- I moved here from Canada, and they think I'm slow, eh?
That was a Simpsons reference.
So, we Canadians aren't exactly known
for our mysteriousness,
and we're definitely not known for lying.
So why, oh why, are there so many lies
about our great nation floating around out there?
Other than of course the truth that we all
ride polar bears to work. (goofy laugh)
In this video, I am going to take the seven
most commonly believed myths that you likely still believe
about Canada and explain the truth behind them.
So if you think that we apologize a lot
and that our national animal is a beaver
and that we eat maple syrup in pretty much every meal,
(laughs) well, you'd be right.
But today, I'm going to be covering the rest of the stuff,
so this is seven myths you still believe about Canada.
Most Canadians see snow year-round.
One of the biggest cliches about Canada is that we all
live in igloos and get around by dog sled.
And as fun as that sounds, it's just not true.
In fact, most Canadians have never even seen
a real-life dog sled, let alone traveled on one.
The truth is, though most winters can be super harsh,
most of the country's population experiences summers
that could make a Californian sweat.
See, the majority of Canadians live close
to the Canada-U.S. border and thus experience
similar weather to that that you'd expect
in places like Boston or New York City.
And as you likely know,
nobody's navigating Times Square in a dog sled.
Toronto is the capital of Canada.
With the largest population and standing as arguably
the most famous Canadian city,
Toronto seems like the perfect place
to call the nation's capital,
but while it does hold the title of the capital of Ontario,
it's actually Ottawa, another Ontario city,
that holds the big label.
As the designated center of political power,
a capital city needs to be well protected
as well as have access to an abundance of resources,
not to mention transportation networks.
Queen Victoria chose Ottawa to be Canada's capital
on December 31st, 1857.
Not only was it in an excellent defensive position,
but Ottawa was also chosen
because of its location right on the border
between French and English speaking Canada.
With convenient access to two different waterways,
Ottawa was accessible to both populations
and made for the perfect place for a capital.
Canadians don't have guns.
This myth comes up most often when comparing
laws and murder rates between Canada and the U.S.,
but we'll do a little comparison.
For instance, it's an incredibly rare occasion
to have a license granted in Canada
to carry a gun for personal protection.
However, to say that Canadians absolute hate guns,
or that no Canuck owns one is an absolute falsehood.
Under the Firearms Act of 1995,
over 7 million Canadian citizens possess firearms,
but these are mostly for sporting and recreational use.
Canadian beer is stronger.
This myth's creation is mostly due to a misunderstanding
of how alcohol percentages are represented in each country.
In the United States, percentages are determined by weight
and displayed on the bottle's label.
But in Canada, we measure the alcohol content by volume.
What this means is that seeing 4% alcohol
in a beer in America and 5% in Canada doesn't actually mean
that there's 1% more in the North.
Alcohol weighs less than water, making it seem
like American beer is weaker, but the reality is
that most beers around the world ring in at around 5%.
So whether it's Budweiser or a Molson Canadian,
it's going to hit you the same.
Canada is policed by Mounties in red coats on horseback.
People, how could you actually believe this myth?
Come on now!
Most criminals have access to a car which means
that they can outrun a horse.
Logic.
In Canada, we absolutely do have Mounties,
more formally known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,
or RCMP, but they're our national police force and only wear
the red ensemble for official or ceremonial purposes.
Additionally, the most populated provinces,
Ontario and Quebec, are policed by their own
provincial police forces, and I assure you,
they get around by cruiser, not by horse.
Canada is ruled by Britain.
Yet another big misconception is the idea
that Her Majesty The Queen II dictates
our laws and rules from across the sea.
Allow me to explain the truth.
Canada is a parliamentary democracy
and a constitutional monarchy.
The Queen herself is only a figurehead in our country,
but she really only fills ceremonial and symbolic roles.
She's actually represented
by the Governor General here in Canada.
As for who makes the decisions in Canada,
we have our own prime minister and government.
They're the ones who are elected in and decide which laws
need to be adhered to, much like the United States.
People don't lock their doors in Canada.
In 2002, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore
made a bold statement that Canadians felt so safe
they refused to lock their doors
in a movie called "Bowling for Columbine."
His theory was that we were totally unafraid
of crime, which is ridiculous.
Now according to Statistics Canada,
this is definitely a safer country than the United States
when compared to violent crime rates
like aggravated assault and homicide.
But believe it or not, there are a few crimes,
like property and car theft, in which the Great White North
actually has higher rates in, and because of that fact,
most of us absolutely lock our doors.
Now excuse me while I upload this video through wifi
which is being transmitted through polar bear fur.
And that's all for this time, guys.
Remember to subscribe to this channel,
and I will see you next time.
I hope you have a great day, bye!