The Commonwealth of East Canuck is a gargantuan, genial nation, ruled by Prime Minister with an even hand, and renowned for its infamous sell-swords, keen interest in outer space, and hatred of cheese. The compassionate population of 39.524 billion Canuckers have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The government — a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked morass — juggles the competing demands of Environment, Education, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Montreal. The average income tax rate is 84.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient East Canuckian economy, worth a remarkable 3,158 trillion dollars a year, is highly specialized and mostly made up of the Book Publishing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology. Average income is 79,908 dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest.

Postmen have been arrested in job lots for selling junk mail as home insulation, every day has been a surprise since weather reporters turned to consulting ancient totems for their seven-day forecasts, textbooks are exactly twice as heavy as they used to be, and the "boy who cried wolf" policy makes sick people reluctant to call an ambulance. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. East Canuck's national animal is the unicorn, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is none.

East Canuck is ranked 40,470^th in the world and 40^th in Canada for Largest Welfare Programs, scoring 2,211.99 on the Safety Net Mesh Density Rating.