# American's general knowledge about Canada **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2000, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617 "2000-09-26T16:12:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/81 "2000-09-30T14:03:44Z")
Theme song? Do you mean national anthem? Hey, if you think our ginger ale is good, you should try our beer! ---
**Author:** ![labradorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@labradorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labradorian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/82 "2000-09-30T19:34:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jbird3000 \* > > Provinces are huge, so they have SOMETHING, or at least a point of reference. > > Newfoundland: big island > \*\* The province called Newfoundland is not an island, at least no more so than British Columbia, Nova Scotia, or Quebec. ---
**Author:** ![scratch1300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@scratch1300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch1300)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/83 "2000-09-30T19:36:33Z")
My favorite tale of ignorance about Canada: A co-worker of mine used to work as a travel agent. Someone called up and wanted to get to Newfoundland, and from there drive across the bridge to Ireland! No joke! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/84 "2000-09-30T20:41:32Z")
I’d be happy to know how to pronounce “Newfoundland” like the natives of the place. I’ve heard it pronounced, by Canadians no less, 3 different ways, with the accent on each syllable. Please, could one of you snowbacks enlighten me? ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2000, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/85 "2000-09-30T21:51:23Z")
Yeah, I’ve wondered about pronouncing Newfoundland as well. In addition, I’ve wondered about distinguishing the island from the province … is “Newfoundland” really the whole name for the province? Or is the full name something bulky like “Province of Newfoundland, Labrador, and Nearby Islands”? If so, do the Labradorians (Labradorites?) get annoyed at being left out of the short name? Or are they too busy being annoyed at people mistaking them for loyal hunting dogs? (Okay, I think I lost some points for that one…) I suppose it’s no more confusing than distinguishing the City of New York from the State of New York (which I haven’t figure out either … people just say “New York” all the time and think it’s perfectly obvious what they’re talking about). Other confusing things about Canada: like most Westminster-style democracies, you don’t have to be a resident of the constituency you run for the House of Commons in. That is, someone can (theoretically) represent, say, Flin Flon in Ottawa, while never setting foot in Flin Flon or any other Flon (I think I just lost some more points). Is that right? But then there’s the Senate, which is appointed by the Governor-General according to the Prime Minister’s wishes. Senators are appointed from provinces, but what does that mean? I mean, if they’re not elected from there, and they don’t have to live there, then do Senators have any connection at all to their provinces? Or is there a special rule that says Senators do have to live in their province? Do Canadians ever get created Peers? If so, where is the, uhhh, peerage? I mean, do you become the Viscount of Moose Jaw, or somewhere in Britain? Or do Life Peers not have an associated region in the first place? How about knighthoods? IIRC, foreigners (like Yanks) don’t get to call themselves “Sir So-and-So” when they get knighted; how about Canadians? (Most of the Knights I know of are British, except Ronald Reagan.) ---
**Author:** ![mske](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@mske](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mske)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/86 "2000-10-01T00:25:55Z")
As a Canadian, I used to get really insulted by the fact that Americans had the balls _ **NOT** _ to learn about my country while \ ***GASP** I could recognize every U.S. State, so long as its name was given to me. Like Spoons, I grew up and still live in Toronto. Part of my youth was watching Irv Weinstein on Channel 7 Eyewitness News Buffalo every night at 6:00pm. I certainly knew more about the Love Canal than the Panama Canal. So it always perturbed me when some random American that I met did not know that there was a bi-election going on in the riding of Nothh Bay. Mrblue92 has it right. No one in the U.S. really has to care what happens in Canada. It really doesn’t affect them, and it is not to their benefit to know anything about Canada unless they have some interest there. Same for Guyana, Belize, Italy, Equador, or any other country in the world. If it directly affects them, an American will be well versed in it. Canadians, at least 90% of them, live along the American border so it is no suprise to anyone that they know so much about their neighbours. But it doesn’t work the other way around. Stereotypes come into it to. For every American who believes that we live in Igloos and have snow 11 months out of the year, there in a Canadian who believes that everyone who lives in Arkansas or Tennessee is related to one set of parents and makes their living off of moonshine whilst killing raccoons for their dinner in the mountains. I am marrying an American (from Buffalo). November 24th (day after U.S. Thanksgiving) to be exact. She has already moved up here and has commented on the fact that while there are some little differences living in Canada, it is pretty much the same as the U.S. So with all the similarities, why should either people really be that focused on the other. If anything, maybe Canadian should become a little more ignorant of the U.S. 