Paul, thanks for your longer than expected reply on your country.
That's not a complaint, I find other places interesting and those so
far away that I may not get a chance to visit, especially so, and
those living there often have a different perspective than people who
have just traveled there and may have only seen the tourist hot spots.

Obviously your country is a lot smaller than Canada, which is actually
larger than the USA, but a lot less populous. Like you I live in a colder
area where there are a lot fewer people, other than in summer when the
tourists and weekenders flee up here to get away from the heat.
(There's a joke saying that goes, If it's tourist season why can't I
shoot any ?)   B)

About 70% of the population in Ontario, which has about 40% of the
countries population, all live in a narrow band close to the Great
Lakes, a lot of them in Metro Toronto which has about the same
population as your entire country..

Where I live the closest population centre is Parry Sound, which has
a year round population of only 6500 people, although in summer that
number swells to about 55,000 people.
(See 'Shooting Tourists' above...)     B)

But for a lot of years I lived and worked very close to Toronto so I
have a pretty good idea of what that area is like as well so if you
have any questions, ask away..

The big cities also hold our biggest collection of immigrants of all types
and colours. Up here it is quite rare to see any non-white people other
than Native (Aboriginal, Indigenous) people, of which there are quite a
few in the more northern areas where most of their lands and reservations
were originally set up.

Like you, and probably like anywhere that an already populated country
was colonized by another, we have our issues with the natives, or they
have their issues with us - pick one.
It's a touchy subject on both sides. A huge amount of money gets sent
their way yet most live in severe poverty, but often when that is looked
into a lot of the funds are never getting to the people and is being stolen
by their own Chiefs and Councils. A statement like that is never universally
correct so I'm sure it's not always like that. Most of us only know what we
see on the News and that can be biased, and in any case will only show the
most sensational stories.

Mostly this just refers to Natives in their own communities mostly in
the FAR North. Those who have chosen to live with the rest of us often
have good jobs and do quite well given that their income is Tax Free by
treaty, as is anything they purchase. Any of this will also vary from
province to province. There seem to be a lot more problems in Britich
Columbia and Alberta in the cities with alcohol and drug addicted Natives
with all the problems that brings.

A lot of time here being spent on that subject..  In general Canadians
are friendly and so polite that it's an international joke, especially
in the USA. Most visitors comment that things are so clean here, without
the garbage on the sides of roads seen in a lot of places, but that may
be another not quite universal truth depending on where in the country
you visit.

Our other cultural problem is an occasional one with Quebec who are
French Speaking and want to either form their own country or to have
'special' rights as a unique culture not afforded to the rest of us.
They had a referendum a while back but couldn't get enough votes to
separate from Canada, probably a good thing for them considering that
they are constantly financially supported by the rest of the country
and the few big businesses they have would likely have left them had
they formed their own country. They are so protective (xenophobic?)
in Quebec that they have Language Police that will charge businesses
for dealing too much in English and schools that forbid students from
speaking anything but French while on the property.

That said, my paternal Grandmother was French and my Brother's wife
is from Quebec so it's not like I have anything against them..
.. other than maybe they force the rest of Canada to take French
classes in school so that we, in theory, all know Canada's Second
Official Language..   B)

Hmm..  Why does it seem we're spending a lot more time talking about
problems than good things ?

Have a good one and ask anything you're curious about..

Oh, I know..  One question. It's hinted at that there's a bit of
animosity between New Zealand and Australia. Is that the case or
is it mostly in jest ?

Rob
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 * SLMR Rob  * Help!... I'm sinking in QWKsand! *
 * PDQWK 2.52 #17


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