Canada

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 the World’s longest unfortified border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care, and education, social services, and economic competitiveness, as well as responding to the particular concerns of predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the environment.

Geography

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: 9,984,670 sq km
country comparison to the world: 2 land:9,093,507 sq km
water:891,163 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)
note:Canada is the World’s largest country that borders only one country

Coastline

202,080 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

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, rare earth elements, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 4.57%
permanent crops:0.65%
other:94.78% (2005)

Irrigated land

8,550 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

3,300 cu km (1985)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 44.72cu km/yr (20%/69%/12%)
per capita:1,386cu m/yr (1996)

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
volcanism:the vast majority of volcanoes in Western Canada’s Coast Mountains remain dormant

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-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation

Geography – note

second-largest country in world (after Russia)

strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route

approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border

People and Society

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%

Languages

English (official) 58.8%, French (official) 21.6%, other 19.6% (2006 Census)

Religions

Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census)

Population

34,030,589 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.7% (male 2,736,737/female 2,602,342)
15-64 years:68.5% (male 11,776,611/female 11,517,972)
65 years and over:15.9% (male 2,372,356/female 3,024,571) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 41 years
male:39.8 years
female:42.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.794% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Birth rate

10.28 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Death rate

7.98 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Net migration rate

5.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Urbanization

urban population: 81% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

Toronto 5.377 million

Montreal 3.75 million

Vancouver 2.197 million

OTTAWA (capital) 1.17 million

Calgary 1.16 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.056 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.78 male(s)/female
total population:0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

12 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 139

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 183 male:5.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female:4.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 81.38 years
country comparison to the world: 12 male:78.81 years
female:84.1 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.58 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

Health expenditures

10.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 22

Physicians density

1.9132 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 68

Hospital bed density

3.4 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 61

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 99% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 1% of population
total: 0% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 99% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 1% of population
total: 0% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

68,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

23.1% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 14

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 64

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years
male:17 years
female:17 years (2004)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 15.3%
country comparison to the world: 74 male:18.1%
female:12.4% (2009)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Canada

Government type

a parliamentary democracy, a federation, and a constitutional monarchy

Capital

name: Ottawa
geographic coordinates:45 25 N, 75 42 W
time difference:UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins second Sunday in March

ends first Sunday in November
note:Canada is divided into six time zones

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 (union of British North American colonies)

11 December 1931 (recognized by UK per Statute of Westminster)

National holiday

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Constitution

made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions

the written part of the constitution consists of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982, which transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as procedures for constitutional amendments

Legal system

common law system except in Quebec where civil law based on the French civil code prevails

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

head of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

represented by Governor General David JOHNSTON (since 1 October 2010)
head of government:Prime Minister Stephen Joseph HARPER (since 6 February 2006)
cabinet:Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: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 or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Commons generally designated prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (105 seats

members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister and serve until 75 years of age) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308 seats

members elected by direct, popular vote to serve a maximum of four-year terms)
elections:House of Commons – last held on 2 May 2011 (next to be held no later than 19 October 2015)
election results:House of Commons – percent of vote by party – Conservative Party 39.6%, New Democratic Party 30.6%, Liberal Party 18.9%, Bloc Quebecois 6%, Greens 3.9%

seats by party – Conservative Party 166, New Democratic Party 103, Liberal Party 34, Bloc Quebecois 4, Greens 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister)

Federal Court of Canada

Federal Court of Appeal

Tax Court of Canada

Provincial/Territorial Courts (these are named variously Court of Appeal, Court of Queen’s Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Justice)

Political parties and leaders

Bloc Quebecois [Louis PLAMONDON]

Conservative Party of Canada [Stephen HARPER]

Green Party [Elizabeth MAY]

Liberal Party [Robert RAE (interim)]

New Democratic Party [Nycole Turmel (interim)]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: agricultural sector

automobile industry

business groups

chemical industry

commercial banks

communications sector

energy industry

environmentalists

public administration groups

steel industry

trade unions

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Gary DOER
chancery:501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
telephone:[1] (202) 682-1740
FAX:[1] (202) 682-7701
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco/Silicon Valley,, Seattle
consulate(s):Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Raleigh, San Diego, San Jose (California), Tucson

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador David C. JACOBSON
embassy:490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
mailing address:P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430

P.O. Box 866, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5T1
telephone:[1] (613) 688-5335
FAX:[1] (613) 688-3082
consulate(s) general:Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg

Flag description

two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width) with white square between them

an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square

the maple leaf has long been a Canadian symbol

the official colors of Canada are red and white

National symbol(s)

maple leaf

National anthem

name: “O Canada”
lyrics/music:Adolphe-Basile ROUTHIER [French], Robert Stanley WEIR [English]/Calixa LAVALLEE
note:adopted 1980

originally written in 1880, “O Canada” served as an unofficial anthem many years before its official adoption

the anthem has French and English versions whose lyrics differ

as a Commonwealth realm, in addition to the national anthem, “God Save the Queen” serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)

