| |
Background Note: Canada
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Canada
Geography
Area: 9.9 million sq. km. (3.8 million sq. mi.);
second-largest country in the world.
Cities: Capital--Ottawa (pop. 1.2 million). Other
major cities--Toronto (5.4 million), Montreal (3.7
million), Vancouver (2.2 million), Calgary (1.1 million),
Edmonton (1.1 million).
Terrain: Mostly plains with mountains in the west and lowlands
in the southeast.
Climate: Temperate to arctic.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Canadian(s).
Population (2006 estimate): 32.7 million.
Ethnic groups: British/Irish 28%, French 23%, other European
15%, Asian/Arab/African 6%, indigenous Amerindian 2%, mixed
background 26%.
Religions: Roman Catholic 44.4%, Protestant 29%, other Christian
4.2%, Muslim 2%, other 4%.
Languages: English, French.
Education: Literacy--99% of population aged 15 and over
has at least a ninth-grade education.
Health: Infant mortality rate--5.3/1,000. Life
expectancy--77.1 yrs. male, 82.2 yrs. female.
Work force (2006, 17.7 million): Goods-producing sector: 25%, of
which: manufacturing 15%; construction 6%; agriculture 2%;
natural resources 2%; utilities 1%. Service-producing sector:
75%, of which: trade 16%; health care and social assistance 11%;
educational services 7%, accommodation and food services 7%;
professional, scientific, and technical services 7%; finance 6%;
public administration 5%; transportation and warehousing 5%;
information, culture, and recreation 5%; other services 4%.
Government
Type: Federation, parliamentary democracy, and constitutional
monarchy.
Confederation: July 1, 1867.
Constitution: The amended British North America Act of 1867
patriated to Canada on April 17, 1982, Charter of Rights and
Freedoms, and unwritten custom.
Branches: Executive--Queen Elizabeth II (head of state
represented by a governor general), prime minister (head of
government), cabinet. Legislative--bicameral parliament
(308-member House of Commons; 105-seat Senate). Judicial--Supreme
Court.
Federal-level political parties: Liberal Party, Conservative
Party of Canada, Bloc Quebecois, New Democratic Party.
Subdivisions: 10 provinces, 3 territories.
Economy
Nominal GDP (2005): $1.077 trillion.
Real GDP growth rate (2006): 2.5%.
Nominal per capita GDP (2005): $32,800.
Natural resources: Petroleum and natural gas, hydroelectric
power, metals and minerals, fish, forests, wildlife, abundant
fresh water.
Agriculture: Products--wheat, livestock and meat, feed
grains, oil seeds, dairy products, tobacco, fruits, vegetables.
Industry: Types--motor vehicles and parts, machinery and
equipment, aircraft and components, other diversified
manufacturing, fish and forest products, processed and
unprocessed minerals.
Trade: Merchandise exports (2005)--$360.0 billion: crude
petroleum and products, natural gas, motor vehicles and spare
parts, lumber, wood pulp and newsprint, crude and fabricated
metals, wheat. In 2005, 84% of Canadian exports went to the
United States. Merchandise imports (2005)--$314.3
billion: motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, crude
petroleum, chemicals, agricultural machinery. In 2005, 57% of
Canadian imports came from the United States.
U.S.-CANADA RELATIONS
The relationship between the United States and Canada is
probably the closest and most extensive in the world. It is
reflected in the staggering volume of bilateral trade--the
equivalent of $1.4 billion a day in goods, services, and
investment income--as well as in people-to-people contact. There
are well over 100 million crossings of the U.S.-Canadian border
every year. Since January 23, 2007, all U.S. citizens traveling
by air to and from Canada must have a valid passport to enter or
re-enter the United States. U.S. citizens traveling between the
United States and Canada by land or sea (including ferries) may
be required to present a valid passport or other documents as
determined by the Department of Homeland Security as early as
January 1, 2008. |
