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Actually "The Canadian charter of rights and freedoms" is the Canadian constitution and it makes Canada probably the freest country in the world. It's basic idea is that the rights of each person trump the rights of the state. I spend about half my time in the USA and half in Canada and Canada is a much freer country. The cops here walk on eggshells because if they abuse your rights not only are they apt to get in trouble but if you were actually breaking the law it will be thrown out of court for sure. I don't think anyone has ever been jailed for illegal TV reception. A fine is about it. We have all kinds of Canadian satellite TV and cable that you can get hundreds of stations on and many from all over the world.
Our gun laws are restrictive and most Canadians like that. That only applies to handguns though and the number of long guns per capita is higher than in the USA. We have a lot of hunters in Canada.
It's true that "hate speach" is illegal and again the Canadian people by a vast majority like this law. It's a crime just like sedition is in the USA and it has nothing to do with "The freedom of speach". In the USA spewing hatred against "Different people" has a long tradition and I feel very strongly that it has damaged the USA severely. Things that I have heard on FOX news if broadcast in Canada would result in the station loosing their licence to broadcast and possibly jail time for the bigot that was spewing forth the hate. We have fought a battle in this country for the last 40 years against racism and the war is mostly won. Lou Dobbs would also be toast here as far as his career goes.
Both Canada's and the USA's legal system are based on English "Common law" except Quebec and Louisania whos legal system is based on the French legal system. Neither countries law system is based on our constitutions. Our laws are based on our constitutions but not the system of law.
I think the main difference a person would find between the two countries is that Canadians are very laid back compared to Americans. There are very few extremists of any sort in the country. Most people are not interested in politics very much other than how it effecting them personally today. I also find that the average Canadian is much better informed about things in general both in the world and in there own country. My wife was in Tennesse last week and she asked a store clerk if such and such was valid in Canada? The clerk asked my wife,"what state is Canada in?" That would just never happen in Canada and we laugh because we run into things like that all the time in the USA. It's because the Canadian system of education is vastly superior than that of the USA. The public education is the same if you are from a working class area or from the richest area in the country. That illustrates another big difference between us. In Canada the division between the classes of society have been largely broken down. The kids of modest means really don't think the rich are any better or deserving than they are.
I'm not trying to bash the States here I'm just convinced after 56 years that Canada is light years ahead of the USA when it comes to social progress and humanism in the good sence.
Thanks for your post. I've no idea why this thread was started. I wanted to post myself, but found the OP's post so messed up, I didn't even know where to start. I decided it was not worth the time.
In Canada you do not really have "rights" per se. They have a Charter which gives people basic human rights but things like "freedom of speech" and "the right to bear arms" among other things are unheard of in Canada.
Freedom of speech is unheard of? LOL
For cryin' out loud, KevK, at least do some basic research before posting rubbish like this.
It enshrines in law, amongst other things, freedom of thought and expression. It also mentions something called a free press.
The government can not issue a gag order to anyone, newspaper or individual. Only a court of law may impose a publication ban, and then only after an appropriate hearing.
There is no enshrined right to bear arms, but plenty of folks have long guns and use them regularly for sporting purposes.
Contrary to your post, KevK, there are no felonies in the Canadian legal system. Offences are dealt with either by summary or indictable procedures. The latter is more serious than the former.
Impaired driving is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada. The provisions are the same across the entire country and there are mandatory minimum sentences.
Certainly there a large number of differences between the two countries, but let's at least try for a correct presentation of them.
Actually "The Canadian charter of rights and freedoms" is the Canadian constitution and it makes Canada probably the freest country in the world. It's basic idea is that the rights of each person trump the rights of the state. I spend about half my time in the USA and half in Canada and Canada is a much freer country. The cops here walk on eggshells because if they abuse your rights not only are they apt to get in trouble but if you were actually breaking the law it will be thrown out of court for sure.
It's easier for the government of Canada to make an exception to rights than in the U.S., though these days it seems the differences are narrowing.
I have noticed that other than at the borders, Canadian cops do have less of a thuggish/JBT attitude, in general (with exceptions obviously).
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Our gun laws are restrictive and most Canadians like that. That only applies to handguns though and the number of long guns per capita is higher than in the USA. We have a lot of hunters in Canada.
I know many Canadians, primarily from Alberta, the Yukon, NWT, parts of BC, etc., and many Canadians hate the gun laws but the urban centers are anti-gun and dominate the politics. I imagine if it were left up to the Provinces some would be comparable to some U.S. states, while others would not be.
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It's true that "hate speach" is illegal and again the Canadian people by a vast majority like this law. It's a crime just like sedition is in the USA and it has nothing to do with "The freedom of speach". In the USA spewing hatred against "Different people" has a long tradition and I feel very strongly that it has damaged the USA severely. Things that I have heard on FOX news if broadcast in Canada would result in the station loosing their licence to broadcast and possibly jail time for the bigot that was spewing forth the hate. We have fought a battle in this country for the last 40 years against racism and the war is mostly won. Lou Dobbs would also be toast here as far as his career goes.
