Politics
Canada is among the top countries in the world in regards to upholding political rights and civil liberties. Citizens have recently been more vocal advocating for more humane treatment of prisoners, improving privacy rights, and increasing religious freedom. Vulnerable populations, such as indigenous groups, still face numerous economic, social, and political challenges. The government, currently under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has acknowledged the inequalities and made some moves to address the problem.
Technically, the British monarch is head of state. This role is represented though by a ceremonial governor general who is appointed on the advice of the prime minister. The head of government is the prime minister, which is usually held by the leader of the majority party or governing coalition in parliament. Presidential systems in contrast fuse the role of the head of state and government together (as seen in the U.S. and most of Latin America).
Language
Canada’s official languages are English and French. Declared in the Official Languages Act in 1969, both English and French have official federal status and all federal legislation is enacted bilingually. Canada is the only country in North America to have an official language declaration. Several of the provinces have also given language an official status, though not all. The majority of people in Quebec speak French and it is the only province to declare French as the sole official language, although English is used as well. New Brunswick is the only province to declare both English and French as official. The country is also home to many indigenous languages, however altogether less than one percent of the population reports the regular use of these languages.