Canada
confederation with parliamentary democracyIndependence 1 July 1867 (from UK)
Canada as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 90 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.
No fields match. Try a shorter word.
Geography
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic | Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US
15 fieldsLand useshare of 9,976,140 sq km
Location
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US
International disputes
maritime boundary disputes with the US; Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France
Terrain
mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
- 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
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
- 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
- international agreements:
- party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, 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, Wetlands, Whaling;
- signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94
Geographic 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 161 km of the US/Canada border
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Religions(1991)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 21% (male 3,032,458; female 2,889,603)
- 15-64 years:
- 67% (male 9,663,955; female 9,660,648)
- 65 years and over:
- 12% (male 1,501,542; female 2,072,465) (July 1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.72 male(s)/female
- all ages:
- 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Ethnic divisions
British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other European 20%, indigenous Indian and Eskimo 1.5%, other, mostly Asian 11.5%
Government
Confederation with parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Romeo LeBLANC (since 8 February 1995), who was appointed by the queen; Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993) was appointed by the governor general
22 fieldsLegislature, 295 seatsone dot, one seat
Administrative divisions
10 provinces and 2 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Constitution
amended British North America Act 1867 patriated to Canada 17 April 1982; 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
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Romeo LeBLANC (since 8 February 1995), who was appointed by the queen
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993) was appointed by the governor general;
- on 25 October 1993;
- Deputy Prime Minister Sheila COPPS (since NA);
- note - the prime minister is the leader of the political party commanding a majority in the House of Commons
- cabinet:
- Federal Ministry was chosen by the prime minister from members of his own party sitting in Parliament
Senate (Senat)
consisting of a body whose members are appointed to serve until 75 years of age by the governor general and selected on the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit is 104 senators
House of Commons (Chambre des Communes)
- elections last held 25 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998);
- results - percent of votes by party NA;
- seats - (295 total) Liberal Party 179, Bloc Quebecois 53, Reform Party 52, New Democratic Party 8, Progressive Conservative Party 2, independents 1
Political parties and leaders
- Liberal Party, Jean CHRETIEN;
- Bloc Quebecois, Michel GAUTHIER;
- Reform Party, Preston MANNING;
- New Democratic Party, Alexa MCDONOUGH;
- Progressive Conservative Party, Jean CHAREST
International organization participation
ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), 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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMIR, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIEN
- chancery:
- 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 682-1740
FAX
[1] (202) 682-7726
- consulate(s) general:
- Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle
- consulate(s):
- Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Princeton, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant)
- embassy:
- 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa
- 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
Flag
three vertical bands of red (hoist side), 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 per capita output, | market-oriented economic system, and pattern of production.
21 fieldsGDP composition by sector(1994)
Installed generating capacity, 108,090,000 kW
Economic overview
As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in per capita output, market-oriented economic system, and pattern of production. 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.
Canada started the 1990s in recession, and real rates of growth have averaged only 1.1% so far this decade. Because of slower growth, Canada still faces high unemployment and a large public sector debt. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, however, Canada will enjoy better economic prospects in the future.
The continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas is raising the possibility of a split in the confederation, making foreign investors somewhat edgy.
Labor force
13.38 million; by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 14%, agriculture 4%, construction 3%, other 4% (1988)
Industries
processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas
Agriculture
- wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables;
- dairy products;
- forest products;
- commercial fisheries provide annual catch of 1.5 million metric tons, of which 75% is exported
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
Exports
$185 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
- commodities:
- newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, motor vehicles and parts; telecommunications equipment
- partners:
- US, Japan, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China
Imports
$166.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
- commodities:
- crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods, electronic computers; telecommunications equipment and parts
- partners:
- US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea
Economic aid
donor: ODA, $2.373 billion (1993) note: ODA and OOF commitments, $10.1 billion (1986-91)
Exchange rates
Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.3666 (January 1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991)
Transportation
8 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 1,138 in all
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 70,176 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, which has no trackage of its own
- standard gauge:
- 70,000 km 1.435-m gauge (63 km electrified)
- narrow gauge:
- 176 km 0.914-m gauge (1995)
Highways
- total:
- 849,404 km
- paved:
- 297,291 km (including 15,983 km of expressways)
- unpaved:
- 552,113 km (1991 est.)
Ports
Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Montreal, New Westminister, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), Saint John's (Newfoundland), Seven Islands, Sydney, Three Rivers, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor
Merchant marine
- total:
- 62 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 573,089 GRT/804,436 DWT
- ships by type:
- bulk 17, cargo 9, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 15, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2
note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes (1995 est.)
Communications
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), Royal Canadian Mounted | Police (RCMP)
9 fieldsTelephone 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)
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), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Manpower availability
- males age 15-49:
- 7,645,245
- males fit for military service:
- 6,575,057
- males reach military age (17) annually:
- 197,688 (1996 est.)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Canada.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/canada/1996.