"Canada has built a reputation for being "a backwards country" in comparison to the United States."
Americans tend to agree, but it is quite the opposite. Canada is a more liberal country. Canada develops quite a bit of technology (I believe ATI is headquartered in Canada, etc). The only system I know of that is behind is the road system, as AFAIR the American freeway system was built under "national security" in an attempt to get out of the great depression.
Copyright people often say "Canada" is behind the times when it comes to copyright legislation, usually when making copyright more restrictive (fair use, etc). Most people seem unaware of the problems of DRM in Canada though, as home theater (DVDs, CDs, etc) is similar business as in the USA.