Corraile

Corraile, officially The Federal Republic of Corraile is a Federal Democracy in Northeast America. It consists of 5 states and has a total land area of 50,919 sq km. As of 2007, the population stood at just over 6.2 million. It has a total of 9 islands spread out over a total water area of 64,003sq km. It is totally surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the closest neighbour being Canada. The capital of Corraile is Centreburg, also its second largest city (after Solando ). Corraile is a member of the Alliance of Independent Nations and an observer state of the European Defence Alliance.

Corraile was founded as a separate colony from Canada in 1803, when it had officially become a part of the British Empire, after its cessation from the colonies of New France. The first major settlement, Duvail, became an important North American trading post for British War and Merchant Fleets. It was a point of departure for all war exports to Great Britain during both the First and Second World War. Under the British, Corraile was developed as a centre for North American-European entrepot trade, as well as an agricultural hub to support Britain's food supply. After independence in 1970, Corraile shifted from an agriculturally-based economy to that of an industrialised one, resulting in sharp increases in GDP and national wealth.

History

 * Main article: History of Corraile

Corraile was initially founded as L'ile a l'ouest, literally meaning The Island to the West. The original permanent residents of the island were French colonists, which, under the rule of New France, had been obliged to spread the culture and language of France overseas.

In 1803, when the rest of New France had been sold to the British, Corraile was administered differently compared to the other territories that had been ceded to the British. Instead of the indirect rule practiced by the British over the rest of Canada, Corraile was placed under direct rule, where the British imposed its own political hierarchy and structure, comprising of a Governor-general appointed by the British Colonial Office back in London. Despite this, a majority of all government servants were locally employed and most government positions (such as advisers to the Governor-General) were filled by Corrailites and not Britons. Development of a port, and the expansion of the population led to the growth of Highvale, Corraile's first large permanent settlement. Protected by Fort High, which overlooked the sea, the city proved to be a good harbour for ships, which further fuelled its rapid expansion.

From 1830-1890, Corraile saw a huge influx in immigrants from both Ireland and the United Kingdom. The large amount of fertile land present on the island made it attractive for Irish Farmers, which had been displaced by the Potato Famine in Ireland. This farming boom was also further encouraged by large land grants given to both local farmers and companies seeking to set up plantations on the island. As a result, agricultural produce within this period grew exponentially, as a favourable climate, increased farming activities and increased capital worked to increase crop yield. This large base of food produce enabled it to reach food self-sufficiency by 1889, and it became a net exporter of foodstuffs soon after. The support Corraile provided to Great Britain in terms of food production was invaluable during both World Wars.

In the 1920s, Agriculture and other primary industries, such as mining and logging, had overtaken entrepot trade as the primary driver of the local economy. Development of these industries was due to the introduction of land grants by the colonial Government, which allocated small-scale farmers large parcels of arable land for agricultural purposes. Furthermore, the construction boom during the period also saw the demand for processed timber skyrocket, which greatly benefited the logging and timber processing industries. Further factors included the much-needed increase in railway systems, which began to directly serve logging camps and mines, allowing for the improved transportation of raw goods to processing factories or ports. Much of this growth was cut as a result of the Great Depression. As demand for these raw goods reached their lowest levels in decades, many of the industries, particularly mining and lumber, were adversely affected when their export profits were completely wiped out. As a result of this, as well as belt-tightening by the Government, many Corrailites found themselves jobless.

During this period of time, increasing financial pressures at home forced the British to begin the process of democratisation and eventual handover of power to local authorities. In the immediate post-war climate, the Treaty of Goodman-Marshalls was signed, which resulted in the formation of the Crwon dependency of Corraile, a first step in Corrailite autonomy. This consisted of a legislative assembly to discuss and enact laws within Corraile pertaining to local affairs, such as education and healthcare, and the rule of law. Hower, many of these decisions were overseen by the British Governor-General, and Foreign defence was still within the control of the British. The British also began a centralisation process to unify all Atlantic posessions into a central and single entity to simplify governance.

From 1953, the country began to see better times due to an influx of European and American investment in industry. Consumer electronics such as radios and televisions were from then manufactured in Corraile, where labour costs were significantly lower compared to other areas in the region. Furthermore, a local Governmental initiatives encouraged the growth of many indigenous industries, such as shipbuilding and aviation engineering. These factors allowed the Corrailite economy to grow rapidly throughout the decade.

