Canada

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For other uses of "Canada" or  "Canadian", see Canada (disambiguation) and  Canadian (disambiguation).

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Canada
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: A Mari Usque Ad Mare (Latin for "From Sea to Sea")
Anthem: O Canada Royal anthem: God Save the Queen
Capital	Ottawa 45°24′N 75°40′W
Largest city	Toronto
Official languages	English, French
Government	Parliamentary democracy and federal constitutional monarchy
- Monarch	Queen Elizabeth II
- Governor General	Michaëlle Jean
- Prime Minister	Stephen Harper
Establishment
- British North America Act	July 1, 1867
- Statute of    Westminster	December 11, 1931
- Canada Act	April 17, 1982
and  outlying territories by area">Area
- Total	9,984,670 km² ( and  outlying territories by area">2nd) 3,854,085 sq mi
- Water (%)	8.92 (891,163 km²)
Population
- 2006 estimate	32,623,490 (36th)
- 2001 census	30,007,094
- Density	3.2/km² (219th) 8.3/sq mi
GDP (PPP)	2005 estimate
- Total	$1.105 trillion (11th)
- Per capita	$34,273 (7th)
HDI  (2004)	0.950 (high) (6th)
Currency	Canadian dollar ($) (CAD)
Time zone	(UTC-3.5 to -8)
- Summer (DST)	(UTC-2.5 to -7)
Internet TLD	.ca
Calling code	++1

Canada (pronounced /'kænədə/ in English and  /kanadɔ/ in Canadian French^[1]) is  the world's second-largest country by total area, occupying most of northern North America. Extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and  northward into the Arctic Ocean, Canada shares land borders with the United States to the south and  to the northwest.

Inhabited first by aboriginal peoples, Canada was founded as a union of British and  former French colonies. Canada gained independence from the United Kingdom in an  incremental process that began in 1867 and  ended in 1982; it  remains a Commonwealth Realm.

Canada is  a federal constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy. Comprising ten  and  territories of Canada">provinces and  three  and  territories of Canada">territories, Canada is  a bilingual and  multicultural country, with both English and  French as official languages at the federal level. A technologically advanced and  industrialized nation, Canada maintains a diversified economy that is  heavily reliant on trade—particularly with the United States, with which Canada has had a long and  complex relationship—and its abundant natural resources.

Origin and  history of the name

Main article: Canada's name

The name Canada comes from a word in the language of the St. Lawrence Iroquoians, canada, meaning "village" or  "settlement". In 1535, inhabitants of the present-day Quebec City region used the word to direct Jacques Cartier towards the village of Stadacona.^[2] Cartier used the word 'Canada' to refer to not only that village, but the entire area subject to Donnacona, Chief at Stadacona; by 1547, maps began referring to this and  the surrounding area as Canada.^[3]

The French colony of Canada, New France, was set up along the Saint Lawrence River and  the northern shores of the Great Lakes. Later, it  was split into two British colonies, called Upper Canada and  Lower Canada until their union as the British Province of Canada in 1841. Upon Confederation in 1867, the name Canada was officially adopted for the new dominion, which was referred to as the Dominion of Canada until the 1950s. As Canada increasingly acquired political authority and  autonomy from Britain, the federal government increasingly simply used Canada on state documents and  treaties. The Canada Act 1982 refers only to "Canada" and, as such, it  is currently the only legal (and bilingual) name. This was reflected again  in 1982 with the renaming of the national holiday from Dominion Day to Canada Day.

History

Main articles: History of Canada and  Timeline of Canadian history

Aboriginal tradition holds that the First Peoples inhabited parts of Canada for a very long time, and  some archaeological studies support human presence in northern Yukon to 26,500 years ago, and  in southern Ontario to 9,500 years ago.^[4][5] Europeans first arrived when the Vikings settled briefly at L'Anse aux Meadows circa AD 1000. The next Europeans to explore Canada's Atlantic coast included John Cabot in 1497 and  Martin Frobisher in 1576, for England; and  Jacques Cartier in 1534 and  Samuel de Champlain in 1603, for France. The first permanent European settlements were established by the French at Port Royal in 1605 and  Quebec City in 1608, and  by the English in Newfoundland, around 1610. European explorers and  trappers unwittingly brought diseases that spread rapidly through native trade routes and  decimated the Aboriginal population.

