Canada: to separate or not to separate? That is the question for many people of Quebec.

Like the United States, Canada stretches from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west. Only Russia is larger in area. But for such a vast country, Canada's population is sparse. It has only about 32 million people, or roughly 10 percent of the U.S. population.

Stuart Bailey, 14, and Florence Bienvenue, 13, live in Montreal, the second-largest city in Canada. Located on an island in the St. Lawrence River, Montreal is built around Mount Royal, a tree-covered mountain that gives the city its name--and stunning views. The historic district, or Vieux-Montreal (VUE mon-re-AL), is a popular spot for tourists. Many come to ride a caleche (kah-LESH) through the cobblestone streets near the river.

One of the largest French-speaking cities in the world, Montreal combines French, English, and Latin culture. It is located in Quebec (kwih-BEHK), Canada's largest province. Canada is a federation of 10 provinces and 3 territories.

About 65,000 French colonists lived in Quebec in 1763, when the region fell to the British. (See play, pp. 14-17.) Since then, the number of people with French ancestry has grown to more than 5 million. Most of them live in Quebec.

For the past 30 years or so, Canadian politics has been dominated by Quebec politics. Some Quebecois (kay-beh-KWAH), who are mostly French-Canadian, want to break away from the rest of Canada and form an independent country.

To Separate or Not to Separate?

The first separatist government in Quebec, the Parti Quebecois (PQ), took power in 1977. They held a referendum in 1980 and again in 1995. The question they put to voters: Do you want to secede from Canada?

Both times a majority said no. The PQ is now the opposition party. But it vows to hold another referendum if elected in the next Quebec election in 2008.

There is even a separatist party at the federal level in Ottawa, Canada's capital. The party, called the Bloc Quebecois, was founded in 1990. It probably will never gain much power because it only elects members from Quebec, and not from the rest of Canada. The party's main goal is to represent Quebec's interests in Ottawa. It also works closely with the PQ to promote Quebec separatism.

Citizens of Quebec

In the last federal election, held in June, the Bloc Quebecois won the most seats ever in its brief history. But that success, political experts believe, did not represent increased support for separatism. Rather, it reflected dissatisfaction with the ruling Liberal Party, which has been plagued by scandals.

Most observers of Canadian politics agree that only about 40 percent of Quebecois are dedicated separatists. The rest either want Quebec to remain part of Canada, or haven't made up their minds.

Most Canadians outside Quebec consider themselves to be Canadian first. But in Quebec, it is the opposite. Most residents consider themselves to be citizens of Quebec first and Canadians second--if they consider themselves Canadian at all. Some French-speaking Quebecois, or Francophones, resent the dominance of the English-speaking majority. They feel that if they had their own country, their language and culture would have a better chance to survive.

But many Canadian kids--like Stuart and Florence--don't think too much about politics. They have the same interests as kids in the U.S., including playing sports and listening to pop music, much of it American.

Typical Teen

Like most Anglophones (English speakers) in Montreal, Stuart attends a French immersion school, Royal Vale High School. Most of his classes are taught in French, so he speaks both French and English fluently.

Stuart is one of the top athletes at his local tennis club. Every summer, the ninth-grader plays tennis, basketball, and football. In the winter months, he plays ice hockey and goes snowboarding. His favorite National Football League teams are the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tennessee Titans. And, of course, his favorite hockey team is the Montreal Canadiens.

Because he is an athlete, Stuart stays away from junk food. "I mostly like Japanese food," he says, "especially sushi." And if he's not playing sports, Stuart likes to play video games or listen to music.

"I like a lot of different music," he says. "But my favorite is rock. My favorite bands are Three Doors Down and Coldplay."

Stuart may even have an acting career in his future. In September, he was cast as a tennis player for a kids' TV show called 15/Love. He was "discovered" at his tennis club.

Life in Montreal

Florence is also bilingual. The topic of Quebec separation came up in her class recently, but Florence says everyone was against it. They didn't see the need. The French language, many people say, is more protected now because of a series of laws passed in Quebec.

Florence attends a private Catholic school called Le Marcelline, along with her two sisters, Emma Rose, 11, and Madeleine, 5. They live with their parents in a quiet neighborhood close to downtown Montreal.

In addition to French and English, Florence is learning Spanish at school, where she plays on the basketball team. During the winter months, she skis in the Laurentian Mountains, north of Montreal, where her family has a country house.

In her spare time, Florence likes to make jewelry "and go to movies and hang out at the Dairy Queen." Her favorite musicians are Blink 182, Billy Talent, and Avril Lavigne.

Although she is barely a teenager, Florence has already begun to think about her future. "I wanted to be an architect or an engineer because I like making things," says the eighth-grader. "But now I'm thinking of being a lawyer, like my dad."

