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Guide
Introduction
| |
| 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. |
| Location: |
Northern North America,
bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, 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) |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental
margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 5%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 38% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
7,100 sq km (1993 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 |
| 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 agreements: |
party to: Air
Pollution, Air 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 |
| Population: |
31,592,805 (July 2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
18.95% (male 3,067,102; female 2,918,839)
15-64 years: 68.28% (male 10,846,151; female 10,725,800)
65 years and over: 12.77% (male 1,715,071; female
2,319,842) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
0.99% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
11.21 births/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
7.47 deaths/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
6.13 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 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 (2001 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
5.02 deaths/1,000 live births
(2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
79.56 years
male: 76.16 years
female: 83.13 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
1.6 children born/woman (2001
est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.3% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
49,000 (1999 est.) |
| 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 42%,
Protestant 40%, other 18% |
| 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% |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form: Canada |
| Government
type: |
confederation with
parliamentary democracy |
| Administrative
divisions: |
10 provinces and 3
territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick,
Newfoundland, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario,
Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory* |
| Independence: |
1 July 1867 (from UK) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day/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)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4
November 1993)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from
among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
elections: none; the monarch 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 |
| Legislative
branch: |
bicameral Parliament or
Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (a body whose members are
appointed to serve until reaching 75 years of age by the governor
general and selected on the advice of the prime minister; 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 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party as of January
2001 - Liberal Party 42%, Canadian Alliance 22%, Bloc Quebecois 13%, New
Democratic Party 4%, Progressive Conservative Party 4%; seats by party
as of January 2001 - 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 [Stockwell DAY]; Liberal Party [Jean
CHRETIEN]; New Democratic Party [Alexa MCDONOUGH]; Progressive
Conservative Party [Joe CLARK] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF
(dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS,
C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA
(cooperating state), FAO, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM
(guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET,
UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Michael KERGIN
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726
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 US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Gordon D. GIFFIN
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
- 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.
Real rates of growth have averaged nearly 3.0% since 1993. Unemployment
is falling and government budget surpluses are being partially devoted
to reducing the large public sector debt. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
(which included Mexico) have touched off a dramatic increase in trade
and economic integration with the US. 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 professional persons
lured by higher pay, lower taxes, and the immense high-tech
infrastructure. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity -
$774.7 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
4.3% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity -
$24,800 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 3%
industry: 31%
services: 66% (2000 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
2.6% (2000) |
| Labor
force: |
16.1 million (2000) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
services 74%, manufacturing
15%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 3% (2000) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
6.8% (2000 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $126.1
billion
expenditures: $125.3 billion, including capital
expenditures of $14.8 billion (2000) |
| Industries: |
processed and unprocessed
minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation
equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
4.5% (2000 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
567.193 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
26.38%
hydro: 60%
nuclear: 12.31%
other: 1.31% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
497.532 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
42.911 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
12.953 billion kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
wheat, barley, oilseed,
tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish |
| Exports: |
$272.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000
est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
motor vehicles and parts,
newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas,
aluminum, telecommunications equipment, electricity |
| Exports
- partners: |
US 86%, Japan 3%, UK,
Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China (1999) |
| Imports: |
$238.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000
est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
machinery and equipment,
crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods,
electricity |
| Imports
- partners: |
US 76%, Japan 3%, UK,
Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea (1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$1.9 billion (2000) |
| Economic
aid - donor: |
ODA, $1.3 billion (1999) |
| Currency: |
Canadian dollar (CAD) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Canadian dollars per US
dollar - 1.5032 (January 2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835
(1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 April - 31 March |
| 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: |
13.28 million (1999) |
| Railways: |
total: 36,114
km; note - there are two major transcontinental freight railway systems:
Canadian National (privatized November 1995) and Canadian Pacific
Railway; passenger service provided by government-operated firm VIA,
which has no trackage of its own
standard gauge: 36,114 km 1.435-m gauge (156 km
electrified) (1998) |
| 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: 121 ships
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,767,259 GRT/2,633,290 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 67, cargo 13, chemical
tanker 5, combination bulk 1, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 17, railcar carrier 2, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 3,
specialized tanker 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports: |
1,417 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 517
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 151
914 to 1,523 m: 244
under 914 m: 89 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 900
1,524 to 2,437 m: 74
914 to 1,523 m: 362
under 914 m: 464 (2000 est.) |
| Heliports: |
18 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Canadian Forces (includes
Land Forces Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC,
Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC), Royal Canadian
Mounted Police (RCMP) |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
17 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49:
8,325,084 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49:
7,114,851 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 215,627
(2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$7.5 billion (FY00/01) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.3% (FY00/01) |
| 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 |
|