Economy

Economy – overview

As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion-dollar class, Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and affluent 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 the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US, its principal trading partner. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with the US, which absorbs about three-fourths of Canadian exports each year. Canada is the US’s largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada enjoyed solid economic growth from 1993 through 2007. Buffeted by the global economic crisis, the economy dropped into a sharp recession in the final months of 2008, and Ottawa posted its first fiscal deficit in 2009 after 12 years of surplus. Canada’s major banks, however, emerged from the financial crisis of 2008-09 among the strongest in the world, owing to the financial sector’s tradition of conservative lending practices and strong capitalization. During 2010, Canada’s economy grew only 3%, due to decreased global demand and a highly valued Canadian dollar.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.33 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15 $1.291 trillion (2009 est.)
$1.323 trillion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.574 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

3.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122 -2.5% (2009 est.)
0.5% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$39,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22 $38,500 (2009 est.)
$39,800 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 2.2%
industry:26.3%
services:71.5% (2010 est.)

Labor force

18.53 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 2%
manufacturing:13%
construction:6%
services:76%
other:3% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90 8.3% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

9.4%
note:this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a calculation that results in higher figures than found in many comparable economies

Canada does not have an official poverty line (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%:24.8% (2000)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

32.1 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 105 31.5 (1994)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Budget

revenues: $601 billion
expenditures:$689.8 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

38.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155

Public debt

84% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15 83.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
note:figures are for gross general government debt, as opposed to net federal debt

gross general government debt includes both intragovernmental debt and the debt of public entities at the sub-national level

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59 0.3% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143 0.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

2.604% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185 2.396% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$585.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9 $513.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.356 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12 $1.251 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.731 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10 $2.488 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.16 trillion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 8 $1.681 trillion (31 December 2009)
$1.002 trillion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables

dairy products

forest products

fish

Industries

transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum and natural gas

Industrial production growth rate

5.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73

Electricity – production

604.4 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Electricity – consumption

549.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Electricity – exports

51.11 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

33.62 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

3.483 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Oil – consumption

2.209 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

Oil – exports

1.929 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Oil – imports

1.088 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Oil – proved reserves

175.2 billion bbl
country comparison to the world: 3 note:includes oil sands (1 January 2011 est.)

Natural gas – production

152.3 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

Natural gas – consumption

82.48 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

Natural gas – exports

92.4 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

Natural gas – imports

22.53 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Natural gas – proved reserves

1.754 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

Current account balance

-$48.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191 -$39.58 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$393 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13 $323.1 billion (2009 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 74.9%, UK 4.1% (2010)

Imports

$401.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12 $327.3 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods

Imports – partners

US 50.4%, China 11%, Mexico 5.5% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$57.15 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29 $54.36 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$1.181 trillion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 14 $1.009 trillion (30 June 2010)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$561.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11 $523.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$616.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11 $593.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar -
1.0346 (2010)
1.1431 (2009)
1.0364 (2008)
1.0724 (2007)
1.1334 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

1,404 (2010)
country comparison to the world:4

Airports – with paved runways

total: 514
over 3,047 m:18
2,438 to 3,047 m:20
1,524 to 2,437 m:148
914 to 1,523 m:249
under 914 m:79 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 890
1,524 to 2,437 m:73
914 to 1,523 m:377
under 914 m:440 (2010)

Heliports

12 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 835 km

liquid petroleum gas 75,000 km (2010)

Railways

total: 46,552 km
country comparison to the world: 5 standard gauge:46,552 km 1.435-m gauge (2009)

Roadways

total: 1,042,300 km
country comparison to the world: 6 paved:415,600 km (includes 17,000 km of expressways)
unpaved:626,700 km (2009)

Waterways

636 km (Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 78

Merchant marine

total: 184
country comparison to the world: 36 by type:bulk carrier 66, cargo 12, carrier 1, chemical tanker 14, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 64, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 6
foreign-owned:15 (France 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 4, US 9)
registered in other countries:223 (Australia 7, Bahamas 102, Barbados 13, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 2, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 70, Liberia 4, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 4, Norway 1, Panama 5, Spain 5, US 1, Vanuatu 5) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Fraser River Port, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, Port-Cartier, Quebec City, Saint John (New Brunswick), Sept-Isles, Vancouver
oil terminals:Lower Lakes terminal

Military

Military branches

Canadian Forces: Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canada Command (homeland security) (2011)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary male and female military service (with parental consent)

16 years of age for reserve and military college applicants

Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status required

maximum 34 years of age

service obligation 3-9 years (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 8,031,266
females age 16-49:7,755,550 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,633,472
females age 16-49:6,389,669 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 218,069
female:206,195 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Gulf of Maine including the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock

Canada and the United States dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf

US works closely with Canada to intensify security measures for monitoring and controlling legal and illegal movement of people, transport, and commodities across the international border

sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland

commencing the collection of technical evidence for submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in support of claims for continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from its declared baselines in the Arctic, as stipulated in Article 76, paragraph 8, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and export to US

use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors

increasing ecstasy production, some of which is destined for the US

vulnerable to narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services sector