The Death of General Wolfe, painted by Benjamin West, depicts British General Wolfe's death after his victory at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759.

 and  names of Canada's provinces and  territories."> and  names of Canada's provinces and  territories." width="250" height="216" longdesc="../../../c/a/n/Image%7ECanada_provinces_evolution-250.gif_bdbb.html" />

Evolution of the borders and  names of Canada's provinces and  territories.

For much of the seventeenth century, the English and  French colonies in North America were able to develop in relative isolation from each other. French colonists extensively settled the St. Lawrence River valley, while English colonists largely settled in the Thirteen Colonies to the south. However, as competition for territory, naval bases, furs and  fish escalated, several wars broke out between the French, the English, and  native tribes. The  and  Iroquois Wars">French and  Iroquois Wars erupted between the Iroquois Confederation and  the Algonquin, with their French allies, over control of the fur trade. A series of four  and  Indian Wars">French and  Indian Wars were fought between 1689 and  1763; these culminated with a complete British victory in the Seven Years' War. By the terms of Treaty of Paris in 1763, Britain gained control of all of France's North American territory east of the Mississippi River, except for the remote islands of  and  Miquelon">St. Pierre and  Miquelon.

Following the war, the British found themselves in possession of a mostly French-speaking, Roman Catholic territory, whose inhabitants had recently taken up arms against Britain. To avert conflict, Britain passed the Quebec Act of 1774, re-establishing the French language, Catholic faith, and  French civil law in Quebec. The act had unforeseen consequences for Britain, however, as it  angered many residents of the Thirteen Colonies, helping to fuel the American Revolution.^[6] Following the independence of the United States, approximately 50,000 United Empire Loyalists moved to Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and  Newfoundland.^[7] As they were unwelcome in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick was carved out of that colony for them in 1784. To accommodate the English-speaking Loyalists in Quebec, the province was divided into francophone Lower Canada and  anglophone Upper Canada under the Constitutional Act in 1791.

Canada was a major front in the War of 1812 between the United States and  British Empire and  its successful defence had important long-term effects on Canada, including the building of a sense of unity and  nationalism among British North Americans. Large-scale immigration to Canada began in 1815 from Britain and  Ireland. A series of agreements led to long-term peace between Canada and  the United States, interrupted only briefly by raids made by political insurgents such as the Hunters' Lodges and  the Fenian Brotherhood.

Following the failed Rebellions of 1837, which demanded responsible government, colonial officials studied the political situation and  issued the Durham Report in 1839. One goal—which proved unacceptable for the alliance of anglophone and  francophone reformers that had rebelled in 1837—was to assimilate the French Canadians into British culture.^[8] The Canadas were merged into a single, quasi-federal colony, the United Province of Canada, with the Act of Union (1840). The signing of the Oregon Treaty by Britain and  the United States in 1846 ended the Oregon boundary dispute, extending the border westward along the 49th parallel and  ending joint occupation of the Oregon Country/Columbia District. This led to the creation of the Colony of Vancouver Island in 1849 and, with the outbreak of the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, the colony of British Columbia in 1858, but both were entirely separate from the United Province of Canada. By the late 1850s, leaders in Canada launched a series of western exploratory expeditions, with the intention of assuming control of Rupert's Land and  the Arctic region. The Canadian population grew rapidly because of high birth rates; high European immigration was offset by emigration to the United States, especially by French Canadians moving to New England.

Sir John A. Macdonald, first Prime Minister.

