People and Government

Most of the people live in villages and small towns; although more than 40 per cent were classified as rural, fewer than 1 percent lived on farms. More than 90 per cent of the people are of English, Irish, Scottish, or Welsh descent. There are also Inuit (Eskimos) and Indians, most of them living in Labrador.

School attendance is free and compulsory from age 6 to 16. The province's school system is organized according to religious denominations. The provincial department of education shares responsibility for the schools with three denominational education councils—Roman Catholic, Pentacostal Assemblies, and an Integrated Council representing the Anglican, Moravian, Presbyterian, Salvation Army, and United Church of Canada groups. The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates an independent school system.

The Memorial University of Newfoundland, which is nondenominational, is in St. John's.

The head of the provincial government is the lieutenant governor, appointed by the governor general of Canada, in council. The lieutenant governor represents the crown but has only nominal powers. Executive powers are exercised by the executive council, composed of the premier and the cabinet. The premier is actually the head of the provincial government, the leader of the party in power and chooses cabinet ministers from among party members in the House of Assembly. Legislative power is vested in the Assembly, which is composed of 48 members elected by the people. The Assembly has a term of four years but may be dissolved at any time by the lieutenant governor on the advice of the premier.

Local governmental units are municipalities, towns, and rural districts. The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court. Newfoundland is represented in Canada's Parliament by six senators and seven members of the House of Commons.