Canada is well into our federal election campaign, which came about after the opposition parties united to adopt a motion of “non-confidence” against the minority Conservative Party government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Voting takes place on the 2nd of May 2011.
Canada follows the British model of parliamentary democracy. Thus we do not get to vote directly for Mr Harper, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff or NDP chief Jack Layton unless we happen to live in their particular riding. Citizens may vote for the official local party candidate of our choice for Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons. The party winning the most number of ridings or “seats” in the House (regardless of total national popular vote) has the opportunity to form a government. Read More
In early 2004 the Canadian government started issuing Permanent Residency Cards (PR Cards) also called by many persons “Maple Cards” or “Maple Leaf Cards”. A PR Card normally has a five-year validity. There are many hundreds of thousands of PR Cards in circulation, of which large numbers are close to expiring, or have already done so. (See image of a specimen PR Card at left.)
If you are a student considering attending college or university away from your home town or country, you owe it to yourself to look at Canada.