Following the Great Coalition, the Charlottetown Conference, the Quebec Conference of 1864, and  the London Conference of 1866, the three colonies—Canada, Nova Scotia, and  New Brunswick—undertook the process of Confederation. The British North America Act created "one dominion under the name of Canada", with four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and  New Brunswick.^[9] After Canada assumed control of Rupert's Land and  the North-Western Territory, which together formed the Northwest Territories in 1870, inattention to the Métis led to the Red River Rebellion and  ultimately to the creation of the province of Manitoba and  its entry into Confederation in July 1870. British Columbia and  Vancouver Island (which had  and  British Columbia">united in 1866) and  the colony of Prince Edward Island joined the Confederation in 1871 and  1873, respectively. To connect the union and  assert authority over the western provinces, Canada constructed three trans-continental railways, most notably the Canadian Pacific Railway, encouraged immigrants to develop the prairies with the Dominion Lands Act, and  established the North West Mounted Police. As settlers went to the prairies on the railway and  the population grew, regions of the Northwest Territories were given provincial status forming Alberta and  Saskatchewan in 1905.

Canadian soldiers advance behind a tank at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917.

Canada automatically entered the First World War in 1914 with Britain's declaration of war, and  sent formed divisions, composed almost entirely of volunteers, to the Western Front to fight as a national contingent. Casualties were so high that Prime Minister Robert Borden was forced to bring in conscription in 1917; this move was extremely unpopular in Quebec, resulting in his Conservative party losing support in that province. Although the Liberals were deeply divided over conscription, they became the dominant political party.

In 1919, Canada joined the League of Nations in its own right, and  in 1931 the Statute of Westminster confirmed that no act of the British Parliament would extend to Canada without its consent. At the same time, the worldwide Great Depression of 1929 affected Canadians of every class; the rise of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in Alberta and  Saskatchewan presaged a welfare state as pioneered by Tommy Douglas in the 1940s and  1950s. After supporting appeasement of Germany in the late 1930s, Liberal Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King secured Parliament’s approval for entry into the Second World War in September 1939, after Germany invaded Poland. The first Canadian Army units arrived in Britain in December 1939. ^[10] The economy boomed during the war mainly due to the amount of military materiel being produced for Canada, Britain, China and  the Soviet Union. Canada finished the war with one of the largest militaries in the world.^[10] In 1949, the formerly independent Dominion of Newfoundland joined the Confederation as Canada's 10th province.

By Canada's centennial in 1967, heavy post-war immigration from various war-ravaged European countries had changed the country's demographics.^[11] In addition, throughout the Vietnam War, thousands of American draft dodgers fled to and  settled in various parts of Canada.^[12][13] Increased immigration, combined with the baby boom, an  economic strength paralleling that of the 1960s United States, and  reaction to the Quiet Revolution in Quebec, initiated a new type of Canadian nationalism.

At a meeting of First Ministers in November 1981, the federal and  provincial governments agreed to the patriation of the constitution, with procedures for amending it. Despite the fact that the Quebec government did not agree to the changes, on 17 April 1982, Canada, by Proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II, patriated its Constitution from Britain, thereby making Canada wholly sovereign, though the two countries continue to share the same monarch.

After Quebec underwent profound social and  economic changes during the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s, some Québécois began pressing for greater provincial autonomy, or  partial or  complete independence from Canada. Alienation between English-speaking Canadians and  the Québécois over the language, cultural and  social divide had been exacerbated by many events, including the Conscription Crisis of 1944. While a referendum on sovereignty-association in 1980 was rejected by a solid majority of the population, a second referendum in 1995 was rejected by a margin of just 50.6% to 49.4%.^[14] In 1997, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled unilateral secession by a province to be unconstitutional; Quebec's sovereignty movement has continued nonetheless. ^[14]

Economic integration with the United States has increased significantly since World War II. The Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement of 1987 was a defining moment in integrating the two countries. In recent decades, Canadians have  worried about their cultural autonomy as American television shows, movies and  corporations became omnipresent.^[15] However, Canadians take special pride in their system of universal health care and  their commitment to multiculturalism.^[16]

Government

Main articles: Government of Canada, Politics of Canada, and  Monarchy in Canada

Parliament Hill, Ottawa.

Canada is  a constitutional monarchy with Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada as head of state^[17][18], and  a parliamentary democracy with a federal system of parliamentary government and  strong democratic traditions.

