PatS.... Posted February 4, 2009 Report Posted February 4, 2009 Rick Mercer Explains Canada for those who were afraid to ask Quote
Frank Elder Posted February 4, 2009 Report Posted February 4, 2009 I thought canadians were just unarmed americans with free health insurance....lol, thanks for clearing that up! Quote
PatS.... Posted February 4, 2009 Author Report Posted February 4, 2009 We aren't armed, but the crooks freely import handguns from south of the border, and freely use them on each other!! Quote
Frank Elder Posted February 4, 2009 Report Posted February 4, 2009 Touche! Sorry Pat, have had a wonderful time in canada, and hope to again. Sure not used to being called south of the border though..lol! Quote
Niel Hoback Posted February 4, 2009 Report Posted February 4, 2009 It's no wonder that Canadians are afraid to ask. Who wants to know their country is run by an unelected former news broadcaster? Quote
greg g Posted February 4, 2009 Report Posted February 4, 2009 Governor General, that sounds very Colonial. Whats all that about Dominion in the country name???? One of our local NPR stations carries the CBC programme AS IT HAPPENS. We listen to it if we are out and aboot in the car. Quite interesting. It just took us nearly 3 years to form a new government, Can't even think about what it would be like to do a new one in 30 days. would be interesting. So when the turn over happens its just at the top, the MP's stay there? Kinda like the NBA, like a new coarch is the be all and end all to a team that sucks???? My Greek friend's grandmother used to have a saying that roughly translated went, When a fish stinks at the tail, does it not also stink at the head??? In other words change it all or don't bother. Wonder if he could explain our system in 7 minutes? Quote
PatS.... Posted February 4, 2009 Author Report Posted February 4, 2009 It's no wonder that Canadians are afraid to ask. Who wants to know their country is run by an unelected former news broadcaster? Kinda like being run by a B list actor?? :eek: LOL!!! Politics is very wierd no matter where you are!!!! Quote
PatS.... Posted February 4, 2009 Author Report Posted February 4, 2009 "So when the turn over happens its just at the top, the MP's stay there?" Nope, the whole thing goes down and we start from scratch This time cooler heads prevailed if that's possible when talking politics!!!! Quote
old woolie Posted February 5, 2009 Report Posted February 5, 2009 We aren't armed, but the crooks freely import handguns from south of the border, and freely use them on each other!! We're not all unarmed. Quote
PatS.... Posted February 5, 2009 Author Report Posted February 5, 2009 We're not all unarmed. HeHeHeHe...I know, but most of us are Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 5, 2009 Report Posted February 5, 2009 Governor General, that sounds very Colonial. Whats all that about Dominion in the country name???? One of our local NPR stations carries the CBC programme AS IT HAPPENS. We listen to it if we are out and aboot in the car. Quite interesting. It just took us nearly 3 years to form a new government, Can't even think about what it would be like to do a new one in 30 days. would be interesting. So when the turn over happens its just at the top, the MP's stay there? Kinda like the NBA, like a new coarch is the be all and end all to a team that sucks???? My Greek friend's grandmother used to have a saying that roughly translated went, When a fish stinks at the tail, does it not also stink at the head??? In other words change it all or don't bother. Wonder if he could explain our system in 7 minutes? Greg, in Canada until 1947, all citizens whether you were born here or emigrated here, were considered British subjects, not sure which subject, but we were subjected to British taxes, I think. In 1947 the Canadian citizenship act was implemented, thus we officially became Canadian Citizens. Canada is an Independant Commonwealth Country, with our own laws, constitution etc. But we are still not an Independant Republic as the USA. There is no doubt that Canada is closer, in culture lifestyle, of course proximity, to the United States than any other country in the world. To be honest we live next door to each other, are similar in our ways, yet are different in other ways too. But make no mistake, Canadian cities are violent, riddled with gangs and oragnized crime, we are not exepmt form these things. I work in the criminal justice system, and it gets worse every year Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 5, 2009 Report Posted February 5, 2009 We're not all unarmed. You got that right, especially in rural Western Canada Quote
