What Makes Canada a Great Place to Live?

[Gokul43201]

Ivan, would you think of staying if Bush kicks out Rummy and Wolfie, and invites McCain and Hagel to the Cabinet ?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I don't know if anything could cause a change of heart or not. For me, as nearly as I can tell, my country died last week.

It's not that Bush was re-elected; it's that he could be. It's not that the Constitution is treated by the Bush machine like an after-thought, it's that so few even understand why this is a problem.

Maybe with time I will settle down, but after a week my anger has only grown. You know, for most of my life I would have given my life for my country - for a time I thought I might in Cambodia. But last week I knew that something had fundamentally changed for me when I saw an American flag. It made me nauseas.

This was not just an election. It goes much deeper than that.

 

[check]

Well Ivan, let me be the first to welcome you! You've made a fine choice. :)

 

[ShawnD]

The problem with the Canadian school system is that they don't really separate students. In the US, they have more money for more classes. In Canada, the bad, average and good students could all get stuck together in the same english, science or math class.

That's not exactly true. Each province has a different setup, but for Alberta the retards are only groups with the genious for grades 1-9. For grades 10-12, there are several distinct skill levels. Courses ending with a 0 are the best (required for university), courses ending with 3 are for underachievers (accepted at some tech and trade schools), courses ending with a 4 are for people with no academic future.

 

[check]

That's not exactly true. Each province has a different setup, but for Alberta the retards are only groups with the genious for grades 1-9. For grades 10-12, there are several distinct skill levels. Courses ending with a 0 are the best (required for university), courses ending with 3 are for underachievers (accepted at some tech and trade schools), courses ending with a 4 are for people with no academic future.

Same in Ontario.

Grades 9 and 10 have ‘Academic,’ ‘Applied’ and ‘Essentials’ levels. Academic are geared towards students who are stronger learners and who wish to go on to University. ‘Applied’ is for students who aren’t as strong in the subject and ‘Essentials’ is very remedial. In grades 11 and 12 there are ‘University’, ‘University/College’, ‘College’, ‘Open’ and ‘Work place prep.’ (or something like that) level classes. Again, those are listed in decreasing difficulty (however, there are some courses only offered at certain levels). Since there are no entrance exams for Ontario universities and colleges, universities look at ‘University’ and ‘University/College’ level courses as prerequisites. It’s a pretty smart system and so far it has worked quite well.

 

[Polly]

A good part of America died in my heart too. But then I think about all those who have voted for Kerry...The next four years is going to be hard for all of us around the world.
Cheer up Ivan, as soon as you have settled down in Canada, Hong Kong welcomes you.

 

[ShawnD]

Since there are no entrance exams for Ontario universities and colleges, universities look at ‘University’ and ‘University/College’ level courses as prerequisites. It’s a pretty smart system and so far it has worked quite well.

Alberta universities are the same way. To get into the tech school I attend right now, all I had to do was give them a copy of my marks. No special exams or essays.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

A good part of America died in my heart too. But then I think about all those who have voted for Kerry...The next four years is going to be hard for all of us around the world.
Cheer up Ivan, as soon as you have settled down in Canada, Hong Kong welcomes you.

I'm afraid this adminstration will have fundamental ramifications for decades to come - esp depending on what happens with the Supreme Court Justices. If I was twenty I might be willing to continue the good fight, and for most of my life I have done everything I can to push, argue, debate, beg, or plead the point, but I have watched our rights erode for decades. I don't see that nearly enough people care or any reason why anything will change significantly in the years that I have left. Anyway, like I said, this is not just about one election, this is about 51% of this nation and whatever makes it possible for someone like Bush to be re-elected. I can't even express my outrage... Sorry to be so negative. I'll stop now.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Well Ivan, let me be the first to welcome you! You've made a fine choice. :)

Thanks check.

 

[Polly]

I understand.

 

[tribdog]

I don't know if anything could cause a change of heart or not. For me, as nearly as I can tell, my country died last week.