1957 saw the creation of the Atlantic Union, a loose federation of the 4 Atlantic Territories that were dependencies of the British Crown, namely British Corraile, Territory of Stanraer Island, Fairman Island and Colganston. This was led by a central government, and each territory was still administered by it's own individual state governments. This loose union was dissolved in 1969 following a bill passed by the AU Parliament, unifying all 4 states into the Republic of Corraile. This bill passed with a slim majority of 13-12.

After Independence in 1970, the "Pioneer Government", led by President Darren McGhurry (1919-2010) continued to speed up the process of industrialisation to other, more rural areas as well as to established industrial bases in the major cities of Centreburg, Highvale, Colganston and Freedo. GDP rose significantly during this period, the standard of living rose dramatically as well and it became known as the "Atlantic Tiger".

In January 2010, Corraile joined the Alliance of Independent Nations, and later in the year, controversially merged the Republic of Lanaya into the Federal Republic of Corraile, as it had become known after the adoption of the Hunterberg Consititution.

Government
Corraile is a democratic country in which government is based largely on the British Westminster system. Corraile's parliament is unicameral and consists of Parliament House. The President is both the head of state and the head of government in parliament, and is filled by the leader of the majority party in parliament. General elections are bound by the constitution to be held once every 4 years, in which Corraile practices a "First-past-the-post" system. Members of Parliament, which represent a constituency, are voted into power directly by their constituents to represent their view in Parliament.

Corraile's ruling party as of 2004 has been the Liberal Party of Corraile, who hold 59.8% of the vote since the last general election held in 2008. Opposition is largely held by the National Unity Party, who garnered 29.1% of the vote in 2008.

In the event of major, sweeping laws being passed, a direct referendum is held, in which every citizen is given the right to vote whether the bill shall be passed. These referendums may only be called if the president has deemed such a move necessary, and if the bill has already been passed in Parliament. Votes for these referendums, as well as for General elections, are overseen by the Corraile Commission for Elections (CCE), which presides over the ballots and is responsible for the counting of votes. Votes can only be made through paper ballots, although foreign voters may vote through the internet via the CCE's internet ballot system.

Bills and acts which the Federal Government pass will be enacted throughout the entire country, overriding the state government's policies and authority.

Military
Corraile has an advanced military, with sophisticated and modern weaponry in all three fields of defence, air, sea and land. The Republic of Corraile Air Force (RCAF) is responsible for the defence of Corrailite Airspace and comprises of modern air superiority fighters, such as the F-16D Fighting Falcon and the F-15E Eagle. Other modern aircraft support other roles, such as air-to-air refuelling, transport and air defence. It is also responsible for maintaining anti-aircraft defences throughout the country, and operates RCAF One, the presidential jet.

The Republic of Corraile Navy (RCN) is responsible for defence of the seas. It maintains a large and potent fleet throughout the Northwester Atlantic, keeping patrol over Corraile's vast water space between islands. A total of 199 ships are in active service, including the flagship CNV Solando, a Solando-Class aircraft carrier and a total of 20 frigates. It works with the Corrailite Coast Guard in protecting Corraile's coasts.

The Corraile Ground Force is the main component force of the combined Corraile Armed Forces. With an active standing force of over 140,000 (inclusive of the Lanayan military, of which is expected to be fully integrated in 2012), it is stationed in all states of the country. The CGF is a professional army, and no conscription is practiced. It's predecessor, the Royal British Corraile Army, was heavily involve in the D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944. 23,000 volunteer forces were sent to Europe to fight. Of these, only 18,000 returned.

The current Chief of Army is Lt. Gen Harry MacMillan.

Geography
Corraile generally lies in the mid-temperate zone and being an island chain, has a climate that is generally maritime, with extreme continental weather being moderated by the ocean. The climate throughout the five main islands is diverse, owing to their different positions at different latitudes.

The sea is a major influence on Corraile's climate. Nova Scotia's cold winters and warm summers are modified and generally moderated by ocean influences. The province is surrounded by two major bodies of water, the Straits of Centreburg to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, north and east.

