2000 Edition

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.

Area

land

9,220,970 sq km

total

9,976,140 sq km

water

755,170 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than the US

Climate

varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Coastline

243,791 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Logan 5,959 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates

60 00 N, 95 00 W

Geography - note

second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; nearly 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US/Canada border

Irrigated land

7,100 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)

total

8,893 km

Land use

arable land

5%

forests and woodland

54%

other

38% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

3%

Location

Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US

Map references

North America

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

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

Natural resources

iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower

Terrain

mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Age structure

0-14 years: 19% (male 3,077,994; female 2,932,821) 15-64 years: 68% (male 10,714,305; female 10,591,494) 65 years and over: 13% (male 1,683,704; female 2,280,774) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

11.41 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.39 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%

Infant mortality rate

5.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%

Life expectancy at birth

female

83 years (2000 est.)

male

76.02 years

total population

79.43 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA%

male

NA%

total population

97% (1986 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Canadian

noun

Canadian(s)

Net migration rate

6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

31,281,092 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.02% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 40%, other 18%

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 (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.64 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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*

Capital

Ottawa

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

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Canada

Data code

CA

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Gordon D. GIFFIN

embassy

100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa

mailing address

P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430

telephone

(613) 238-5335, 4470

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001

chief of mission

Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIEN

telephone

(202) 682-1740

Executive branch

cabinet

Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Adrienne CLARKSON (since 7 October 1999)

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

head of government

Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993)

FAX

(202) 682-7726

(613) 238-5720

consulate(s)

Miami, Princeton, San Francisco, and San Jose

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle

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

Government type

confederation with parliamentary democracy

Independence

1 July 1867 (from UK)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, APEC, AsDB, 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, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general

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

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 38%, Reform Party 19%, Progressive Conservative Party 19%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 11%, other 2%; seats by party - Liberal Party 155, Reform Party 60, Bloc Quebecois 44, New Democratic Party 21, Progressive Conservative Party 20, independents 1

elections

House of Commons - last held 2 June 1997 (next to be held by NA June 2002)

note

seats by party as of December 1999 - Liberal Party 157, Reform Party 57, Bloc Quebecois 44, New Democratic Party 20, Progressive Conservative Party 19, independents 4

National holiday

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Political parties and leaders

Bloc Quebecois ; Liberal Party ; New Democratic Party ; Progressive Conservative Party ; Reform Party [Preston MANNING]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish

Budget

expenditures

$115.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1998)

revenues

$121.8 billion

Currency

1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$253 billion (1996)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $2.1 billion (1997)

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.

Electricity - consumption

484.515 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

39.502 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

11.725 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

550.852 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

27.18%

hydro

59.77%

nuclear

12.25%

other

0.8% (1998)

Exchange rates

Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.4489 (January 2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995)

Exports

$277 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

motor vehicles and parts, newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, telecommunications equipment, electricity

Exports - partners

US 84%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China (1998)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $722.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3%

industry

31%

services

66% (1998)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $23,300 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.6% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)

Imports

$259.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 77%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

4.3% (1999 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (1999)

Labor force

15.9 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

services 75%, manufacturing 16%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 1% (1997)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

7.6% (1999)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

750 (1999 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 535, FM 53, shortwave 6 (1998)

Radios

32.3 million (1997)

Telephone system

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

18.5 million (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3 million (1999)

Television broadcast stations

80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

21.5 million (1997)

Airports

1,411 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

515 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 152 914 to 1,523 m: 240 under 914 m: 90 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

896 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 362 under 914 m: 461 (1999 est.)

Heliports

15 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

318,371 km (including 16,571 km of expressways)

total

901,902 km

unpaved

583,531 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

note

does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes (1998 est.)

ships by type

barge carrier 1, bulk 61, cargo 11, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 2, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 16, rail car carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off 8, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.)

total

114 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,602,275 GRT/2,371,146 DWT

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

Railways

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)

total

36,114 km; note - there are two major transcontinental freight

Waterways

3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway

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 expenditures - dollar figure

$7.4 billion (FY97/98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.2% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 8,282,846 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 7,086,335 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

212,701 (2000 est.)

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; growing role as a transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market

CAPE VERDE