.

Oh my GAWD! Do you have a Soundtrack? Some Violins and Violas maybe a sad Oboe playing in the background. I haven't see you this depressed since the time you couldn't get out of bed for a week because of the emotional anguish you felt over the fact that you had run out of hot water before you were able to "repeat"

 

[Dagenais]

I have heard that American high school is a joke compared to what we do.

I went to B.C. school and American-style school. BC had no Advance Placement classes at my school - everyone were at the same level of English and Math.

The schools had less money, the teachers weren't that great.

They only have 4 classes (and a 1.5 hour lunch, compared to a US 30 minute). And a semester of classes like English and Math as opposed to a year.

B.C.'s schooling isn't good. Anyone that's been in school out of B.C. can admit that (the person from India is an example). We have people here saying that India's schooling is harder, and I can say the same for Quebec and US's system (at least the one I experienced).

 

[ek]

I went to B.C. school and American-style school. BC had no Advance Placement classes at my school - everyone were at the same level of English and Math.

The schools had less money, the teachers weren't that great.

They only have 4 classes (and a 1.5 hour lunch, compared to a US 30 minute). And a semester of classes like English and Math as opposed to a year.

I don't know what high school you went to, but that doesn't sound like mine or any I know.

We don't need AP classes. They still do offer a couple though, like AP English and Calculus, but very few people take them.

And yes there is only four classes at a time. It's called the semester system. 4 classes, six hours per week, 24 hours of school per week. An hour for lunch. I don't see what the problem is.

 

[i_wish_i_was_smart]

Ek...China doesn't take care of Hong Kong since Hong Kong was so much better off then the rest of China, the government of China decided it was best to let Hong Kong govern themselves

Dagenais i protest your claim of Quebec having a good education system since all quebecers i saw that moved to Alberta droped down a grade, like someone who would be in secondaire 5 (how ever high that is) had to drop down a grade , they had some classes in the right grade but the rest were all a grade lower, and Ontario just changed their system of education to the same as Albertas, Alberta had that system a long time ago, i know cause i was the first grade to ever be implimented in that new system in ontario then i moved to Alberta, so if anything Hong Kong is taking Alberta's education system, i don't like Alberta but give credit where credit is due.

and if you can prove me wrong about the difference between quebec's system and Albertas system, feel free to do so

 

[check]

Oh, oh! I almost forgot another great thing about Canada! A huge surplus of flu shots! Hehe.

Just got this email from my school:

“This is a reminder that UWO Student Health Services is offering free
influenza vaccinations to registered UWO students (full-time & part-time, main campus and affiliate colleges)”

I’m still not going to get it tho… or maybe I should just ask to take mine home and sell it on ebay? :p

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Oh my GAWD! Do you have a Soundtrack? Some Violins and Violas maybe a sad Oboe playing in the background. I haven't see you this depressed since the time you couldn't get out of bed for a week because of the emotional anguish you felt over the fact that you had run out of hot water before you were able to "repeat"

Now I remember why I ignore you. Not everything is a joke.

 

[Smurf]

I went to B.C. school and American-style school. BC had no Advance Placement classes at my school - everyone were at the same level of English and Math.

The schools had less money, the teachers weren't that great.

They only have 4 classes (and a 1.5 hour lunch, compared to a US 30 minute). And a semester of classes like English and Math as opposed to a year.

B.C.'s schooling isn't good. Anyone that's been in school out of B.C. can admit that (the person from India is an example). We have people here saying that India's schooling is harder, and I can say the same for Quebec and US's system (at least the one I experienced).

In my high school its 4-8 classes per semester, 2 semesters a year, that makes 8 Academic courses or up to 16 non-academic courses a year (which are only 1 term long, 2 terms per semester), it's a 4 day block cycle and I think it's quite efficient. School starts at 9 and ends at 3 and lunch is 30-40 minutes (depends on if AG is on that day). Our Universities are also some of the best in the nation.