While the constant temperature of the Atlantic Ocean moderates the climate in the Federal Territories and in Lanaya, this effect is seen less so in Stanraer Island and Fairman Island, where the average temperatures throughout the year are more polar than temperate, although mild summers still do exist. Summer officially lasts from the first Sunday in April to the Saturday before the last Sunday in October. Although Corraile in general has a somewhat moderated climate, there have been some very intense heatwaves and cold snaps recorded over the past 160 years.

Because Corraile is situated in the Atlantic, it is prone to tropical storms and hurricanes in the summer and autumn. However due to the relatively cooler waters off the coast of Corraile, tropical storms are usually weak by the time they reach Corraile.

Economy

 * Main article: Economy of Corraile

Corraile is a developed economy that enjoys a relatively stable economic base. Between 1975-1990, Corrailite economic growth averaged between 6.1% and 8.0%, beating most estimates that the average growth rate for the country would be around 5-6%. The currency in Corraile is the Corraile Dollar, which has been in use since 1970, when it replaced its predecessor, the Atlantic Dollar.

A majority of Corraile's economy is now dependent on the services sector, generating 61% of the country's GDP and employing approximately 45% of the population. A financial boom of the mid-to-late 1980s attracted much-needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country, allowing the country's economy to enter a "second wind", as it was termed, where the services sector in Corraile expanded at a rate well above 60% annually.

Corraile's economy is primarily export-driven, and exports more than 60 billion USD worth of products a year, from agricultural produce such as corn and wheat, to electronics and automobiles. As a major exporter of cereals and other agricultural produce such as fruit, vegetables and livestock, Corraile is a net exporter of agricultural produce, exporting as much as 40% of all produced agricultural goods in 2010. Much of the success in the agricultural sector is due to favourable government policies which help farmers in Corraile sell produce at competitive prices without affecting the farmer's income. Furthermore, the state plays another key role though subsidies which help keep the costs of irrigation, transportation and pesticides low, resulting in high levels of crop yield and thus, high levels of export.

To complement its stable agricultural industry, manufacturing also plays a key role in the country's economy. Industrialisation for the country began in 1975, with the creation of the United Cannery Corporation. This complemented the already-present agriculture industry, by processing farmer's produce into higher value goods for export, as well as internal consumption. Later, in 1976, the Franklin Car Company was created, with substantial investment by the Government. During the 9170s and into the early 1980s, the Government continued to invest in many companies to allow them to grow and contribute towards the economy, nationalising many important industries such as utilities and infrastructure such as airports and seaports. As of 2010, many of these essential services are still state-owned, although many for-profit entities have since been privatised. Key manufactured exports for the country include cars, microchips and other high-technology products.

Tourism also plays a key role in Corraile, and the value of the tourism industry in Corraile is set to rise by 3% annually. In 2008, more than 9 million visitors entered Corraile, and more than 14.1 billion dollars were earned from all receipts from tourists. This accounted for over 9% of the country's economy, and generated more than 60,000 jobs. Increasing Government focus towards the tourism sector has seen more Government measures to allow the sector to continue growing in an increasingly competitive world.

Corraile has a GDP of 649 billion USD, making it the 20th largest economy in the world (as measured by Purchasing Power Parity), and USD 40,823 per capita, making it the 9th richest country in the world per capita (PPP).

Road
Corraile has a relatively well developed National Highway System, although the fact is that Corraile is a chain of island. Majority of the highways exist on the Federal Territory and on Lanaya. The Corraile Highway Agency (CHA) and the Bureau Des Autoroutes (BDA) are responsible for the maintenance of highways in each respective region. The Highway numbering system is denoted with a single prefix, determining which state it is in (e.g "F" for the Federal Territory, "C" for Colganston), followed by the highway's respective number. There are a total of 73 highways covering 882km of roadway.

Rail
All railway tracks (with the exception of intracity subway/light rail systems) are owned by the state through the state-owned Corraile Rail Systems (CRS). Private companies are given licenses to run trains through the tracks, which are separated into regions. The schedules are solely the responsibility of the private train operators, which include CoRail and InterRail. These companies are expected to run both commuter and intercity routes. Freight trains are also run privately on a similar contractual basis. Several lines on the network are solely for use by the freight rail system, such as the rail line running from the main Centreburg line to the Port of Centreburg.

