Issues in World GeographyThe United States and Canada: Canada

In the News | Other Issues in the Region December 2009

Leaders of the Commonwealth of Nations met in Trinidad and Tobago in late November, with the topic of climate change high on the agenda. The meeting provided a last major international forum before the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Canada faced calls from nongovernmental groups such as Greenpeace for its temporary ouster from the Commonwealth because of Canada’s record on the issue. Not only are Canada’s emissions of greenhouse gases the eighth highest in the world, but the country has fallen short of reduction targets it previously agreed to.

The 53-member Commonwealth includes poor developing nations such as the Maldives and Bangladesh that are among the world’s most threatened by global warming. Member nations have been suspended in the past for antidemocratic or human rights offenses. A Bangladeshi scientist who called for Canada’s suspension said: “If the Commonwealth is serious about holding its members to account, then threatening the lives of millions of people in developing countries should lead to the suspension of Canada's membership immediately.” The summit did not act on the demand, however.

Addressing the topic, Canada’s representative at the Commonwealth gathering, foreign minister Peter Kent, sounded a pessimistic note. He downplayed the chances for significant agreement at the global climate change summit at Copenhagen. The Commonwealth meeting did see some action on the subject: U.K. prime minister Gordon Brown, joined by French president Nicolas Sarkozy, proposed a multibillion-dollar fund to help developing nations deal with effects of climate change and cut their own greenhouse gas emissions.

Related Links

  • Canada Contradicts Climate Change Consensus at Commonwealth
    This article is an account of how the Commonwealth summit addressed the issue of climate change, especially in light of the upcoming Copenhagen conference. (Source: Canada.com, November 27, 2009)
  • Proposal to Exclude Canada from the Commonwealth
    This article discusses calls by critics of Canada’s climate change policy for its suspension from the Commonwealth. (Source: UN Climate Change Conference, November 27, 2009)
  • UK and France Propose Climate Fund for Poor
    This article covers the announcement by France, a visiting member at the Commonwealth summit, and the United Kingdom of a plan for rich nations to assist poor nations in dealing with the effects of climate change. (Source: BBC News, November 28, 2009)
  • Commonwealth of Nations
    The official Web site of the organization contains a wealth of facts and figures about member nations. (Source: commonwealth-of-nations.org; accessed December 1, 2009)

Other Issues in the Region

Urban Sprawl

Poorly-planned or unplanned growth that causes the population in a metropolitan area to spread out over an ever-wider area is called urban sprawl. As cities expand, more roads must be built (using up even more land), traffic increases, and commuting time between home and work keeps growing longer. Additional green areas are paved over for shopping centers that sprout up along the new roads, adding to the traffic congestion. Urban sprawl can reduce the quality of life and harm our health, according to a growing number of concerned scientists, policy makers, environmentalists, public-health workers, and ordinary residents. Not only does urban sprawl deplete natural resources, it also discourages activities that promote health, such as walking and bike riding. Pedestrians often find it dangerous to cross busy intersections, and bicyclists feel threatened by the rush of distracted commuters. Many people are calling for increased awareness and action to address health concerns related to urban sprawl.

Diverse Populations

After waves of immigration over several centuries, the United States has an ethnically diverse population, but this diversity brings its own challenges. Some Americans advocate stricter immigration controls, saying the United States allows too much immigration. Others believe immigrants do not do enough to assimilate, or become part of the larger U.S. culture. Many recent immigrants, meanwhile, try to balance assimilation against their cultural heritage. As immigrant and ethnic groups increase in size, their political influence increases and political parties vie for their support by identifying issues of concern to the immigrant community.

Between 8 and 12 million people in the United States are "undocumented aliens"-immigrants who are in the country illegally. Some have expired temporary visas. Others risked their lives to sneak across the U.S. border. Once in the United States, many take low-paying jobs and live in squalid conditions in fear of being arrested or deported. Opponents of increased immigration say foreign workers will take jobs from U.S. citizens and that offering legal status to illegal aliens who are already here only encourages illegal immigration. Supporters of increased immigration dispute claims that immigration hurts American workers. They also argue that many illegal aliens do not want to stay in the United States permanently, but cannot go home because of tight border controls.

  • Religious Affiliation: Summary of Key Findings
    The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has reported recent survey results related to the “competitive religious marketplace” in U.S. society, changes in Americans’ religious affiliation, demographic data and choice of religious affiliation, as well as religious beliefs and practices and their relationship to social and political views. (Source: pewforum.org; accessed December 7, 2009)

War on Terrorism

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States launched a broad campaign against terror groups in the United States and abroad. The Department of Homeland Security was created as a way to consolidate government departments charged with finding and breaking up terror cells inside the country. The United States also invaded Afghanistan to break up al-Qaeda terrorist training grounds and to overthrow the country's Taliban regime, which had provided al-Qaeda with a haven for its activities.