😉 In addition, those “Man on the Street” things, while entertaining when edited well, have another problem. They prey on the gulliblity of a person against the media. If you had a “newscaster” asking you questions about some ridiculous proposition, the immediate reflex action is to agree so as not to look stupid. So if Rick Mercer were to be asking the Average Joe on the streets of New York about what they thought of the proposition that Mississippi passed against marrying one’s direct relative, you are likely get the same kind of inane responses as if you had asked about Canada and the prospect of getting the latest Elvis record. ---
**Author:** ![jbird3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@jbird3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbird3000)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/87 "2000-10-01T03:27:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElvisL1ves \* > \*\*I’d be happy to know how to pronounce “Newfoundland” like the natives of the place. I’ve heard it pronounced, by Canadians no less, 3 different ways, with the accent on each syllable. > > Please, could one of you snowbacks enlighten me? \*\* NEWfundland not NewFOUNDland or New-Found-Land ---
**Author:** ![Kami\_Bum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/838e76/32.png) [@Kami\_Bum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kami_Bum)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/88 "2000-10-01T03:28:37Z")
Wow, i never knew that Canada still had territories…I wonder when they’ll make provincehood. But i always wanted to know why they pronouce it Can-a-da and Ca-na-di-an Instead both the same. This bothered me so much that on one trip to Canada, I started calling them Can-a-di-ans…Got a couple of laughs. ---
**Author:** ![Spyder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Spyder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spyder)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/89 "2000-10-01T05:16:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mealypotaotes \* > \*\*Can agive me a sense about American’s general knowledge of Canada? ‘up here’ we regularly see/hear stories on ‘dumb yankees’ who don’t know sqaut about their biggest trading partner, and closest neighbor (culturally anyhow, depending on geography). In fact, one of the most popular tv shows in Canada is a satirical weekly newsmag with a featrure called ‘Talking to Americans’ in which the host, Canadian comic Rick Mercer, does man-on-the-street interviews about such subjects as Canada opening its first university, curbing the polar-bear hunt in Toronto, running water in all 5 states . . . and the thing is, people fall for it everytime. > > To set this up - Margaret Atwood said that the world’s longest undefended border is actually the world’s longest one-way mirror: Canada has an unobstructed gaze on everything that happens south of the border, while Americans look north, and see themselves. Is this true? \*\* ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/90 "2000-10-01T07:47:51Z")
Average American’s knowledge of Canada, statistical breakdown: 1: 83.8% - [Rush (-no noteworthy Rush imitators to date-)] 2: 11.2% - [Bob and Doug McKenzie] - - - - A: 9.1% - [hoser (insulting term)] - - - - B: 1.4% - [touk (hat)] - - - - C: 0.7% - [backbacon (food?)] 3: 3.9% - [Celine Dion] - - - - A: 3.7% - [songs on Titanic soundtrack] - - - - B: 0.2% - [songs not on Titanic soundtrack] 4: 1.1% - [Loverboy] - - - - A: 1.1% - [Mike Reno] - - - - - i: 0.7% - [tight pants] - - - - - ii: 0.4% - [bandanna] ~ ~ ~ ```auto ``` ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/91 "2000-10-01T08:00:40Z")
in reply to Boris’s questions: First, the name of our easternmost province. As a matter of geographical place names, “Newfoundland” is the island, and “Labrador” is the portion on the mainland, northeast of Quebec, facing Greenland. As a matter of political placenames, “Newfoundland” has been the name of the province, including both the island and Labrador, since it joined Confederation in 1949. However, for some time now, the Government of Newfoundland has referred to the province as “Newfoundland and Labrador,” and there was a proposal earlier this year for a consitutional amendment to make that the official name of the province. I don’t know if it’s gone through yet. (There was a minor dust-up because Premier Bouchard of Quebec said that the name change would be “aggressive” - likely to contribute to further Quebec alienation, etc. (some in Quebec feel that Labrador should be part of Quebec), and why hadn’t he been consulted? Was pointed out that he had been consulted, some months before, and he hadn’t said “boo.” He gave the French equivalent of “Oh - never mind.”) Second - residency requirements. There is no requirement that MPs actually live in the ridings they represent, or even in the province. However, as a matter of practical politics, I don’t think that people are likely to vote for someone who doesn’t live in the area. Looking back over the MPs who’ve represented me, I can’t think of someone who didn’t have a real connnection to the riding. The exception is in the case of a high-profile