Which country do you think Canada shares most with? (cinema, living)

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by Robynator

I too have noticed that.

Nationalism can be pretty extreme in the USA. People are passionate about it - some take it very seriously.

By comparison, Canadian nationalism, if expressed at all, appears more lighthearted.

Lighthearted or non-existent?

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by kkgg7

I used to think so too, but not any more.
1) The US is a typical capitalist country, while Canada ... not so much.
2) The US is risk seeker while Canada is extremely risk averse (think about the banks)
3) Religion plays a big role in every aspect of life in the US, while you never hear Harper mention God or Christianity in his speech
4) Most elite US universities are private
5) US doesn't offer universal health insurance
6) The US has its influential pop culture, Canada has close to none of its own
7) The legal systems are quite different
8) East coast lifestyle in the US is very fast, while life pace is either slow or slower across Canada (yes, Toronto is so slow that sometimes I want to push people into the subway car!)
9) The winning candidate becomes US president, while the leader of the winner party becomes Canadian premier
10) the US has a large black population, Canada doesn't.

No, all the similarities between the two countries of vastly different size is very superficial. Deep down, they have very little in common.

Having lived in three regions in Canada and four distinct regions in the USA, I can totally agree with your points.

[Acajack]

Kkgg, I was curious to know why you put France on your list of countries most similar to Canada in the original post that started the thread.

Also, if I am not mistaken no one has mentioned the UK here.

Certainly. institutionally, Canada is much more similar to the UK than it is to France.

[MimzyMusic]

Originally Posted by kkgg7

Canada doesn't SHARE a lot of culture with the USA, it simply copies whatever the USA is watching/listening/reading (with the exception of Quebec). When we say share, it is a mutual thing, but unfortunately "Candian culture" influence in the USA is nonexisting but the other way around is dominant.

Not true. Tell me that Steppenwolf, or Rush aren't Canada's own. It's just Canada is so overshadowed because it only has 10% of America's population.

[Chris1955]

Canada has very little in common with the United States, socially, economically, politically or in any other manner.

They have little in common with Oz, either.

I would say Canada is most like the United Kingdom, in fact most Canadians would not notice the difference (and would approve if they did,) if they again became part of the UK, instead of just a Dominion.

They certainly have nothing in common with any other American, and I use that term to include everyone in this hemisphere save those small numbers left in other nominally British colonies.

If Quebec took a hike, they would largely eliminate any French cultural influence, and once the Canadians finish their ongoing genocide of Native Americans, it will be the last European (read British) colony in the Americas.

So in short they are an extension of the United Kingdom.

[danielsa1775]

Originally Posted by Robynator

I
Just an aside, I find that there's a certain kinship between Canadians and Australians. They "get" one another. And you wouldn't necessarily think so because Australia shares a lot culturally with England while Canada shares a lot culturally with the USA. However, in my experience, Canadians and Australians just "click".

.

I agree you are totally correct on this point.

[f1000]

Originally Posted by Chris1955

Canada has very little in common with the United States, socially, economically, politically or in any other manner.

They have little in common with Oz, either.

I would say Canada is most like the United Kingdom, in fact most Canadians would not notice the difference (and would approve if they did,) if they again became part of the UK, instead of just a Dominion.


So in short they are an extension of the United Kingdom.

I don't agree, despite the historical ties Canada has with the UK. Culturally, it is very different and with each generation Canada's link with the UK gets weaker, and in my opinion becomes more Americanized (culturally).

I doubt that most Canadians would want to become part of the UK; when I was leaving London a couple weeks ago I was reading a newspaper piece from a British newspaper that revealed a study that found that Canadians feel more and more disconnection and indifference towards the UK...

[f1000]

[quote=Chris1955;11558429]Canada has very little in common with the United States, socially, economically, politically or in any other manner.

quote]

I find the above comment ridiculous. Canada and the US are each other's, as well as the world's, largest trading partners together with all its implications and connections regarding the cultural/ social and economic facets.
Yeah there's nothing in common.

[danielsa1775]

Out of interest i did a quick comparison of some stats for australia and canada, most sourced from the CIA worldfactbook. Hear is a quick look you could almost say from these that Australia is Canada without a french provence.

Pop Per Square km of Land
Candada 3.35
Australia 2.75

First Language Spoken in Housholds
Canada, English 58.8%, French 21.6%, Other 19.6%
Australia, English 78.5%, Other 21.5% (The most signifant ones being Manderin and Greek)

% Of Population Born Overseas
Canada: 20%
Australia: 22%

GDP (PPP) in $US
Canada: $39,100
Aust:$38,100

Three Largest Cities by Urban Population
Canada: Toronto 5,113,149 Montreal, 3,635,419, Vancouver 2,116,581
Australia: Sydney 4,599,722 Melbourne 3,892,149, Brisbane 1,945,639

Current Value of Currency vs US Dollar
Canada 94.41 Cents
Australia 92.77 Cents

Of course this totally ignores cultural and social attitudes, political and legal processors etc.l I assumes Canadas laws much like ours are founded on the Basis of english common law? While having never being to Canada itself, I have met and lived with many canadians in england and my take on them is they make great freinds, and while being fiercly patriotic, they are way more influenced by amercian culture than they like to admit. I also totally disagree from what I have seen that Canada has any close cultural link to the UK, where their is still a very culturaly distinct upper class.

[Chris1955]

[quote=f1000;11559719]

Originally Posted by Chris1955

Canada has very little in common with the United States, socially, economically, politically or in any other manner.

quote]

I find the above comment ridiculous. Canada and the US are each other's, as well as the world's, largest trading partners together with all its implications and connections regarding the cultural/ social and economic facets.
Yeah there's nothing in common.

Well the US is China's biggest trading partner and we certainly have little in common with them.

But give us a list of what Canadians, have in common with the United States besides speaking the same language, sorta.

Then do a list of what they have in common with the UK.

And do tell what cultural things we share.

I have spent years listening to thousands of Canadians tell us how screwed up the United States is and how different and wonderful Canada is. I would guess 9 of 10 Canadians view the the US and everything and everyone in it extremely negatively from what they say about the place.

Meantime Canadians fawn on the UK.

So all these Canadians, the Canadian press, and Canadian politicians are lying and only you know the truth?