Canada's constitution governs the legal framework of the country and  consists of written text and  unwritten traditions and  conventions.^[19] The Constitution includes the  and  Freedoms">Canadian Charter of Rights and  Freedoms, which guarantees basic rights and  freedoms for Canadians that, generally, cannot be overridden by legislation of any level of government in Canada. it  contains, however, a " and  Freedoms">notwithstanding clause", which allows the federal parliament and  the provincial legislatures the power to override some other sections of the Charter temporarily, for a period of five years.

The position of Prime Minister, Canada's head of government, belongs to the leader of the political party that can obtain the confidence of a majority in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister and  their Cabinet are  formally appointed by the Governor General (who is  the Monarch's representative in Canada). However, the Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet, and  by convention, the Governor General respects the Prime Minister's choices. The Cabinet is  traditionally drawn from members of the Prime Minister's party in both legislative houses, and  mostly from the House of Commons. Executive power is  exercised by the Prime Minister and  Cabinet, all of whom are  sworn into the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, and  become Ministers of the Crown. The Prime Minister exercises vast political power, especially in the appointment of other officials within the government and  civil service. Michaëlle Jean has served as Governor General since September 25, 2005, and  Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party, has served as Prime Minister since February 6, 2006.

The federal parliament is  made up of the Queen and  two houses: an  elected House of Commons and  an appointed Senate. Each member in the House of Commons is  elected by simple plurality in a "riding" or  electoral district; general elections are  called by the Governor General when the Prime Minister so advises. While there is  no minimum term for a Parliament, a new election must be called within five years of the last general election. Members of the Senate, whose seats are  apportioned on a regional basis, are  chosen by the Prime Minister and  formally appointed by the Governor General, and  serve until age 75.

Canada's four major political parties are  the Conservative Party of Canada, Liberal Party of Canada, New Democratic Party (NDP), and  the Bloc Québécois. The current government is  formed by the Conservative Party of Canada. While the Green Party of Canada and  other smaller parties do not have  current representation in Parliament, the list of historical parties with elected representation is  substantial.

Law

Main article: Law of Canada

The Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa, west of Parliament Hill.

Canada's judiciary plays an  important role in interpreting laws and  has the power to strike down laws that violate the Constitution. The Supreme Court of Canada is  the highest court and  final arbiter and  is led by the Right Honourable Madam Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, P.C. Its nine members are  appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. All judges at the superior and  appellate levels are  appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the prime minister and  minister of justice, after consultation with non-governmental legal bodies. The federal cabinet appoints justices to superior courts at the provincial and  territorial levels. Judicial posts at the lower provincial and  territorial levels are  filled by their respective governments (see Court system of Canada for more  detail).

Common law prevails everywhere except in Quebec, where civil law predominates. Criminal law is  solely a federal responsibility and  is uniform throughout Canada. Law enforcement, including criminal courts, is  a provincial responsibility, but in rural areas of most provinces policing is  contracted to the federal Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Foreign relations and  military

Main articles: Foreign relations of Canada, Canadian Forces, and  Military history of Canada

The Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa.

Canada has a close relationship with the United States, sharing the world's longest undefended border, co-operating on some military campaigns and  exercises, and  being each other's largest trading partners. Canada also shares history and  long relationships with the United Kingdom and  France, the two former imperial powers most influential in its founding. These relations extend to other former-members of the British and  French empires, through Canada's membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and  La Francophonie.

Canada joined the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1990 and  hosted the OAS General Assembly in Windsor in June 2000, and  the third Summit of the Americas in Quebec City in April 2001. Canada seeks to expand its ties to Pacific Rim economies through membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC).

Over the past sixty years, Canada has been an  advocate for multilateralism, making efforts to resolve global issues in collaboration with other nations.^[20][21] This was clearly demonstrated during the Suez Crisis of 1956 when Lester B. Pearson eased tensions by proposing peacekeeping efforts and  the inception of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force.^[22] In that spirit, Canada developed and  has tried to maintain a leading role in UN peacekeeping efforts; Canada has served in 50 peacekeeping missions, including every UN peacekeeping effort until 1989.^[23] Canada's UN peacekeeping contributions have  diminished over the first years of the 21st century. Although Canadian foreign policy is  often similar to that of the United States, Canada has always maintained an  independent foreign policy in such areas as maintaining full diplomatic and  trade relations with Cuba.

Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.

A founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Canada currently employs about 64,000 regular and  26,000 reserve military personnel.^[24] The unified Canadian Forces (CF) comprise the army, navy, and  air force. Major CF equipment deployed includes 1,400 armoured fighting vehicles, 34 combat vessels, and  861 aircraft.^[25]

In addition to major participation in the Second Boer War, the First World War, the Second World War, and  the Korean War, Canada has maintained forces in international missions under the United Nations and  NATO since 1950, including peacekeeping missions, various missions in the former Yugoslavia, and  support to coalition forces in the First Gulf War. Since 2001, Canada has had troops deployed in Afghanistan as part of the U.S. stabilization force and  the UN-authorized, NATO-commanded International Security Assistance Force. Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) has participated in three major relief efforts in the past two years; the two-hundred member team has been deployed in relief operations after the December 2004 tsunami in South Asia, the Hurricane Katrina in September 2005 and  the Kashmir earthquake in October 2005.

Administrative divisions

Main article:  and  territories of Canada">Provinces and  territories of Canada

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A geopolitical map of Canada, exhibiting its  and  territories of Canada">ten provinces and  three territories.

Canada is  composed of ten provinces and  three territories. The provinces are  Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick,  and  Labrador">Newfoundland and  Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and  Saskatchewan. The three territories are  the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and  Yukon Territory. The provinces have  a large degree of autonomy from the federal government, the territories somewhat less. Each has its own  and  territorial symbols">provincial or  territorial symbols.

The provinces are  responsible for most of Canada's social programs (such as health care, education, and  welfare) and  together collect more  revenue than the federal government, an  almost unique structure among federations in the world. Using its spending powers, the federal government can initiate national policies in provincial areas, such as the Canada Health Act; the provinces can opt out of these, but rarely do so in practice. Equalization payments are  made by the federal government to ensure that reasonably uniform standards of services and  taxation are  kept between the richer and  poorer provinces.

All provinces have  unicameral, elected  and  territories">legislatures headed by a Premier selected in the same way as the Prime Minister of Canada. Each province also has a Lieutenant-Governor representing the Queen, analogous to the Governor General of Canada, appointed on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Canada, though with increasing levels of consultation with provincial governments in recent years.

Geography and  climate

Main article: Geography of Canada

 is  prominent in the Arctic and  through the Coast Mountains and  Saint Elias Mountains, and  the relatively flat Prairies facilitate agriculture. The Great Lakes feed the St. Lawrence River (in the southeast) where lowlands host much of Canada's population."> is  prominent in the Arctic and  through the Coast Mountains and  Saint Elias Mountains, and  the relatively flat Prairies facilitate agriculture. The Great Lakes feed the St. Lawrence River (in the southeast) where lowlands host much of Canada's population." width="350" height="219" longdesc="../../../c/a/n/Image%7ECanada-satellite.jpg_706a.html" />

A satellite composite image of Canada. Boreal forests prevail throughout the country, ice is  prominent in the Arctic and  through the Coast Mountains and  Saint Elias Mountains, and  the relatively flat Prairies facilitate agriculture. The Great Lakes feed the St. Lawrence River (in the southeast) where lowlands host much of Canada's population.

Canada occupies most of the northern portion of North America. it  shares land borders with the contiguous United States to the south and  with the US state of Alaska to the northwest, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west; to the north lies the Arctic Ocean. Since 1925, Canada has claimed the portion of the Arctic between 60°W and  141°W longitude;^[26] this claim is  not universally recognized. The northernmost settlement in Canada (and in the world) is  Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert on the northern tip of Ellesmere Island—latitude 82.5°N—just 817 kilometres (450 nautical miles) from the North Pole.^[27] Canada is  the world's second-largest country in total area, after Russia.