politician, typlically the leader of a party, who needs a seat in a hurry, either because they’ve been elected party leader since the last general election, or because they lost their own seat in the last general election but are staying on as party leader. Often, a member in a seat where the party is strong will resign to give the leader a chance to get into the Commons. Voters tend to elect the leaders in these cases. For example, Joe Clark, the leader of the Progressive Conservatives, is from Alberta but was recently elected to a seat in Nova Scotia. Stockwell Day, the leader of the Canadian Alliance, was recently elected in a British Columbia riding, although he’s from Alberta. Years ago, I believe Prime Minister King was defeated in a general election, so the member from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan resigned and Prime Minister King was elected to that seat in the by-election. Third - Senators. There are requirements for Senators. They have to live in the Province for which they are appointed (_Constitution Act, 1867_, s. 23(5)), and must hold real estate worth at least $4000 in that province (s. 23(3)). If a Senator ceases to meet these two requirements, they can be removed from office (s. 31(5), s. 33). Fourth - titles. In the days of the Empire, Canadians, like other British subjects, could be given titles by the Crown. John A. Macdonald became a Knight of the Bath, other Prime Ministers also were knighted, and there were the occasional peerages, making the recipient a member of the British House of Lords. (Donald Smith, one of the major figures in the building of the CPR, became Lord Strathcona.) Around 1920, the House of Commons passed a resolution requesting that the Crown not confer further titles on Canadians. This resolution didn’t have the force of law, but marked a change in the political attitudes. There were some Canadians who received titles after that date (former Prime Minister Bennett became Viscount Bennett in the 30s), but the practice died out. British titles recently became an issue again, because Conrad Black, a Canadian with substantial press holdings in Britain, wanted a British title. He holds dual citizenship, Canadian and British, and thought he’d have clear sailing, since the British gov’t was open to giving him the title he wanted. However, the Canadian government objected, based on the Commons Resolution, and PM Blair decided not to give Mr. Black his title. Mr. Black is now suing Prime Minister Chrétien over it, and PM Chrétien is relying on the royal prerogative concerning titles as his authority to oppose the title for Mr. Black. Not sure what the status of that lawsuit is. Mr. Black alleges that Prime Minister Chrétien opposed the appointment because Mr. Black’s newspaper, the National Post, has not been particularly sympathetic to the current Liberal government. ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Capri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Capri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Capri)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/92 "2000-10-01T09:05:18Z")
[/quote] As has been pointed out, it seems like it’s simply that we market ourselves better than Canadians. If you expect us to notice you as much as you notice us, you’ll have to blow your own horn a little more. But then everybody will hate you as much as they do us… Perhaps a little anonymity is a good thing sometimes. \*\* [/QUOTE] Yeah, we know we’re behind in the marketing. But we’re catching up - check out these Molson (beer) ads at [http://www.adcritic.com/content/molson-canadian-i-am.html](http://www.adcritic.com/content/molson-canadian-i-am.html) ---
**Author:** ![labradorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@labradorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labradorian)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/93 "2000-10-01T18:34:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Boris B \* > \*\*Yeah, I’ve wondered about pronouncing Newfoundland as well. In addition, I’ve wondered about distinguishing the island from the province … is “Newfoundland” really the whole name for the province? > \*\* Yes, for the time being, at least officially. However, you’ll often see “Newfoundland and Labrador” in semi-official and even high-ranking usage, but it isn’t the legal name of the province yet. The change has been approved by the provincial House of Assembly, but not by the Parliament of Canada yet. > [@](#): > > \*\* > Or is the full name something bulky like “Province of Newfoundland, Labrador, and Nearby Islands”? If so, do the Labradorians (Labradorites?) get annoyed at being left out of the short name? > \*\* Yes. Newfoundland, to a Labradorian (Labradorite is a semi-precious stone) is the island of the same name. Actually, it is to a lot of Newfoundlanders too, who talk about “our island” this and that when they really mean the province, which is not commensurate with teh island. > [@](#): > > \*\* > That is, someone can (theoretically) represent, say, Flin Flon in Ottawa, while never setting foot in Flin Flon or any other Flon (I think I just lost some more points). Is that right? > \*\* Correctamundo. > [@](#): > > \*\* > But then there’s the Senate, which is appointed by the Governor-General according to the Prime Minister’s wishes. Senators are appointed from provinces, but what does that mean? I mean, if they’re not elected from there, and they don’t have to live there, then do Senators have any connection