This IS the key to a healthy financial system. The stronger economic system they enjoy, follows as a result.
In addition to that, Canada has always had the USA to defend this Continent and has spent very little of their tax revenues on their military.
Another major difference is Canada's urban structure. The country is mostly rural and smaller towns and communities. These communities are supported by stable industries like logging, oil, manufacturing, trucking, agriculture and small business. They also do not have to deal with the out of control welfare system or millions of illegal immigrants. And, smaller rural communities tend to have a stronger sense of accountability and national pride.
Not only that, Canada's Welfare system requires accountability and repayment to anyone resorting to it. So, most Canadians only use it as a last ditch option and they have very few generational/professional welfare recipients.
Does Canada have an Estate Tax ? ( AKA as the Death Tax )
Good points except your comments on the welfare system. It is very generous in Canada and there are entire towns with generational welfare recipients. The canadian mindset is far more socialist and govt has a far bigger role in life and there is very little opposition to that from the people.
This is an interesting point. Most of Canada's land mass is rural, but most of its population lives in urban areas. I did a quick calculation using some figures available online, and based on this information it looks like about half of Canada's entire population lives in its ten largest metropolitan areas. These include the following:
Toronto (5 million)
Montreal (4 million)
Vancouver (2 million)
Ottawa (1 million)
Calgary (1 million)
Edmonton (1 million)
Quebec (700,000)
Winnipeg (700,000)
Hamilton (700,000)
London (500,000)
That total comes to more than 16.5 million people -- out of a total population of around 33-34 million.