Canada is a big country, with an area of 9,984,670 km², and with rich natural
resources. It became a autonomous dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to
the British crown. In 1931, Canada became self-governing within the British
Empire, though full legislative independence was not achieved until 1982. The government of Canada is under the Westminster system, a
kind of parliamentary government, first developed in England, that
incorporates a series of procedures for operating a legislature.
People of British and French descent constitute more than half the population. There are also significant minorities of Asian, German, Italian, American Indian, and Inuit origin. Both English and French are official languages. Today, indigenous peoples in Canada include the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. The national capital is Ottawa.
The country is politically divided into ten provinces and three territories. The provinces are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan. Territories: Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