Sorry Dagenais but you can't base the whole education system on a single school and some people's opinions, BC is one of the most varied areas in the world (no really - look at some geological maps and you'll see) and our people reflect that.

And Ivan, if you tell people you moved here because you hate bush you'll be accepted emediatly
welcome to Canada!
We're not as xenophobic as America (but just as narcassistic!)

 

[Ivan Seeking]

That's why we thought of Canada. Thanks Smurf, that's good to know. If I found that there is any chance that someone like Bush could get elected in Canada, then I would have serious reservations about any move there. In fact I still need to do some reading about the views there - to confirm or not what I believe to be true. Do you know what the numbers are as related to Bush's popularity there?

Tsu liked my comment on Canada: It has long been the land of the free for those oppressed in the land of the free.

 

[Dagenais]

If I found that there is any chance that someone like Bush could get elected in Canada, then I would have serious reservations about any move there.

I hope you realize that Canada has its own version of George Bush...or at least a, "Bush-like" politician. His name is Stephen Harper and he is quite popular in western Canada, especially Alberta.

Of course, Harper's chances of getting elected are very narrow, but he did beat the NDP and was a runner-up in the election against the Liberals. Therefore, you should be aware of him. I've linked to his party at the bottom of this post.

Dagenais i protest your claim of Quebec having a good education system since all quebecers i saw that moved to Alberta droped down a grade, like someone who would be in secondaire 5 (how ever high that is) had to drop down a grade , they had some classes in the right grade but the rest were all a grade lower

You would think that would happen as they probably speak french as opposed to english. Keep in mind that french is the 1st language of 80% of Quebecois. If you have trouble at english and you attend school in Alberta, it's only natural that they would be held-back. Throw someone from Alberta into Quebec (french school), and the same would likely happen. Unless you expect them to know french well enough to study history, math, science and...french. Also, how many students are you talking about? 2, 3? Details.

Quebec's school system is awesome. The fact that Montreal has the highest post-secondary education rate (per capita) in all of North America, simply helps in portraying this. You'll probably deny that this has nothing to do with basic education, but when more students than any other city in Montreal head to upper education, they must be doing something better than anyone else. Even cities such as Sherbrooke (2 universities, 3 colleges) and medium cities (for Canada) like Trois-Rivieres has a University and is bustling with young, educated people.

with more post-secondary students per capita than any other city in North America, Montreal is in no shortage of educated young people.

Québec’s education system is one of the most modern in the industrialized world, thanks to a network of quality schools.

French is the first language of over 80 percent of the population of Québec. The proportion of Quebeckers who say they know some French is even higher, at 90 percent. In addition to being the language of everyday life in most regions of Québe

and if you can prove me wrong about the difference between quebec's system and Albertas system, feel free to do so

What have you proven? That an unknown number of french students had to take a grade below the regular english class?

Ontario just changed their system of education to the same as Albertas, Alberta had that system a long time ago, i know cause i was the first grade to ever be implimented in that new system in ontario then i moved to Alberta

Ontario and Alberta school systems are different. It says right on McGill's website when applying by application type: Quebec CEGEP Applicants, Ontario High School Applicants, Applicants from Canadian High Schools other than Ontario. Now, if they were the same, why are they considered different by post-secondary institutes?

Sorry Dagenais but you can't base the whole education system on a single school and some people's opinions

At least I got the chance to attend a B.C. school, as opposed to I_Wish_I_Was_Smart, who's opinions are based on "x" number of students from Quebec that attended his school, which he neglected to mention whether they were from French or English school and which subjects they were held back in.

The difference is I've had a chance at Quebec english school, B.C. school and for a short amount of time, a good American-style school. I'm assuming you did too, but the way you're opinions are written, it seems you've had similar experience, oui?

Our Universities are also some of the best in the nation.

Where are you getting your facts from? Or is that just an opinion?