Whether or not the Quebecois decide to separate from Canada, both Florence and Stuart seem to have bright futures ahead of them.

Words to Know

* bilingual: able to speak two languages fluently.

* caleche: horse-drawn carriage.

* federation: union.

* province: a political subdivision of a country.

* referendum: a vote in which citizens are asked to respond yes or no to a specific question.

* secede: withdraw from a country.

Your Turn

WORD MATCH

1. referendum  A. withdraw from
                  a country
2. secede      B. person who
                  speaks English
3. Anglophone  C. able to speak
                  two languages
4. federation  D. vote on a
                  question
5. bilingual   E. union

THINK ABOUT IT

1. Do you think Quebec should secede from Canada? Why or why not?

2. What do you have in common with Stuart and Florence? How does your life differ from theirs?

Canada

Canada is the second-largest country in the world. It is made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories (including Nunavut). In 1763, Great Britain won control of Canada from France. French and English Canadians united to create the Dominion of Canada in 1867. The country became independent in 1931.

FACTS TO KNOW

AREA: 3,849,670 square miles.

POPULATION: 32,507,874; about 28% are of British origin, 23% French, 15% other European, 2% Indian, 32% mixed or other.

GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary democracy; Paul Martin, Prime Minister.

ECONOMY: As in the U.S., service industry and manufacturing jobs are dominant, but farming, fishing, and mining remain important. Canada is a close economic partner with the U.S.

PER CAPITA GDP: $29,700.

RELIGION: Roman Catholic, 46%; Protestant, 36%; other 18%.

LANGUAGE: English, 59.3%; French. 23.2%; other 17.5%.

LITERACY: 97% overall.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Men, 77 years; women, 82 years.

QUESTIONS

1. In which province is Vancouver Island located? --

2. What is Canada's capital? Which province is it in? --

3. What are two important industries in Alberta? --

4. Which Canadian river ends at a town of the same name on Hudson Bay? --

5. Which of the Great Lakes does not border both Canada and the U.S.? --

6. What line of latitude divides the provinces from the territories? --

7. Which is the smallest of the 10 provinces? --

8. What major river flows into Lake Ontario? --

9. Which territory contains the most water area? --

10. Which river flows northwest across the Yukon border into Alaska? --

* OBJECTIVE

Students should understand

* Quebec, Canada's largest province, differs from the rest of the nation by the dominance of its French language and culture.

* WORDS TO KNOW

bilingual: able to speak two languages fluently * federalists: supporters of a united Canada * federation: union * referendum: a vote in which citizens are asked to respond yes or no to a specific question.

* TEACHING STRATEGY

Have students locate Canada on a map. Ask: "What do you know about Canada?"

* BACKGROUND

A recent study by three Parti Quebecois politicians called the secession movement "outmoded, outdated, and dilapidated." The report said many young residents of Quebec. are more concerned with environmental preservation, social issues, and globalization than independence.

* CRITICAL THINKING

COMPREHENSION: Why do some Quebec residents want their province to secede from Canada? (Those separatists, who are mostly French-Canadian, resent the domination of their language and culture by the mostly English-speaking country. The only sure way, they argue, to preserve Quebec's unique culture is for the province to exist as an independent nation.)

CAUSE AND EFFECT: Why will the Bloc Quebecois probably never gain much power in Canadian politics? (The political party only elects members from Quebec, and so may never gain broader support across Canada.)

* ACTIVITY

STAY OR GO?: Instruct students to make a presentation on whether their state should secede from the U.S. How would their state benefit or suffer from secession?

STANDARDS

SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8

* Culture: How a sense of cultural identity and pride among some residents of Quebec clashes with Canadian nationalism.

* Power, authority, and government: How national referendums have blocked Ouebec'e attempts to secede from Canada.

RESOURCES

PRINT

* Landau, Elaine, Canada (Scholastic Library Pub., 2000). Grades 5-8.

* Hamilton, Janice, Qudbec (Fitzbanry & Whiteside, Ltd., 2003). Grades 5-8.

GROLIER WEB SITE KEY TERM

* Canada

WEB SITES

* Canada www.odci.gov/cia/publications/ factbook/geos/ca.html

* Quebec government www.gouv.qc.ca/Index_en.html

ANSWERS

1. D;2. A; 3. B;4. E; 5. C

Canada Map, p. 13

1. British Columbia;

2. Ottawa; Ontario

3. Oil and natural gas

4. Churchill River

5. Lake Michigan

6. 60[degrees]N

7. Prince Edward Island

8. St. Lawrence River

9. Nunavut

10 The Yukon River, which flows into Alaska