Things Americans (and Canadians) should know about Canada

I have observed that most Americans don't know as much about Canada as Canadians know about the US. But Americans shouldn't feel bad since most Canadians don't know as much about Canada as Americans know about the US.

Don't believe me?

Then try these questions without looking up the answers:

1) Which country is bigger geographically, Canada or the US?

2) If George Washington was the first American President, then who was first Canada's President?".

Most Americans will admit they don't know. Only a few Americans and most Canadians will catch on that this is a trick question. Canada doesn't have a President... So let me rephrase the question:

2a) If George Washington was the first American head of state, then who was Canada's first head of state?

Americans shouldn't feel bad if they don't know this either, since most Canadians will also answer incorrectly.

Hint: It was not Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister. Bigger hint... It was not Sir Charles Stanley Monck, either. (Americans: Don't worry if you don't know who that was, since most Canadians don't know either, but given the context, many Canadians can guess...)

3) If the US has 50 states, then how many states does Canada have?

OK by now you should be on to me. Canada doesn't have states. Canada has provinces and territories.

3a)Let me rephrase the question: How many provinces and territories does Canada have?

But again don't feel bad if you didn't know since most Canadians don't know either and fewer still can name all of them.

Hint: The number of Canadian territories changed on April fools day, 1999.

Bonus Points:
3a) What is the name of Canada's newest territory?
3b) Which political party currently holds the majority of seats in this territory's legislature? - trick question, yet few Canadians know why.

Most Americans have an impression that Canadians are polite and friendly. Yet most Canadians and Americans are not aware that Canada's rate of violent death is about the same as the US... Reason: While Americans have a much higher murder rate, Canadians have a much higher suicide rate.... Important cultural difference between Canadians and Americans. When Americans get pissed off they shoot someone. When Canadians get pissed off they shoot themselves...

Most Americans don't know this, but your country is currently being invaded by Canadians. As this population distribution map clearly shows:


Canadians are currently massing on the US border.

4) Why are Canadians are invading the US and what are they armed with?

Does anyone else have some interesting facts about Canada that all Canadians and most Americans should know but few do?

Canada doesn't elect presidents....

1) Canada
2a) No idea which monarch it was.
3a) Ten provinces, three territories, newest is Nunavut, no idea who holds power in that territory
4) Canadians are armed with loonies

I think the trick in this question is the word Legislature. If I remember my Grade 10 Social Studies (and for the most part I do not) Legislatiers are provincial institutions. A territory would have some other form of assembly with less power.

Nunavut has a Legislative Assembly, just like Ontario has. The trick I think is in the question "which party has the most seats?"

1) Canada
2) M - correct, but T is more correct. Canada's head of state is a monarch, not a PM. - Queen Victoria
3a) T- correct Nunavut
3b) I - you may be right about the name of the legislature/assembly, but that's not what I was getting at. Still missing the right answer. Hint: The tricky part has to do "political parties"...
4) T- Correct the mighty loonie is currently worth about $1.07 US.

Yes you are close to the right answer. That is the trick part of the question. Most Canadians don't know this about Nunavut....

No parties, elected MLA Independents.

Ding ding we have a winner... They don't have any political parties. Everyone runs as an independant and decisions are made by the consensus of the elected representatives...

It would be nice to implement that in federal politics.

I'll be the first to admit not knowing much about Canadian history. In my school years they were busy telling us about Rome, Greece, Persia, and Mesopotamia, but forgot Canada.

My grade 11 social studies covered Canada from Confederation to the present(mid 70's) with particular emphasis on Confederation, WWI, WWII, and the October Crisis.
My son's Grade 12 Social Studies covered the same thing, but unfortunatley seems to have glassed over the October Crisis.

Now, see I don't even know what that is. I'd guess something like the FLQ thing, but that's purely a guess. We didn't even cover that in school.

LOL...yes, it was the "FLQ thing". But then, when I was in High School it was a fairly recent event.

Oh. I was conspicuously absent most of grades 11 and 12, and I have the notes to prove it.