Canada — often idealised but poorly understood — is a land of contradictions, from its half-hearted bilingualism, colonial past and the status of first nations peoples to the curse of oil and its dependence on the US. Prosperous and multicultural, it is still in search of an identity, wavering between a Nordic model and neoliberalism.

The Canadian dream still holds sway: people from all over the world believe they can build (and rebuild) their lives amid Canada’s vast, serene landscapes, seemingly strong economy and welcoming population. Few countries benefit from so many positive stereotypes. Yet Canada’s legacy of colonialism remains a painful memory, and present-day shocks reveal the indomitable force of an industrial sector that harms both society and the environment.

During his first official visit to Washington, DC, in March 1969, Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau told his hosts: ‘Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt.’ With Donald Trump, the animal has become brutal and short-tempered, while Canada remains heavily reliant on its economy and defence system.

Why did the people of Quebec overwhelmingly vote ‘no’ in the 1980 and 1995 referendums on sovereignty? The Quebecois certainly possess a strong national consciousness born of the historical injustices visited upon Francophones. But Quebecois nationalism is expressed in many ways, and claimed by every party represented in the National Assembly, even the most federalist.