Canada
Introduction Canada
-------------------
Background: A land of vast distances and rich
natural resources, Canada became a
self-governing dominion in 1867
while retaining ties to the British
crown. Economically and
technologically the nation has
developed in parallel with the US,
its neighbor to the south across an
unfortified border. Its paramount
political problem continues to be
the relationship of the province of
Quebec, with its French-speaking
residents and unique culture, to the
remainder of the country.
Geography Canada
----------------
Location: Northern North America, bordering
the North Atlantic Ocean on the
east, North Pacific Ocean on the
west, and the Arctic Ocean on the
north, north of the conterminous US
Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 95 00 W
Map references: North America
Area: total: 9,976,140 sq km
land: 9,220,970 sq km
water: 755,170 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than the US
Land boundaries: total: 8,893 km
border countries: US 8,893 km
(includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline: 243,791 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the
edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate: varies from temperate in south to
subarctic and arctic in north
Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west
and lowlands in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m
Natural resources: iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper,
gold, lead, molybdenum, potash,
silver, fish, timber, wildlife,
coal, petroleum, natural gas,
hydropower
Land use: arable land: 4.94%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 95.04% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,200 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: continuous permafrost in north is a
serious obstacle to development;
cyclonic storms form east of the
Rocky Mountains, a result of the
mixing of air masses from the
Arctic, Pacific, and North American
interior, and produce most of the
country's rain and snow east of the
mountains
Environment - current issues: air pollution and resulting acid
rain severely affecting lakes and
damaging forests; metal smelting,
coal-burning utilities, and vehicle
emissions impacting on agricultural
and forest productivity; ocean
waters becoming contaminated due to
agricultural, industrial, mining,
and forestry activities
Environment - international party to: Air Pollution, Air
agreements: Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur
85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine
Life Conservation
Geography - note: second-largest country in world
(after Russia); strategic location
between Russia and US via north
polar route; approximately 85% of
the population is concentrated
within 300 km of the US/Canada
border
People Canada
-------------
Population: 31,902,268 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.7% (male 3,059,023;
female 2,910,203)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 10,975,701;
female 10,857,869)
65 years and over: 12.9% (male
1,743,654; female 2,355,818) (2002
est.)
Population growth rate: 0.96% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 11.09 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.69 years
female: 83.25 years (2002 est.)
male: 76.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 49,000 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 400 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian
Ethnic groups: British Isles origin 28%, French
origin 23%, other European 15%,
Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian,
African, Arab 6%, mixed background
26%
Religions: Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 36%,
other 18%
note: based on the 1991 census
Languages: English 59.3% (official), French
23.2% (official), other 17.5%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 97% (1986 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Canada
-----------------
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada
Government type: confederation with parliamentary
democracy
Capital: Ottawa
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 3 territories*;
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba,
New Brunswick, Newfoundland and
Labrador, Northwest Territories*,
Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario,
Prince Edward Island, Quebec,
Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Independence: 1 July 1867 (from UK)
National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Constitution: 17 April 1982 (Constitution Act);
originally, the machinery of the
government was set up in the British
North America Act of 1867; charter
of rights and unwritten customs
Legal system: based on English common law, except
in Quebec, where civil law system
based on French law prevails;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II
(since 6 February 1952), represented
by Governor General Adrienne
CLARKSON (since 7 October 1999)
elections: none; the monarchy is
hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch on the
advice of the prime minister for a
five-year term; following
legislative elections, the leader of
the majority party in the House of
Commons is automatically designated
by the governor general to become
prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister
Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November
1993); Deputy Prime Minister John
MANLEY (since NA January 2002)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by
the prime minister from among the
members of his own party sitting in
Parliament
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement
consists of the Senate or Senat
(members appointed by the governor
general with the advice of the prime
minister and serve until reaching 75
years of age ; its normal limit is
104 senators) and the House of
Commons or Chambre des Communes (301
seats; members elected by direct,
popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: House of Commons - last
held 27 November 2000 (next to be
held by 2005)
election results: House of Commons -
percent of vote by party - Liberal
Party 41%, Conservative Alliance
26%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New
Democratic Party 9%, Progressive
Conservative Party 12%; seats by
party - Liberal Party 172,
Conservative Alliance 66, Bloc
Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party
13, Progressive Conservative Party
12; note - percent of vote by party
as of January 2002 - Liberal Party
51%, Canadian Alliance 10%, Bloc
Quebecois 10%, New Democratic Party
9%, Progressive Conservative Party
18%; seats by party - Liberal Party
172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc
Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party
13, Progressive Conservative Party
12
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Canada (judges are
appointed by the prime minister
through the governor general);
Federal Court of Canada; Federal
Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts
(these are named variously Court of
Appeal, Court of Queens Bench,
Superior Court, Supreme Court, and
Court of Justice)
Political parties and leaders: Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE];
Canadian Alliance [Stephen HARPER];
Liberal Party [Jean CHRETIEN]; New
Democratic Party [Alexa McDONOUGH];
Progressive Conservative Party [Joe
CLARK]
Political pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue
participation: partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue
partner), Australia Group, BIS, C,
CCC, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state),
FAO, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM
(guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP,
UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael
F. KERGIN
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20001
FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726
telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
consulate(s) general: Atlanta,
Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis,
New York, and Seattle
consulate(s): Miami, Princeton, San
Francisco, and San Jose
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Paul
US: CELLUCCI
embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa,
Ontario K1N 1G8
mailing address: P. O. Box 5000,
Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430
telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470
FAX: [1] (613) 238-5720
consulate(s) general: Calgary,
Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto,
and Vancouver
Flag description: three vertical bands of red (hoist
side), white (double width, square),
and red with a red maple leaf
centered in the white band
Economy Canada
--------------
Economy - overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial
society, Canada today closely
resembles the US in its market-
oriented economic system, pattern of
production, and high living
standards. Since World War II, the
impressive growth of the
manufacturing, mining, and service
sectors has transformed the nation
from a largely rural economy into
one primarily industrial and urban.
