canada , Mr. Henry Mill Pellat , and his family . Before completing the construction of the Casa Loma , meaning " house on the hill " , Sir Henry lost all their possessions and had to sell it to pay your debts. The castle belongs to the city of Toronto since 1937 , and became a museum. Today , it serves as a place for documentaries and fiction films , such as X -Men.

Lions Gate.

Lions Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge , which resembles the Golden Gate in San Francisco . Considered Canada's heritage , connects Vancouver with North Vancouver District , and has a total length of 1823 meters , with three reversible lanes , becoming used by more than 70 000 vehicles a day on a heavy traffic day .

Chinatown

Crossing the Lions Gate Bridge is a real Chinatown, Vancouver Chinatown has the second largest concentration of Chinese in North America. At the entrance of the neighborhood , the Millennium Gate, a structure created to celebrate the new millennium, greets visitors with a theme of the past and the future. A nice walk in the neighborhood is to know the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden a classic with a lake and typical oriental architecture in their structures , which make tourists feel in China itself . In Chinatown there is also a museum that tells the story of Chinese origin in Canada and the West Han Dynasty Bell , a bell donated by the city of Guangzhou , to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Vancouver as its sister city . In addition, several shops and numerous restaurants where you can enjoy oriental cuisine . An unforgettable experience!

       

Flora, fauna and climate

Canada is a country of wide open spaces , is a country of amazing places to visit , extensive plains and snow -capped mountains , forests, glaciers, rivers and lakes impressive , the Rocky Mountains, Alberta , British Columbia, its coniferous forests, national parks ... are part of the wealth of this country .

Conifers , large forests on their peaks , pines and cedars ... are part of the Canadian landscape , similar to that found in northern Europe. Among its flora highlight the great forests of the aforementioned species , although much depends on the area you are, because as we go north , the vegetation is slowly disappearing. In the forests of the south are grasses, mosses , flowers , poplar , birch, pine ... among the most prominent .

Among the fauna , include beavers, porcupines , or larger animals and dangerous to the north, such as polar bears , wolves, American lions , pumas , and a wide variety of birds.

Canadian Wildlife is one of the most interesting that we can find in the world , reindeer , polar bears, foxes , wolves , lions , arctic weasels , bobcats ... its varied geography , coming from the temperate south to the very north, we show a diversity available to few countries, such as north polar bears or grizzly bears in the south.

When it comes to marine species such as whales , orcas and gray whales are a large part of the marine fauna of this place in terms of marine mammals is concerned, then we have more species such as trout, salmon, pike, bass well ... how places like the Hudson Bay or the Bay Newfoundland, ideal to enjoy and visit.

Canada is a country that is a wonder of nature in itself, its landscape , its fauna and flora, its landmarks such as the Rocky Mountains, such as Niagara Falls or Banff National Park ... are some of the best places to find across the continent to enjoy nature.