B-Watson Posted February 5, 2009 Report Posted February 5, 2009 Greg, in Canada until 1947, all citizens whether you were born here or emigrated here, were considered British subjects, not sure which subject, but we were subjected to British taxes, I think.In 1947 the Canadian citizenship act was implemented, thus we officially became Canadian Citizens. Canada is an Independant Commonwealth Country, with our own laws, constitution etc. But we are still not an Independant Republic as the USA. There is no doubt that Canada is closer, in culture lifestyle, of course proximity, to the United States than any other country in the world. To be honest we live next door to each other, are similar in our ways, yet are different in other ways too. But make no mistake, Canadian cities are violent, riddled with gangs and oragnized crime, we are not exepmt form these things. I work in the criminal justice system, and it gets worse every year No, Canadians stopped being subject to British taxes long before Confederation. British colonies in the 1800's and 1900's raised their own taxes and were actually subject to British import duties on goods shipped to Britain! The Empire/Commonwealth preferential duties were implemented by all colonies/countries in the Empire/Commonwealth - except Britain! Canada and the other Dominions in the Empire (Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa) gained their independence from Britain with the passage of the Statutes of Westminster in 1931. At that point the British Parliament no longer had any say in the affairs of the Dominions. Up to that point the Dominions had complete control of internal affairs, but foreign affairs still fell, to the most part, under the Britain. As of 1931, that all changed. By the way, if the government fell (ie, lost a motion of confidence) and the GG asked the leader of another party to form the government, only the government would change. The two parties would exchange sides in the House (the government sits to the right of the Speaker) and life would continue on. If an election were called, naturally the composition of the House of Commons would depend on who was elected. Should also point out that the neither the monarch nor the Governor General rule. The monarch reigns and the GG does the duties of the Monarch. No British monarch has ruled since the Glorious Revolution of 1687 and every monarch since that time has had to sign a document acknowledging the supremecy of Parliament. Thus all monarchs since 1687 have reigned, but not ruled. The only time the monarch or GG has any semblance of power is when the government of the day loses a motion of confidence. At that point the Prime Minister must resign and the monarch/GG determines what comes next - an election or another member of the House of Commons is asked to form a government. The latter has occurred twice since Confederation federally - 1872 and 1926. The provinces have Lieutenant-Generals and unicameral Legislatures but follow the same constitutional rules. The United States of America is a republic while Canada is a consitutional monarchy, even though the monarch lives on the other side of the Atlantic. And contrary to what most Americans believe, it was not King George III who imposed the tax on tea in 1776. It was the British Parliament, and in particular the government of the Prime Minister of the day, Lord North. King George III signed the law thus enacting it, but as it was passed by Parliament he had no choice in the matter. Unlike the President of the United States, the monarch/GG has no power of veto. He/she must follow the decisions of Parliament and the advise of the Prime Minister, although he/she does have the right to ask the PM to reconsider certain decisions. But in the end, Parliament rules. Quote
Don Coatney Posted February 5, 2009 Report Posted February 5, 2009 And just think.... Had we, here in the states, elected a female president we would bomb our good neighbors to the north every 28 days:D Quote
55 Fargo Posted February 5, 2009 Report Posted February 5, 2009 And just think.... Had we, here in the states, elected a female president we would bomb our good neighbors to the north every 28 days:D Bad enough my home gets the wrath of the common woman every 28 days, sorry toany girls viewing this, but in my case it's true Quote
PatS.... Posted February 5, 2009 Author Report Posted February 5, 2009 And just think.... Had we, here in the states, elected a female president we would bomb our good neighbors to the north every 28 days:D I'm sure we could give her a few co-ordinates to start her off!!! :eek: Save some wear and tear on some heavy equipment!! Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.