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Shortly after his appointment as America's new ambassador to Canada, David Wilkins, former South Carolina legislator, was asked during a CBC interview if he had been to Canada before. "Many years ago, when I was in the Army stationed in Indiana, my wife and I visited Canada," he replied. "Oh yes, where did you go?" asked the interviewer, pleasantly surprised that Wilkins had ventured that far North. "Well ... uh ... it was ... uh ... round the ... uh ... the Falls area ... uh ... Niagara Falls, back up in there around that area, as well as ... uh ... going I guess back West toward Indiana. But obviously above Indiana. But I'd have to get out a map to tell you all." Wilkins, who had been a major fundraiser for President Bush in South Carolina, apparently couldn't name any Canadian provinces. But give the new ambassador credit. He did manage to say "Niagara Falls." He's probably an expert on Canada compared to most Americans, many of whom know as much about their northern neighbor as they do about Venus. (The tennis player as well as the planet.) While Canadians receive a daily diet of American news through their media, only a handful of Americans could name the Canadian prime minister -- the ones who gather intelligence for the CIA. (His name is Ricky Martin. Sorry, Paul Martin.) To help everyone learn more about Canada, let's play a game of "True or False." True or false: There's so much snow in Canada year-round, the country has started exporting it. False: Canada exports snow only in the winter. The snow leaves Canada atop tractor-trailers bound for America. In return, America allows Canada to have one NBA team. True or false: The average Canadian man is so crazy about ice hockey, he will watch it for hours at a time, even if he has no beer. True: If you visit the average Canadian home, you will find three bottles of beer and 12 hockey sticks. The ice rink is in the backyard. True or false: Most Canadians speak two languages, English and French.
True or false: Canada abounds with moose. To go moose
hunting, Canadians just have to go into their backyards,
find a moose and hit it with a hockey stick.
False: Moose are usually not found in people's backyards. They tend to prefer the front yard. Canadian moose are quite friendly and you can ask them to leave your yard, as long as you have room in your home.
True or false: Canada provides free healthcare for all its people, even the ones who don't get paid in stock options.
True: Canada takes care of its poor, partly through high taxes. A poor man may suffer a heart attack, but it usually happens before he gets the hospital bill.
True or false: Canadian motorists are required to turn on their headlights during the day as a safety measure, just in case there's a sudden eclipse.
Partly true: By law, Canadian cars are equipped with daytime running lights. The law was passed by politicians who, pursuing the ideals of the nation's founders, are trying to make Canada the brightest country in the world.
True or false: Canada has produced one of the world's best female singers.
True: Celine Dion, who performs regularly in Las Vegas, will even tell you her name: Alanis Morissette.
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So much to learn about Canada