at all to their provinces? Or is there a special rule that says Senators do have to live in their province? > \*\* Not sure about the residency rules, but if there are some they are pretty liberal… many Senators are former MPs from a province who have lived in Ottawa for many years, and aren’t even eligible to vote in their own ridings except by virtue of running there. (You can vote in the riding you live in or the one you run in, but not both.) However, you do have to own property in the province for which you are appointed. \*\* > [@](#): > > Do Canadians ever get created Peers? If so, where is the, uhhh, peerage? I mean, do you become the Viscount of Moose Jaw, or somewhere in Britain? > \*\* Not anymore. Ask Lord Tubby of Fleet. ---
**Author:** ![labradorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@labradorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labradorian)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/94 "2000-10-01T18:41:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jbird3000 \* > > NEWfundland > > not > NewFOUNDland > or > New-Found-Land \*\* Actually, the sole emphasis is NOT on the first syllable (which is how the barbaric “NEW-fun-lun” gets uttered.) The emphasis is on LAND, with a secondary emphasis on NEW, or the other way around. The -d- in “found” is unpronounced, and that syllable becomes an unstressed schwa sound. In no event should “found” be sounded out or emphasized, should the first syllable be the only emphasis, or the Land pronounced like that in Iceland, England, Maryland, Ireland, etc. There is a stronger emphasis on the Land in Newfoundland than there is in most other English-language place names with a -land in them. “New Found Land” (sounded out like three separate words) is sometimes used for faux-authentic or poetic reasons, often in folk or faux-folk music. ---
**Author:** ![jbird3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@jbird3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbird3000)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/95 "2000-10-01T19:06:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by labradorian \* > Actually, the sole emphasis is NOT on the first syllable (which is how the barbaric “NEW-fun-lun” gets uttered.) > \*\* Actually, no NEWfundland is how I say it. I’m from MA-ni-TO-ba Should actually be No-fun-land. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![labradorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@labradorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labradorian)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/96 "2000-10-01T19:51:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jbird3000 \* > Actually, no > > NEWfundland is how I say it. I’m from MA-ni-TO-ba > > Should actually be No-fun-land. 🙂 \*\* How you say it doesn’t count, if you’re not from that particular place. I think the way it’s pronounced by the people who live there trumps the way it’s pronounced by those who don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/97 "2000-10-03T03:32:01Z")
Just to follow up on one of Labradorian’s points about residency requirements for Senators, the _Constitution Act, 1867_ specifically deals with the issue of Senators living in Ottawa and retaining residence in the province they represent: > [@](#): > > **31.** The Place of a Senator shall become vacant in any of the following Cases: > > (1) If for Two consecutive Sessions of the Parliament he fails to give his Attendance in the Senate: > > … > > (5) If he ceases to be qualified in respect of Property or of Residence; **provided, that a Senator shall not be deemed to have ceased to be qualified in respect of Residence by reason only of his residing at the Seat of the Government of Canada while holding an Office under that Government requiring his Presence there.** Since the Senators are required to attend Parliament (at least once every other session - whoop-dee-doo), that would presumably trigger the provisio in section 31(5), and would not, in itself, mean the Senator has ceased to reside in the home province. Sounds sort of like George Bush Sr. keeping his Texas residence requirement all those years by renting a hotel room in Texas - Doonsbury had a nice series of strips on that one. ---
**Author:** ![jbird3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@jbird3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbird3000)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/98 "2000-10-03T03:42:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by labradorian \* > How you say it doesn’t count, if you’re not from that particular place. I think the way it’s pronounced by the people who live there trumps the way it’s pronounced by those who don’t. You’re not from the island (judging by your user name). Maybe they pronounce it different than you. ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/99 "2000-10-03T05:23:24Z")
Thanks, jti and labradorian, you have been very informative. > [@](#): > > If for Two consecutive Sessions of the Parliament he fails to give his Attendance in the Senate Wow! It really is like the House of Lords! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617/100 "2000-10-03T06:45:35Z")
du rien, Boris. (and yes, since the Brits kicked out all the hereditary peers and left the life peers, they’ve updated themselves to the Canadian Senate, circa 1867. Progress, progress, progress…) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-general-knowledge-about-canada/34617.md?page=6)