 O
Canada
Since my web site is popular all over the world, I
thought it was civic duty to inform the masses a little about Canada.
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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. |
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Location: |
Northern North
America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific
Ocean, north of the conterminous US |
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Geographic coordinates: |
60 00 N, 95 00 W
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Map references: |
North America
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Area: |
total:
9,976,140 sq km
land: 9,220,970 sq km
water: 755,170 sq km |
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Area - comparative: |
slightly larger
than the US |
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Land boundaries: |
total:
8,893 km
border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with
Alaska) |
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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 |
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Climate: |
varies from
temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north |
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Terrain: |
mostly plains with
mountains in west and lowlands in southeast |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m |
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Natural resources: |
iron ore, nickel,
zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, fish,
timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
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Land use: |
arable land:
5%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 38% (1993 est.) |
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Irrigated land: |
7,100 sq km (1993
est.) |
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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 |
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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 |
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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
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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
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Population: |
31,592,805 (July
2001 est.) |
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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.) |
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Population growth rate: |
0.99% (2001 est.)
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Birth rate: |
11.21 births/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
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Death rate: |
7.47 deaths/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
6.13 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
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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.)
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Infant mortality rate: |
5.02 deaths/1,000
live births (2001 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 79.56 years
male: 76.16 years
female: 83.13 years (2001 est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
1.6 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.3% (1999 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with
HIV/AIDS: |
49,000 (1999 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
400 (1999 est.)
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Nationality: |
noun:
Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian |
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Ethnic groups: |
British Isles
origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian
2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%
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Religions: |
Roman Catholic 42%,
Protestant 40%, other 18% |
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Languages: |
English 59.3%
(official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5% |
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Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% (1986 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA% |
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Country name: |
conventional
long form: none
conventional short form: Canada |
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Government type: |
confederation with
parliamentary democracy |
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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* |
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Independence: |
1 July 1867 (from
UK) |
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National holiday: |
Independence
Day/Canada Day, 1 July (1867) |
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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 |
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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 |
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
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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 |
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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 |
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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) |
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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] |
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Political pressure groups and
leaders: |
NA |
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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
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $774.7 billion (2000 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate: |
4.3% (2000 est.)
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GDP - per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $24,800 (2000 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture:
3%
industry: 31%
services: 66% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line: |
NA% |
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Household income or consumption
by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
2.6% (2000)
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Labor force: |
16.1 million (2000)
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Labor force - by occupation: |
services 74%,
manufacturing 15%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 3%
(2000) |
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Unemployment rate: |
6.8% (2000 est.)
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Budget: |
revenues:
$126.1 billion
expenditures: $125.3 billion, including capital
expenditures of $14.8 billion (2000) |
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Industries: |
processed and
unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products,
transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum
and natural gas |
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Industrial production growth
rate: |
4.5% (2000 est.)
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Electricity - production: |
567.193 billion kWh
(1999) |
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Electricity - production by
source: |
fossil fuel:
26.38%
hydro: 60%
nuclear: 12.31%
other: 1.31% (1999) |
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Electricity - consumption: |
497.532 billion kWh
(1999) |
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Electricity - exports: |
42.911 billion kWh
(1999) |
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Electricity - imports: |
12.953 billion kWh
(1999) |
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Agriculture - products: |
wheat, barley,
oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest
products; fish |
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Exports: |
$272.3 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
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Exports - commodities: |
motor vehicles and
parts, newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery,
natural gas, aluminum, telecommunications equipment, electricity
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Exports - partners: |
US 86%, Japan 3%,
UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China (1999) |
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Imports: |
$238.2 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
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Imports - commodities: |
machinery and
equipment, crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts,
durable consumer goods, electricity |
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Imports - partners: |
US 76%, Japan 3%,
UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea (1999)
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Debt - external: |
$1.9 billion (2000)
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Economic aid - donor: |
ODA, $1.3 billion
(1999) |
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Currency: |
Canadian dollar
(CAD) |
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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) |
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Fiscal year: |
1 April - 31 March
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
18.5 million (1999)
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
4.207 million
(1997) |
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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) |
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 535, FM 53,
shortwave 6 (1998) |
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Radios: |
32.3 million (1997)
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Television broadcast stations: |
80 (plus many
repeaters) (1997) |
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Televisions: |
21.5 million (1997)
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Internet country code: |
.ca |
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Internet Service Providers
(ISPs): |
760 (2000 est.)
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Internet users: |
13.28 million
(1999) |
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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) |
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Highways: |
total:
901,902 km
paved: 318,371 km (including 16,571 km of expressways)
unpaved: 583,531 km (1999) |
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Waterways: |
3,000 km (including
Saint Lawrence Seaway) |
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Pipelines: |
crude and refined
oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km |
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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.) |
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Airports: |
1,417 (2000 est.)
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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.) |
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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.) |
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Heliports: |
18 (2000 est.)
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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) |
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Military manpower - military age: |
17 years of age
|
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Military manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 8,325,084 (2001 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for
military service: |
males age
15-49: 7,114,851 (2001 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching
military age annually: |
males:
215,627 (2001 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar
figure: |
$7.5 billion
(FY00/01) |
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Military expenditures - percent
of GDP: |
1.3% (FY00/01)
|
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Disputes - international: |
maritime boundary
disputes with the US (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of
Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island) |
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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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