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Canada - FACTS AND INFORMATION
Resources, Economy, Government, Environment, Military, Police, etc...
A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, from 1867 onwards Canada has enjoyed de facto independence while retaining, even to the present day, certain formal ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US. Its paramount political problem slightly continues to be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of the country.
GEOGRAPHY
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.
Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US.
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
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 -- 5,950 m
Natural Resources:
Nickel, Zinc, Copper, Gold, Lead, Molybdenum, Potash, Silver, Fish, Timber, Wildlife, Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas
LAND USE:
Arable Land: 5%
Permanent Crops: 0%
Forests and Woodland: 54%
Other: 38%
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
PEOPLE
Ethnic groups: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other European 20%, Amerindian 1.5%, other, mostly Asian 11.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 45%, United Church 12%, Anglican 8%, other 35% (1991)
Languages: English (official), French (official)
POLITICAL
Government type: Federation 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: 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.
Executive branch:
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.
Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General; referred as “The Crown”.
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Cabinet:
Federal Ministry, chosen by the Prime Minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament.
Legislative branch:
Bicameral Parliament, consists of the Senate (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 (301 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms).
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Prime Minister through the Governor General.
International Organization Participation:
ACCT, AfDB, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE (observer), CP, 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, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Flag description:
Three vertical bands of red, white (double width, square) and red - with a red maple leaf centered in the white band.
ECONOMY
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 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 can anticipate solid economic prospects in the future.
Industries:
Processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas
ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION SOURCE:
Fossil fuel: 20.34%
Hydro: 63.59%
Nuclear: 16.05%
Other: 0.02% (1996)
Agriculture Products:
Wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish
Exports:
Motor vehicles and parts, newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, telecommunications equipment
Exports Partners:
US 81%, Japan 4%, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China
Imports:
Machinery and equipment, crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods
Imports Partners:
US 76%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea
Fiscal year: 1 April""31 March
COMMUNICATIONS
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)
Radio Broadcast Stations: AM - 334 Ch, FM - 35 Ch, Shortwave - 7 Ch (one of the shortwave stations, Radio Canada International, has six transmitters, 48 frequencies, and broadcasts in seven languages; the transmissions are relayed by repeaters in Europe and Asia)
Television Telecast Stations: 80 (in addition, there are many repeaters)
Television Standard: NTSC
TRANSPORTATION
Railways:
Total: 67,773 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 RAIL”, which has no trackage of its own.
Standard Gauge: 67,773 km 1.435-m gauge (183 km electrified)
Highways: 912,200 km
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
Airports: 1,395
MILITARY
Military branches: Canadian Armed Forces (includes Land Forces Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC, Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC)
The Canadian military is chartered as a non-agressive armed force.
POLICE
There are different types of police in Canada. There are provincial police forces in Ontario (OPP) and Quebec (Sûreté du Québec/QPP) and municipal police departments in all provinces & some major cities (eg. Toronto Police).
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) enforce federal laws throughout Canada, and serve as the provincial police in all provinces and territories except Ontario and Quebec, as well as in some municipalities.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Qorax
Resources, Economy, Government, Environment, Military, Police, etc...
A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, from 1867 onwards Canada has enjoyed de facto independence while retaining, even to the present day, certain formal ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US. Its paramount political problem slightly continues to be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of the country.
GEOGRAPHY
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.
Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US.
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
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 -- 5,950 m
Natural Resources:
Nickel, Zinc, Copper, Gold, Lead, Molybdenum, Potash, Silver, Fish, Timber, Wildlife, Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas
LAND USE:
Arable Land: 5%
Permanent Crops: 0%
Forests and Woodland: 54%
Other: 38%
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
PEOPLE
Ethnic groups: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other European 20%, Amerindian 1.5%, other, mostly Asian 11.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 45%, United Church 12%, Anglican 8%, other 35% (1991)
Languages: English (official), French (official)
POLITICAL
Government type: Federation 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: 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.
Executive branch:
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.
Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General; referred as “The Crown”.
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Cabinet:
Federal Ministry, chosen by the Prime Minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament.
Legislative branch:
Bicameral Parliament, consists of the Senate (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 (301 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms).
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Prime Minister through the Governor General.
International Organization Participation:
ACCT, AfDB, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE (observer), CP, 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, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Flag description:
Three vertical bands of red, white (double width, square) and red - with a red maple leaf centered in the white band.
ECONOMY
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 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 can anticipate solid economic prospects in the future.
Industries:
Processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas
ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION SOURCE:
Fossil fuel: 20.34%
Hydro: 63.59%
Nuclear: 16.05%
Other: 0.02% (1996)
Agriculture Products:
Wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish
Exports:
Motor vehicles and parts, newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, telecommunications equipment
Exports Partners:
US 81%, Japan 4%, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China
Imports:
Machinery and equipment, crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods
Imports Partners:
US 76%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea
Fiscal year: 1 April""31 March
COMMUNICATIONS
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)
Radio Broadcast Stations: AM - 334 Ch, FM - 35 Ch, Shortwave - 7 Ch (one of the shortwave stations, Radio Canada International, has six transmitters, 48 frequencies, and broadcasts in seven languages; the transmissions are relayed by repeaters in Europe and Asia)
Television Telecast Stations: 80 (in addition, there are many repeaters)
Television Standard: NTSC
TRANSPORTATION
Railways:
Total: 67,773 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 RAIL”, which has no trackage of its own.
Standard Gauge: 67,773 km 1.435-m gauge (183 km electrified)
Highways: 912,200 km
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
Airports: 1,395
MILITARY
Military branches: Canadian Armed Forces (includes Land Forces Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC, Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC)
The Canadian military is chartered as a non-agressive armed force.
POLICE
There are different types of police in Canada. There are provincial police forces in Ontario (OPP) and Quebec (Sûreté du Québec/QPP) and municipal police departments in all provinces & some major cities (eg. Toronto Police).
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) enforce federal laws throughout Canada, and serve as the provincial police in all provinces and territories except Ontario and Quebec, as well as in some municipalities.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Qorax
