dbd33

I disagree completely. I think the defining feature of Canada is a cultural void.

Yes, Canada shares some features with the US. Economically it's a subsidiary of the US. Politically, when Canada has a Conservative government, it's a subsidiary of the US, but Canada is different. It's different because the philosophy of the US, the melting pot, acknowledges the country's dependence on immigration and seeks to create unity from diversity, whereas the governing philosophy of Canada, multi-culturalism, acknowledges that there's not much here and invites immigrants to live in the manner to which they are accustomed.

One may argue that the result isn't very different. NYC has a similarly diverse population to Toronto. Even though more than half the popuilation of Toronto was born outside Canada, the city with the largest proportion of population born abroad is in the US, not Canada. Both countries have two main languages. I think though that there's a vast difference between inviting people to come to a country with a view to helping to create something new and inviting people to come to a country and to be semi-detached.

Don't read me wrongly, I support multi-culturalism. I support it because it enriches the country. Hyphenated Canadians bring interest to a country in which the established population has the imagination and charisma of the autistic. I think though that the reason Canada needs multi-culturalism is to give it something, anything.

pennyhp

This may have been said (this thread is long and I confess I havn't read every post)

They serve donnair sauce with pizza.....sweet and yucky.

JamesM

You can get Poutine at the Maple Leaf in Covant Garden. Don't knock it until you've tried it!

AllyS

I can't wait to try Poutine.

Apparently it is VERY calorific!

smog73

Poutine is great-we brought some packets of st huberts mix back with us from holiday and are trying to save them for "special" times. We also have a tin of baked beans with maple syrup that we are saving!!

snowshoveller

just think of your heart!

Candy001

Winters that last 4-6months
-30 temperatures
Cold Weather Alerts

On the other hand summers make up for it - providing you have AC
Hot and humid - +30 temps

One extreme to the other!

snowshoveller

edited for accuracy

s

nikki dreaming

OH had it a few months back when we visited The Maple Leaf, he liked it too

MikeUK

if you add it together, on an average, Canada has quite reasonable weather

FlirtyKnickers

Yes he did, and the beer too

Souvenir

Then knock it.

Pebblebeach

Poutine is fabby after a hard morning skiing

Lord Vader

So you agree that Canada and the US are similar and that North America is divided into regions that cross the border but that all culture stops because of this border. So you are saying that someone born in Maine has culture but someone born 10 miles away in New Brunswick does not? Even though they play the same sports and eat the same food and listen to the same music and have the same accent and wear the same clothes. What about Vancouver and Seattle?
Have you tried shaking your head back and forth rapidly for a few seconds?

Umpatan

Then how do the ethnic minorities maintain their cultural heritage throughout the generations? Can you imagine a Chinese born in Canada not writing those complicated chinese characters? There must be a mode for them to maintain their distinct ethnic identity. The Sikhs need to keep their temples to provide free meals so even I, can go there to eat as a Caucasian non believer. We don't need them becoming bananas.