what kind of government do the canadians have?
Parliamentary system Federation Constitutional monarchy Multi-party system
entailment
 Canada has had many political debates between the French speakers and English speakers , particularly in the province of Quebec . Canada holds both French and English as official languages . The politics in Quebec are largely defined by nationalism as French Québécois wish to gain independence from Canada as a whole , based on ethnic and linguistic boundaries . The main separatist party , Parti Québécois , attempted to gain sovereignty twice ( once in 1980 and again in 1995 ) and failed by a narrow margin of 1 @.@ 2 % in 1995 . Since then , in order to remain united , Canada granted Quebec statut particulier , recognizing Quebec as a nation within the united nation of Canada . Canada is often described as a cultural mosaic . 

entailment
 Canada 's approach to governance emphasizing multiculturalism , which is based on selective immigration , social integration , and suppression of far right politics , has wide public support . Government policies such as publicly funded health care , higher taxation to redistribute wealth , the outlawing of capital punishment , strong efforts to eliminate poverty , strict gun control , and the legalization of same @-@ sex marriage are further social indicators of Canada 's political and cultural values . Canadians also identify with the countries institutions of health care , peacekeeping , the National park system and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms . 

entailment
 Canada 's aboriginal peoples had systems of governance organised in a fashion similar to the Occidental concept of monarchy ; European explorers often referred to hereditary leaders of tribes as kings . The present monarchy of Canada has its roots in the French and English monarchies , under the authority of which the area was colonised in the 16th @-@ 18th centuries , and later the British monarchy . The country became a self @-@ governing confederation on 1 July 1867 , recognised as a kingdom in its own right , but did not have full legislative autonomy from the British Crown until the passage of the Statute of Westminster on 11 December 1931 , retaining the then reigning monarch , George V , as monarch of the newly formed monarchy of Canada . The monarch is represented in the country by the Governor General of Canada , David Johnston , and in each of the provinces by a lieutenant governor . 

entailment
 Canada 's federal structure divides government responsibilities between the federal government and the ten provinces . Provincial legislatures are unicameral and operate in parliamentary fashion similar to the House of Commons . Canada 's three territories also have legislatures , but these are not sovereign and have fewer constitutional responsibilities than the provinces . The territorial legislatures also differ structurally from their provincial counterparts . 

entailment
 Canada as a nation is religiously diverse , encompassing a wide range of groups , beliefs and customs . The preamble to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms references " God " , and the monarch carries the title of " Defender of the Faith " . However Canada has no official religion , and support for religious pluralism ( Freedom of religion in Canada ) is an important part of Canada 's political culture . With the role of Christianity in decline , having once been central and integral to Canadian culture and daily life ; commentators have suggested that Canada has come to enter a post @-@ Christian period in a secular state , with irreligion in Canada on the rise . The majority of Canadians consider religion to be unimportant in their daily lives , but still believe in God . The practice of religion is now generally considered a private matter throughout society and within the state . 
