Traditionally, the federal government has used its financial leverage to cajole the provinces to apply the principles of the Canada Health Act.

ECONOMIST: Health care in Canada

They will also go to Prince Edward Island, where the confederation of Canada's provinces was signed in 1864 and where, 147 years later, William and Kate will race against each other in a dragon boat race.

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The lopsided distribution of the 105 seats reflects a Canada that no longer exists: the maritime provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick each have 10 senators despite having much smaller populations than the four western provinces, which each have six.

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