What is Canada ?

I travel a little bit, and am frequently asked what Canada is.  On the occasion of Canada's 150th birthday, I thought I'd give answering this seemingly easy, but actually quite deep question a try.

Like some other countries with big neighbours (Ukraine, New Zealand), Canada is frequently defined in relation to the USA.  If I had a nickel for every time I'd heard 51st state jokes, well I'd have about $2.00.  But there's more to my country than the shadow our neighbour casts upon us.

Canada embraces a social sensibility that crosses what I like to think of as the best of Europe, with the pragmatism of the US.  We have a social safety net as Canadians repeatedly elect governments that put this in place.  It means that we are willing to extend our wallets to help those less fortunate around us.  That results in "free" medical care, deep programs and acknowledgement for lots of people in disadvantaged situations in an economic, health, personal and other senses.  It's important to note that this willingness to reach into our pockets (in a taxation sense) to help others, extends beyond our borders as well - Canada is the country that has contributed the most to UN 'Blue Helmet' missions in the last 50 years - and it extends when we see those in need wherever they are.  Canada has opened its borders and communities to tens of thousands of Syrian refugees in the last two years and local 'person to person' support was in place at a local level to shepherd these newcomers from life as they knew it, into jobs, schools and our society so they can become self-supporting.

Are we perfect ? Of course not, but arguments about which social investments to make, which bridges to build and mend are different I'd argue than arguments about how much to take take away from the disadvantaged and only give to those with advantages.

Canada is bilingual, and though we complain at times, we have a Swiss style approach with defined territories with distinct cultures and this is enshrined in who we are.  Think about that a moment, not many countries are able to do that - understand the variances that separate  us, embrace them and turn it into a strength. Vive la Canada!

Canada is economically conservative.  It manifests in our banks and spending.  Our economy will never be a world beater or leader - but it is solidly and consistently in the top ranks globally.  In these days of massive economic fluxes - Japan, America, and Russia I'm talking about you - this is a pretty good achievement.

I like to think that we are a mosaic, and not a melting pot.  It's hard to define being Canadian, so instead anyone that comes here - and many do -  simply contribute to make all of our society a little richer, a little deeper instead of having to conform to some 'norm'.  It benefits us all when people with new cultures chose to live here.

And any discussion of what it means to be Canadian can't avoid the massive scale of our land, stretching to three oceans.  The scope of Canada - it takes 7-8 hours to fly nonstop across and the varied geographies we have - it is in our soul.  Beaver, and elk adorn our money and are national symbols.  While most Canadians live within 500kms of our southern border, we all appreciate that the vast majority of our country is wild, beautiful and untapped.

Canada is all of these things, and for a 150-year old it's looking pretty good.