Spring 2007 Issue
Special Report - Canada
Parlez-vous Canadian?
Posted: October 1, 2008
A Cultural Primer
On the surface the USA and Canada may seem like twins, but there are real differences between the two. Here are a few tips that will boost your ability to speak Canadian and/or Canadien – and yes, in Canada, at least on paper, they really must account for both languages.
GOVERNMENT. The people of Canada and the U.S. are both represented by national legislatures with two parts, a Senate and a House. But in Ottawa the Senate is appointed by the Governor General – more about that in a minute. Members of the House of Commons are all elected and the party with the most seats picks the House member who will serve as Prime Minister. When someone in Canada refers to “the government,” they usually mean the governing party of the moment, not the bureaucrats in Ottawa, the nation’s capital.
LIZ. The PM is the head of government, not the “head of state.” Canada’s head of state resides in London, England, and right now her name is Liz. The Queen or King of England is represented in Canada by a Governor General who appoints all members of the Senate subject to consultation with the PM. The Queen or King still packs a wallop when it comes to national tone, culture, and what’s considered “proper.” This is why royal scandals are such – well, royal scandals.
POLITICAL PARTIES. Conservatives are similar to Republicans down here, liberals are like Democrats, but the presence of other small parties, like the Greens, removes some of the extremists who are often part of the Democratic family down here. The “PQ” is the Parti Québécois, those who traditionally support a separation of the French and Canadian culture, if not the complete province of Quebec.
PROVINCES. Not exactly the “states” found in the U.S., the provinces of Canada are autonomous to a greater degree, each with its own government and legislature.
LAW AND ORDER. . When someone mentions “the crown,” they mean the government, particularly in the law courts. Although Canadians share the U.S. tradition of English law, there are cultural differences about priorities. A common remark in Canada goes: “Canadian Customs officers want to know if you are carrying a firearm, and U.S. Customs officers want to know if you have ever smoked pot.”
MOUNTIES. They only wear the traditional red coats for ceremonial occasions. Those are also the times they ride black horses. Otherwise, it’s a blue uniform, four tires, and a ticket book. Drive too fast outside a large city in Canada and the law enforcement officer who pulls you over will often be a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA. Yes, the game is the national obsession. Even the smallest crossroads towns in the middle of nowhere have rinks. Canadians still account for the majority of players in the National Hockey League, but the percentage is dropping, thanks to better U.S. players and more players from Eastern Europe and Russia.
LOONY CURRENCY. Even the business reporters on television will refer to it as the “Loony.” It is the Canadian dollar. It was given that name not because it’s crazy but because the bill is adorned with a waterfowl known as the loon. Much maligned over the past few decades due to its weakness, the loony is now rebounding to approach par with the U.S. dollar.
MAC & CHEESE. More than 100 million boxes of Kraft Dinners are sold in Canada every year and the dish is featured on television cooking programs and even in popular culture, with mentions in popular music. It’s not the healthiest dish around, but it is warm and hearty on a cold winter afternoon in the far north.
PARLEZ-VOUS FRANCAIS? Every government record, decree, piece of merchandise, and label in the country is printed both in French and in English, yet less than a quarter of the population claim French as their mother tongue. Most who do live in Quebec, but they are a major voting bloc, so equal rights abound.
