Academia El Mundo Hispano / Spanish World Academy

Canada

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. Montreal

Canada

Geography

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)

Coastline:

243,791 km

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 Toronto

Canada

People

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% Quebec

Canada

Government

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, 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 Paul 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 Rocky mountain

Canada

Economy

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)

Currency code:

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 Vancouver

Canada

Communications

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) Calgary

Canada

Transportation

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.) Niagara Falls

Canada

Military

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)

Canada

Transnational Issues

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