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Canada and the United States border each other for thousands of miles. In some ways, the countries are similar and share a common culture and tradition, but on the other hand, there are many more distinct differences between them. The government, health care, lifestyle, languages, and even social conduct, among others, could play a crucial role in the citizens’ everyday life. With that in mind, here are 20 major differences between the two nations.
1. Canadian Niceties
Canadians have a reputation for being unusually polite and friendly. They are also notorious for apologizing when it's not necessary. Americans, on the other hand, are thought to be more direct and to apologize less.
2. Political Intrigue
Canadians watch and follow the politics of the United States closely and often have an interest in American leaders and issues. In contrast, many in the United States know little or nothing about Canadian politics; few could name a Canadian politician or political party, and many cannot name Canada's capital city or provinces.
3. French Influence
Canada has a strong French influence, with about 28–30% of the population being of French culture. This is reflected in the languages, food, and other cultural practices of these regions. The United States is much more Anglophone, with English almost completely dominant, and French culture having a smaller, more regional presence.
4. House Builds
Canadian houses tend to be smaller, but include such features as cellars, large porches, or solariums. Americans have larger houses and larger lawns. The building materials vary; in eastern Canada, brick houses are common to help homes keep warm in the cold winters. Wood is more prevalent in western Canada and the United States; southern American houses are usually wood-frame houses with concrete foundations.
5. House Costs
Costs associated with housing in Canada are normally much higher than in the United States, especially in larger cities like Toronto or Vancouver. This has made home ownership a difficult proposition for a significant number of Canadians. However, Americans do not always have the same wide range of housing costs to choose from, with lower prices in suburban and rural areas allowing for much more affordable real estate.
6. Immigration
The United States sees itself as a "melting pot" where immigrant cultures intermingle and blend, whereas Canada has the metaphor of a "cultural mosaic" and actively encourages new Canadians to keep their language and culture. Immigration rates to Canada are higher. This leads to a more culturally mixed population, with 20% being born outside Canada and another 45% being the children of immigrants.
7. Sports
Canadians are not as interested in sports as their American counterparts. However, one sport in which Canadians are extremely interested is hockey. In fact, nearly every city has an ice rink and a local hockey team, and there are seven NHL teams in Canada. On the other hand, Americans take baseball and football way more seriously.
8. Measurement
The United States system is almost entirely British imperial, while Canada has officially adopted the metric system but informally describes many things in a mix of systems. This makes the two systems quite similar in actual use, both being close to a hybrid system.
9. Work Culture
Canadians typically work fewer hours than Americans, 40 on average, and take breaks and vacations as offered and required by law. Americans will work 50 a week and forego breaks and vacations as they see being busy and unavailable as a sign of dedication to be respected. Canadians will be polite in business and discuss unimportant things before work; Americans are all business and will jump right into brainstorming, thinking of time as money.
10. Government
Another major difference in Canada and the United States is that Canada is under the governance of a prime minister, and the United States is ruled by a president. Furthermore, politically Americans are primarily split between two political affiliations: Democrat and Republican. In contrast, there are five major political parties in Canada, which include Liberal, Conservative, NDP, Bloc Québécois, and Green.
11. Healthcare
Canada has a universal healthcare system. When you visit the doctor, stay in a hospital, or undergo surgery, it is provided for by taxes, and therefore you do not pay out of pocket at the time of visit, stay, or procedure. The United States is primarily based on private health care, with medical services usually provided by an employer. If an American is not covered by insurance, he or she is forced to pay out of pocket for any medical assistance they receive.
12. Harsh Winters
Canada has colder winters than most of the United States, with lower temperatures, heavier snowfall, and more days with ice and snow. Canadians are used to their colder climate, and many of their ways of life are adapted to it. The winters for the southern and western states of the United States are milder, and the people there are not accustomed to as much extreme cold and snow.
13. The Language
English is the most widely spoken language in both Canada and the United States. Canadian English, however, features a mix of British and American spelling. For instance, Canadians spell the word “labour” with a ‘u’ and “centre” with ‘re.’ American English, on the other hand, features mostly American spellings such as "labor" and "center."
14. International Ties
Canada, in addition to the United Kingdom and France, has a greater cultural affinity with the United Kingdom and France in terms of its traditions and systems, including its laws and language. The influences of both French and British culture are stronger in Canada, with the presence of French influence in Quebec and other parts of the country, as well as the traditions of the monarchy and commonwealth. The United States has a more independent culture with less influence from the United Kingdom and France.
15. Taxes
On average, Canadians pay more in taxes, which fund programs such as universal health care, public transit, and other social programs. Americans, on average, pay lower taxes and so must rely more on private providers to cover health care, education, and retirement.
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16. Celebrations
Thanksgiving is a holiday in both Canada and the United States, but there are some key differences. In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated in October, while in the United States it is celebrated in November. Canada also has holidays such as Victoria Day and Civic Holidays that are not celebrated in the U.S. Each country's history and cultural traditions have shaped these differences.
17. Environmental Policy
Canadian environmental and renewable energy policies tend to focus on conservation in most cases. The environment and climate policies of the United States vary and are more fickle, subject to major changes by each incoming president. In the longer view, Canada has more stable environmental policies.
18. Transportation
Canadians will often take public transportation in the larger cities and are used to driving very long distances if they live in the rural parts of the country. Americans are usually more dependent on their cars, and the public transportation system outside of larger cities is not very relied upon. This means that travel by Canadians is more diverse than travel by Americans, who tend to drive almost exclusively.
19. Education
Public education in Canada is usually given higher rankings and focuses on having more standardized national curricula. The United States has a decentralized education system, so there are large differences between states and school districts. This means that Canadian students usually receive a more uniform education than American students, whose education varies widely by location.
20. Self Identity
At the end of the day, the two countries self-identify very differently. Canadians see themselves as polite, multicultural, and European in heritage. Americans focus on individuality, entrepreneurship, and pride in their country. These ideals influence values, social norms, and cultural identity.