The Maclean's University rankings just came out. Ontario has the best schools in the nation. For Medical/Doctoral Universities, U of T was ranked #1, Western Ontario #2, Queen's #5. Guelph and Waterloo take the Comprehensive category at 1 and 2.

UBC is ranked 4th in the Med/Doc category, while McGill is ranked at 2nd, and Top 25 in the World. So I guess, Quebec wins - according to the facts.

I'll gladly continue this with you through PM as this thread is straying on its original topic.

Source

Source

http://www.meq.gouv.qc.ca/

http://www.cbc.ca/sunday/toptencities/

Source

 

[ShawnD]

You would think that would happen as they probably speak french as opposed to english. Keep in mind that french is the 1st language of 80% of Quebecois. If you have trouble at english and you attend school in Alberta, it's only natural that they would be held-back.

That's not a valid excuse. The main cities in Alberta have schools where French is the main language. They're called "french immersion" schools. There's even a school a few miles south of my house where Cree is the main language.
Students who only speak French are still able to get high school diplomas in Alberta since the language requirement is either English 30/33 or Francais 30/33.

PS.
I voted for that Harper guy

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Dagenais, Shawn D, Smurf, and any other Canadians who have an opinion, how do you feel about Harper as compared to Bush? How would you compare and contrast the two?

Also, I find the discussion of schools interesting.

 

[ShawnD]

Harper is just a conservative. Bush repeatedly says a dictatorship would be easier, and he seems to think he's doing God's work.

They're not really similar

 

[Ivan Seeking]

If anyone cares to indulge me any more, I have reviewed your Constitution. How do you feel about it?

What is more important: Liberty or safety?

 

[Gokul43201]

Asking for a Canadian's opinion of Bush wouldn't be wise.

You have to be here, and have to be aware, to know what this administration has done to undermine democracy here. A Canadian will not feel outrage from hearing about (if at all) having to sign a pledge of allegiance to attend a political event. A Canadian will not be able to give you feedback on the effects of having media giants control the airwaves. They won't feel the outrage you do, of running the country on trickle down economics. They probably would not be aware of the gross over-reaches of the Patriot Act, nor might they have heard of specific incidents of such abuse.

In other words, ask them for popular opinion on issues...but you are only fooling yourself if you ask for their opinion of Bush. We all know what that opinion is.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Hmmm. I can see your point.

Also, Canadians, please explain this:
The Queen reigns but does not rule.

Edit: I see how it applies in the Constitution but how do you feel about it?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Let me restate that: I have read how it applies to the Constitution but it is very confusing.

 

[ek]

The Queen is a figure head.

She's on most of our money, "reigns" over Canada, but has zero power. Even her representative in Canada, the Governor General, basically has no power. Officially (s)he is allowed to deny acts/bills/laws etc, but they never do. The last GG to deny passage of a bill/act/law was during WW2, if my memory serves me correct. And then the Prime Minister had him fired or something.

So basically all the Governor General does is approve things in the name of the Queen. But he really has no choice whether to approve things or not, so basically the whole system is just ornamental. Everything's just convention, and it's not going to change.

Sometimes politicians bring up breaking ties with the Mother Country and Monarch, but it never has happened and it probably never will. Having a Monarch is something that separates us from Americans, and we like it that way.

 

[ek]

Let me restate that: I have read how it applies to the Constitution but it is very confusing.

I don't think we have a "Constitution" like the US, unless I am sorely mistaken.

I know there was the BNA Act, which was later renamed the Constitution Act, but I'm pretty sure the document you refer to is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

What does the Mother Country and Monarch mean to Canadians? What is the meaning of this; what creates this loyalty? Is this purely cultural or does this somehow define Canadian values?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I don't think we have a "Constitution" like the US, unless I am sorely mistaken.

I know there was the BNA Act, which was later renamed the Constitution Act, but I'm pretty sure the document you refer to is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

It may be the way that I'm saying it. I do see references to the Constitutional Documents, and other similar language used.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_constitution

http://www.uni.ca/what_is_const.html