Separate intracity rapid transit systems run in most major cities. One such example is the Centreburg Metro

Sea
The Port of Centreburg is Corraile's main commercial port, and is one of the busiest container ports in the Atlantic, with an annual handling capacity of 4.3 million TEUs. The Maplesport Crusie Ship Terminal provides a berth for transatlantic cruise ships, and handled over 2 million travellers in 2009.

Other significant ports in the country include Freedo Port, the Port of Colganston and the Port of Stanraer Island. These ports are crucial to the economic well-being of the territories they serve.

Air
Centreburg Gateway International Airport is the main gateway by air into Corraile, and was the 16th busiest airport in the world in 2010 with a total number of 44,552,099 passengers travelling through the airport. Other smaller, international airports include Colganston International Airport, Highvale Carlaken International Airport and Freedo Cityside Airport, with Freedo's airport slated to be replaced by the Freedo-Grand Fairman International Airport, which will be opened in 2013.

Corraile Airlines and Islandfly are the two main international carriers based in Corraile, and together carried 27% of all international passengers from Corraile in 2010. Both airlines are based in Centreburg Gateway International Airport. Other foreign carriers, such as North American legacy carriers and European national carriers, also operate regular scheduled flights to the country. A multitude of other domestic carriers, mainly LCCs, operate within Corraile. One such example is Centreburg Express.

Language
English is the main medium of communication within Corraile, with the notable exception of Lanaya, which uses mainly French. English is compulsory in schools accross the whole country, with French also being compulsory, but only in Lanaya. Both English and French are recognised as official languages, while the sole national language is English. As a result of pro-immigration policies, Corraile has become increasingly cosmopolitan, and other languages, predominantly German, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese, as well as Tamil are also spoken in Corraile.

Religion
Corraile is a secular state, which respects "the free practice of religion without inteference of the state", as bound by the Consitution of the Federal Republic of Corraile. According to the 2010 census, 65% of Corrailites are Christians, 11% are Muslim and 8% are Jewish. A further 6% are Buddhists, 4% are Hindu and 3% answering as having "No religion". The final 3% answered as having "Other" religions.

Education
Education in Corraile is compulsory for all citizens aged between 6 to 18. Although not compulsory, the government also provides pre-school education, which begin 2 years before official school begins and this pre-school education will last for until the age of 6, when the student is required to attend elementary school. For a period of 6 years, the student will study at the elementary school before graduating to a high school, where students attend school for 3 years before finally graduating to tertiary institutes, either that of colleges or technical institutes. Throughout the first 9 years of education, a student's performance is based largely on progressive assessment, minimising the requirement for examinations. At the end of the first 9 years, students will sit for GCE 'O' level examinations which will be tallied with the student's results over his 9 years in school. this set of results will affect his admission into tertiary institutes. Colleges continue to follow a school format, with fixed courses. Techincal Institutes, on the other hand, practice a varsity-style education format, with all subject becoming electives and the student attending tutorials and lectures rather than lessons and classes. College students will be able to progress to universities based only on progressive assessment, while TI students are required to take entrance exams before being admitted into universities. However, TI students do not necessarily need to enter universities, since upon graduation, TI students receive a diploma, which already allows them to work.

Public education (responsible for educating 96% of all youths in Corraile) is heavily subsidised, but not free. The Corrailite Government subsidises up to 95% of all education costs. For varsity students, loans are available at a low interest rate that is adjusted every year, but hovers around the region of 0.5-0.75% p.a.

Majority of students are admitted into Colleges, and a large majority (77%) of students advance and graduate out of university, with the rest diploma holders.

Corraile has a published literacy rate of 99.9%

Health
Healthcare is not free of charge in Corraile. Rather, the Ministry of Health ensures that healthcare remains affordable by subsidising healthcare costs at all government run hospitals. Healthcare costs are also partially subsidised by way of the Ministry's control of costs at hospitals, requiring these privately run hospitals to conform to government-mandated prices for particular treatments. These prices are adjusted every 5 years, by a committee formed by both representatives of the MoH and that of the Union of Medical Corporations (UMC), which represent these hospitals.

Furthermore, a national insurance policy, NatProtect Health, is in place, having been passed by government in 1995. Under the policy, citizens are required to pay a minimal fee (CRD20 p.a) into a central government-controlled fund, which will then be used to help pay for hospital bills should the need arise.

The average life expectancy in Corraile 79.4 years.