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Background:
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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. |
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Location:
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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 |
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Geographic coordinates:
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60 00 N, 95 00 W |
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Map references:
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North America |
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Area:
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total: 9,976,140
sq km
land: 9,220,970 sq km
water: 755,170 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than
the US |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 8,893 km
border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
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Coastline:
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243,791 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone:
24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental
margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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varies from temperate
in south to subarctic and arctic in north |
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Terrain:
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mostly plains with
mountains in west and lowlands in southeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m |
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Natural resources:
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iron ore, nickel, zinc,
copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, fish, timber,
wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 95% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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7,200 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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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 |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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31,902,268 (July 2002
est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
18.7% (male 3,059,023; female 2,910,203)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 10,975,701; female 10,857,869)
65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,743,654; female 2,355,818)
(2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.96% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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11.09 births/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.54 deaths/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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6.07 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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 (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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4.95 deaths/1,000 live
births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population:
79.69 years
female: 83.25 years (2002 est.)
male: 76.3 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.6 children born/woman
(2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.3% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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49,000 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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400 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian |
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Ethnic groups:
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British Isles origin
28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other,
mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 46%,
Protestant 36%, other 18%
note: based on the 1991 census |
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Languages:
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English 59.3%
(official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5% |
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% (1986 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA% |
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Country name:
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conventional long
form: none
conventional short form: Canada |
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Government type:
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confederation with
parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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Ottawa |
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Administrative divisions:
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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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Independence:
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1 July 1867 (from UK)
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National holiday:
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Canada Day, 1 July
(1867) |
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Constitution:
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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 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common
law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law
prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Adrienne CLARKSON (since 7 October 1999)
elections: none; 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 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); Deputy Prime Minister John MANLEY (since NA January
2002)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from
among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament or
Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (members appointed by the
governor general with the advice of the prime minister and serve until
reaching 75 years of age ; 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 by 2005)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Liberal Party 41%, Conservative Alliance 26%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New
Democratic Party 9%, Progressive Conservative Party 12%; seats by
party - Liberal Party 172, Conservative Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois
38, New Democratic Party 13, Progressive Conservative Party 12; note -
percent of vote by party as of January 2002 - Liberal Party 51%,
Canadian Alliance 10%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, New Democratic Party 9%,
Progressive Conservative Party 18%; seats by party - Liberal Party
172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party 13,
Progressive Conservative Party 12 |
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Judicial branch:
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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) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Bloc Quebecois [Gilles
DUCEPPE]; Canadian Alliance [Stephen HARPER]; Liberal Party [Jean
CHRETIEN]; New Democratic Party [Alexa McDONOUGH]; Progressive
Conservative Party [Joe CLARK] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF
(dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group,
BIS, C, CCC, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA
(cooperating state), FAO, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest),
NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNTSO,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Michael F. KERGIN
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726
telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
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
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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 |
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Flag description:
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three vertical bands of
red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and red with a red
maple leaf centered in the white band |
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Economy - overview:
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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.
The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a
dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. As a
result of the close cross-border relationship, the economic downturn
in the United States in 2001 had a negative impact on the Canadian
economy. Real growth averaged nearly 3% during 1993-2000, but declined
in 2001. Unemployment is up, with contraction in the manufacturing and
natural resource sectors. Nevertheless, 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
professionals lured by higher pay, lower taxes, and the immense
high-tech infrastructure. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity
- $875 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.9% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity
- $27,700 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 2%
industry: 29%
services: 69% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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31.5 (1994) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.8% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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16.4 million (2001
est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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services 74%,
manufacturing 15%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 3% (2000)
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Unemployment rate:
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7.2% (2001 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $178.6
billion
expenditures: $161.4 billion, including capital expenditures of
$NA (FY00/01 est.) |
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Industries:
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transportation
equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food
products; wood and paper products; fish products, petroleum and
natural gas |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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0.5% (2001 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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576.218 billion kWh
(2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
25.3%
hydro: 61.22%
other: 1.56% (2000)
nuclear: 11.92% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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499.766 billion kWh
(2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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48.802 billion kWh
(2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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12.685 billion kWh
(2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, barley, oilseed,
tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish
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Exports:
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$273.8 billion (f.o.b.,
2001 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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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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Exports - partners:
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US 86%, Japan 3%, UK,
Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China (1999) |
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Imports:
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$238.3 billion (f.o.b.,
2001 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and
equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals,
electricity, durable consumer goods |
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Imports - partners:
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US 74%, EU 9%, Japan 3%
(2000) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.9 billion (2000)
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Economic aid - donor:
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ODA, $1.3 billion
(1999) |
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Currency:
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Canadian dollar (CAD)
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Currency code:
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CAD |
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Exchange rates:
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Canadian dollars per US
dollar - 1.6003 (January 2002), 1.5488 (2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857
(1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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18.5 million (1999)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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4.207 million (1997)
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Telephone system:
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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) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 535, FM 53,
shortwave 6 (1998) |
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Radios:
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32.3 million (1997)
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Television broadcast stations:
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80 (plus many
repeaters) (1997) |
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Televisions:
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21.5 million (1997)
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Internet country code:
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.ca |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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760 (2000 est.) |
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Internet users:
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14.44 million (2001)
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Railways:
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total: 36,114 km
standard gauge: 36,114 km 1.435-m gauge (156 km electrified)
note: Canada has two major transcontinental freight railway
systems: Canadian National (privatized November 1995) and Canadian
Pacific Railway; passenger service is provided by the
government-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its own (2000
est.) |
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Highways:
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total: 901,902
km
paved: 318,371 km (including 16,571 km of expressways)
unpaved: 583,531 km (1999) |
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Waterways:
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3,000 km (including
Saint Lawrence Seaway) |
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Pipelines:
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crude and refined oil
23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km |
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Ports and harbors:
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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 |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 122 ships
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,797,240 GRT/2,680,223 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 66, cargo 13, chemical
tanker 5, combination bulk 2, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1,
petroleum tanker 18, railcar carrier 2, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea
passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a
flag of convenience: Germany 3, Monaco 16, United Kingdom 1, United
States 1 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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1,419 (2001) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 519
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 244
under 914 m: 90 (2001)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 151 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 900
1,524 to 2,437 m: 74
914 to 1,523 m: 364
under 914 m: 462 (2001) |
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Heliports:
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18 (2001) |
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Military branches:
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Canadian Armed Forces
(comprising Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air Command,
Communications Command, Training Command) |
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Military manpower - military age:
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17 years of age (2002
est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age 15-49:
8,361,475 (2002 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age 15-49:
7,139,068 (2002 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males: 217,516
(2002 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$7,860,500,000
(FY01/02) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.1% (FY01/02) |
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Transnational Issues |
Canada |
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Disputes - international:
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maritime boundary
disputes with the US (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de
Fuca, Machias Seal Island) |
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Illicit drugs:
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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
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