"Hate speech" isn't supported here, but it's considered worse for the government to infringe on people's right to make fools of themselves.
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Both Canada's and the USA's legal system are based on English "Common law" except Quebec and Louisania whos legal system is based on the French legal system. Neither countries law system is based on our constitutions. Our laws are based on our constitutions but not the system of law.
Correct, common law except where it clashes with our Constitution was officially adopted here except by LA.
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I also find that the average Canadian is much better informed about things in general both in the world and in there own country. My wife was in Tennesse last week and she asked a store clerk if such and such was valid in Canada? The clerk asked my wife,"what state is Canada in?" That would just never happen in Canada and we laugh because we run into things like that all the time in the USA. It's because the Canadian system of education is vastly superior than that of the USA. The public education is the same if you are from a working class area or from the richest area in the country. That illustrates another big difference between us. In Canada the division between the classes of society have been largely broken down. The kids of modest means really don't think the rich are any better or deserving than they are.
I disagree here. You can't generalize in the U.S. because education quality varies widely. TN schools are not good in general compared to, perhaps Vermont schools.
Thanks for your post. I've no idea why this thread was started. I wanted to post myself, but found the OP's post so messed up, I didn't even know where to start. I decided it was not worth the time.
KevK- please stop posting in the Canadian forums, your ignorance of this country is almost offensive. We do have freedom of speech, satellite dishes won't get you thrown in jail, (and in response to his posts in another thread) we don't have "Canadian Miles", we use kilometres, like almost all of the rest of the world does. We also use the almost universally adopted temperature measure of celsius instead of fahrenheit, and despite what you may think, it does not take a math whiz to figure out. 0 is freezing, 100 is boiling, instead of 32 and 200, which actually seems a lot simpler.
If one were to distill the real differences, one thing really stood out for me: the "elitist knowledge attitude" educational attitude of Canadians to the Americans. To compare a check out person's knowledge to an educated US Citizen is ludicrous. Or to ask the media to really represent this country (USA) fairly in Canada or accurately without a liberal bias is also not complete. I know from personal experience that the only way to know ANY country is by living in it.
I never experienced the lack of freedoms as spoken of by the OP. But I did experience the apathy and pessimism of Canadian attitudes. There is this non conflict, not commit attitude in the Canadians that's frustratingly intellectual. And I know I was guilty of it BEFORE I immigrated to the USA.
The USA is bashed in Canada a lot by the media and the people believe the hype. But after living here, I can say, I LOVE the passion and the real commitment people have to their beliefs. I may not always agree, but I love the dialogue.
The USA is not filled with ignorant people anymore than Canada is filled with beer swilling, plaid wearing losers..... go GREAT WHITE NORTH.
Tell us about the schools and colleges. I think there is some difference there as well.
No one mentioned the two types of attorneys.
Well Canada's education is very different that the USA. First of all our public elementry and high schools are far superior to the average school in the USA. There are many reasons for that but I will discuss just a couple of points as they pertain to this province, Ontario. School funding, All property owners pay property tax just like in the USA. A certain portion of that goes to the school system. The schools are funded by a per pupil formula not by the area where the tax was collected. Therefore within a school board the resources for schools are the same if the school is in the poorest or the richest areas of the board. This assures a much more level educational opportunity for all the student regardless of their parents social economic status.
Teachers are very well paid in Canada. It's a profession that is very desirable and well respected in the country. I think this fact results in a higher level of professionalism and stability within the teaching ranks. Teachers tend to stay being teachers and therefore our average teacher has a lot of experience.
A lot of high schools specialize in different areas. For example in the board that I went to high school in we had Danforth Tech. Kids that thought they would be more interested in engineering or technical trades would go there. They had 5year, 4year and 2year programs. The 5 year was geares to university the 4 year college and the 2 year apprentice programmes. We also had Central commerce. This school specialized in business and commerce. Same thing 5,4 and 2 year programs. the 5 year grads would ofter go on the become chartered accountants, business managers,bankers etc. We also had Monarch park secondary school. This school was mostly an Arts and science school that had a more general curriculum. More Drs. and Lawyers, actors and media people, writers and such would come out of this type of program.
We are very liberal about letting the kids attend the school of their choice even if it's out of their geographical areas if it has something that the school in the kid's area does not.
Well that's about all the info I'm giving about our public schools for now. I have to go and eat my lunch.
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,761,129 times
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Originally Posted by minibrings
where in Canada did you live?
My wife is from there. I have never "lived there". Just spent months there. I guess that is sort of living there.
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