Canada

Population: 33 437 208

Life expectancy: 81.23 years
Fertility rate: 1.58 children/woman
School life expectancy: 17 years
Religion: Roman Catholic (42.6%), Protestant (23.3%),
Non-religious (16%), Islam (1.9%), Other (11.8%)

Persistent problems in Canada include marijuana tolerlance, imminent

secession of the Québécois, suicide amongst the Inuit people,
unrestricted abortion, possible changes in the health care system.

Concerns

Suicide
The Inuit (Eskimos) in the Arctic have been
devastatingly affected by the impact of Western culture.
Their suicide rate is four times the national average.

Bilingualism
The future unity of Canada is threatened by an
undercurrent of feeling in the French-speaking province
of Quebec, in favour of being independent from the rest
of the country. In 1995 Canada came within a few
thousand votes of breaking up, but the country’s Prime
Minister has attempted to resolve the issue by giving
Quebec special status as a ‘distinct society.’
There is a very strong division and sense of pride Head of Government: Prime Head of State: Queen
between those who speak French and those who speak Minister Stephen Harper Elizabeth II
English. This aspect of the divided nation causes the
government an excessive amount of extra money every Economist Stephen Harper was Queen Elizabeth Mary is in the
year. elected in 2006 as a member of 58th year of her reign. This is
the conservative party. unusually long for a British
Illicit Drugs monarch. She is also the queen
For years, the government has been considering the Harper became the first Prime of the United Kingdom,
decriminalization of marijuana use. The Marijuana Party Minister to visit his troops on Australia, New Zealand, and
of Canada specifically advocates this cause. The general the front lines. This occurred in several other nations.
attitude amongst the citizens is one of tolerance. Afghanistan in 2007.
Queen Elizabeth has enjoyed
Abortion Harper is a strong proponent of great health throughout her
There is no legal restriction on abortion in Canada. In Israel. He often speaks against reign, and does not plan on
2005, 23% of all pregnancies ended in abortion. Antisemitism and has abdicating the throne before
supported Israel’s right to she dies.
defend itself as unrest
continues in the Middle East. The Queen has often been
characterized as a distant
Harper proposed and supported figure due to her political
Suggested prayer topics the Québécois Nation Motion, absence. Nevertheless, she has
which recognized French- extremely strong support from
• Pray for a sense of unity among all speaking Canadians as an her subjects.
Canadians individually distinct nation.
• Pray for those trapped in the systems that This motion continues to cause The Queen serves as the
promote harmful drugs division today. Supreme Governor of the
• Pray for the numerous immigrants who have Church of England and
serious difficulty acquiring jobs supports interfaith efforts, as
• Pray for the Inuit as they continue to find she meets regularly with
their place in the 21st century world leaders of other religious
• Pray for continued provision of health care backgrounds.
for all of the Canadian citizens
• Pray for the Canadian view of human life in
regard to the policies on abortion
• Pray for a desire for truth-seeking as Canada
strives to be inclusive of all religions
• Pray for wisdom for the leaders of the
government as they hold the philosophies
underlying the nations policies