The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North
American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) (which includes Mexico)
touched off a dramatic increase in
trade and economic integration with
the US. As a result of the close
cross-border relationship, the
economic downturn in the United
States in 2001 had a negative impact
on the Canadian economy. Real growth
averaged nearly 3% during 1993-2000,
but declined in 2001. Unemployment
is up, with contraction in the
manufacturing and natural resource
sectors. Nevertheless, with its
great natural resources, skilled
labor force, and modern capital
plant Canada enjoys solid economic
prospects. Two shadows loom, the
first being the continuing
constitutional impasse between
English- and French-speaking areas,
which has been raising the
possibility of a split in the
federation. Another long-term
concern is the flow south to the US
of professionals lured by higher
pay, lower taxes, and the immense
high-tech infrastructure.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $875
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.9% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $27,700
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2%
industry: 29%
services: 69% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: 2.8%
percentage share: highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini 31.5 (1994)
index:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 16.4 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 74%, manufacturing 15%,
construction 5%, agriculture 3%,
other 3% (2000)
Unemployment rate: 7.2% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $178.6 billion
expenditures: $161.4 billion,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (FY00/01 est.)
Industries: transportation equipment, chemicals,
processed and unprocessed minerals,
food products; wood and paper
products; fish products, petroleum
and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 576.218 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 25.3%
hydro: 61.22%
other: 1.56% (2000)
nuclear: 11.92%
Electricity - consumption: 499.766 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 48.802 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 12.685 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco,
fruits, vegetables; dairy products;
forest products; fish
Exports: $273.8 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: motor vehicles and parts, industrial
machinery, aircraft,
telecommunications equipment;
chemicals, plastics, fertilizers;
wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum,
natural gas, electricity, aluminum
Exports - partners: US 86%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, South
Korea, Netherlands, China (1999)
Imports: $238.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, motor
vehicles and parts, crude oil,
chemicals, electricity, durable
consumer goods
Imports - partners: US 74%, EU 9%, Japan 3% (2000)
Debt - external: $1.9 billion (2000)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $1.3 billion (1999)
Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)
Currency code: CAD
Exchange rates: Canadian dollars per US dollar -
1.6003 (January 2002), 1.5488
(2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857
(1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications Canada
---------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 18.5 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4.207 million (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: excellent
service provided by modern
technology
domestic: domestic satellite system
with about 300 earth stations
international: 5 coaxial submarine
cables; satellite earth stations - 5
Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1
Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 535, FM 53, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios: 32.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 21.5 million (1997)
Internet country code: .ca
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 760 (2000 est.)
Internet users: 14.44 million (2001)
Transportation Canada
---------------------
Railways: total: 36,114 km
standard gauge: 36,114 km 1.435-
m gauge (156 km electrified)
note: Canada has two major
transcontinental freight railway
systems: Canadian National
(privatized November 1995) and
Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger
service is provided by the
government-operated firm VIA, which
has no trackage of its own (2000
est.)
Highways: total: 901,902 km
paved: 318,371 km (including 16,571
km of expressways)
unpaved: 583,531 km (1999)
Waterways: 3,000 km (including Saint Lawrence
Seaway)
Pipelines: crude and refined oil 23,564 km;
natural gas 74,980 km
Ports and harbors: Becancour (Quebec), Churchill,
Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, New
Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec,
Saint John (New Brunswick), St.
John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles,
Sydney, Trois-Rivieres, Thunder Bay,
Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor
Merchant marine: total: 122 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 1,797,240 GRT/2,680,223 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk
66, cargo 13, chemical tanker 5,
combination bulk 2, passenger 2,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker
18, railcar carrier 2, roll on/roll
off 8, short-sea passenger 3,
specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned
ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 3, Monaco 16,
United Kingdom 1, United States 1
(2002 est.)
Airports: 1,419 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 519
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 244
under 914 m: 90 (2001)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 151
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 900
1,524 to 2,437 m: 74
914 to 1,523 m: 364
under 914 m: 462 (2001)
Heliports: 18 (2001)
Military Canada
---------------
Military branches: Canadian Armed Forces (comprising
Land Forces Command, Maritime
Command, Air Command, Communications
Command, Training Command)
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 8,361,475 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 7,139,068 (2002
service: est.)
Military manpower - reaching males: 217,516 (2002 est.)
military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $7,860.5 million (FY01/02)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 1.1% (FY01/02)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Canada
---------------------------
Disputes - international: maritime boundary disputes with the
US (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea,
Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal
Island)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the
domestic drug market; use of
hydroponics technology permits
growers to plant large quantities of
high-quality marijuana indoors;
transit point for heroin and cocaine
entering the US market
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