Chief
of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952)
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Stephen HARPER (since 6 February 2006)
Government Type: a constitutional
monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a
federation |
Population:
33,098,932 (July 2006 est.)
Languages: English (official)
59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%
Religion: Roman Catholic 42.6%,
Protestant 23.3% (including 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)
Life Expectancy: 80.22 |
Currency:
Canadian dollar (CAD)
GDP(per capita): $34,000 (2005
est.)
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. Given
its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and
modern capital plant, Canada enjoys solid economic prospects.
Top-notch fiscal management has produced consecutive
balanced budgets since 1997, although public debate
continues over how to manage the rising cost of the
publicly funded healthcare system. Exports account for
roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial
trade surplus with its principal trading partner, the
US, which absorbs more than 85% of Canadian exports.
Canada is the US' largest foreign supplier of energy,
including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power.
Exports: machinery and equipment,
motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity,
durable consumer goods
Import: motor vehicles and
parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications
equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp,
timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum
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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
Area: total: 9,984,670 sq km
land: 9,093,507 sq km
water: 891,163 sq km |
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. Canada's paramount political problem is meeting
public demands for quality improvements in health care
and education services after a decade of budget cuts.
Canada also faces questions about integrity in government
following revelations regarding a corruption scandal
in the federal government that has helped revive the
fortunes of separatists in predominantly francophone
Quebec.
Independence Day: 1 July 1867
(union of British North American colonies); 11 December
1931 (independence recognized)
Capital City: Ottawa
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*
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