The population density of 3.5 people per square kilometre (9.1/mi²) is  among the lowest in the world.^[28] The most densely populated part of the country is  the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor along the Great Lakes and  Saint Lawrence River in the southeast.^[29] To the north of this region is  the broad Canadian Shield, an  area of rock scoured clean by the last ice age, thinly soiled, rich in minerals, and  dotted with lakes and  rivers—Canada by far has more  lakes than any other country in the world and  has a large amount of the world's freshwater.^[30][31]

 is  the largest component of Niagara Falls, one of the world's greatest waterfalls, a major source of hydroelectric power, and  a tourist destination."> is  the largest component of Niagara Falls, one of the world's greatest waterfalls, a major source of hydroelectric power, and  a tourist destination." width="250" height="188" longdesc="../../../n/i/a/Image%7ENiagara_Falls_and_Maid_of_the_Mist_2005.JPG_d7a2.html" />

The Horseshoe Falls in Ontario is  the largest component of Niagara Falls, one of the world's greatest waterfalls^[32], a major source of hydroelectric power, and  a tourist destination.

In eastern Canada, the Saint Lawrence River widens into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the world's largest estuary; the island of Newfoundland lies at its mouth. South of the Gulf, the Canadian Maritimes protrude eastward from the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. New Brunswick and  Nova Scotia are  divided by the Bay of Fundy, which experiences the world's largest tidal variations. Ontario and  Hudson Bay dominate central Canada. West of Ontario, the broad, flat Canadian Prairies spread toward the Rocky Mountains, which separate them from British Columbia.

Northern Canadian vegetation tapers from coniferous forests to tundra and  finally to Arctic barrens in the far north. The northern Canadian mainland is  ringed with a vast archipelago containing some of the world's largest islands.

Average winter and  summer high temperatures across Canada vary depending on the location. Winters can be harsh in many regions of the country, particularly in the Prairie provinces, where daily average temperatures are  near −15°C (5°F), but can drop below -40°C (-40°F) with severe wind chills. ^[33] Coastal British Columbia is  an exception and  enjoys a temperate climate with a mild and  rainy winter.

On the east and  west coast average high temperatures are  generally in the low 20°C (68 to 74°F), while between the coasts the average summer high temperature range between 25°C to 30°C (78 to 86°F) with occasional extreme heat in some interior locations exceeding 40°C (104°F). ^[34][35] For a more  complete description of climate across Canada see Environment Canada's Website.^[36]

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Canada and  Economic history of Canada

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Five denominations of Canadian banknotes, depicting (from top to bottom) Wilfrid Laurier, John A. Macdonald, Queen Elizabeth II, William Lyon Mackenzie King, and  Robert Borden.

Canada is  one of the world's wealthiest nations with a high per capita income, a member of the  and  Development">Organisation for Economic Co-operation and  Development (OECD) and  Group of Eight (G8). Canada is  a free market economy with slightly more  government intervention than the United States, but much less  than most European nations.^[37] Canada has traditionally had a lower per capita gross domestic product (GDP) than its southern neighbour (whereas wealth has been more  equally divided), but higher than the large western European economies.^[38][39] For the past decade, the Canadian economy has been growing rapidly with low unemployment and  large government surpluses on the federal level. Today Canada closely resembles the U.S. in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and  high living standards.^[40] While as of October 2006, Canada's national unemployment rate of 6.3% is  among its lowest in 30 years, provincial unemployment rates vary from a low of 3.6% in Alberta to a high of 14.6% in Newfoundland and  Labrador.^[41]

In the past century, the growth of the manufacturing, mining, and  service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and  urban. As with other first world nations, the Canadian economy is  dominated by the service industry, which employs about three quarters of Canadians.^[42] However, Canada is  unusual among developed countries in the importance of the primary sector, with the logging and  oil industries being two of Canada's most important.

Canada is  one of the few developed nations that is  a net exporter of energy.^[42] Canada has vast deposits of natural gas on the east coast and  large oil and  gas resources centred in Alberta, and  also present in neighbouring British Columbia and  Saskatchewan. The vast Athabasca Tar Sands give Canada the world's second largest reserves of oil behind Saudi Arabia.^[43] In Quebec, British Columbia, Newfoundland & Labrador, Ontario and  Manitoba, hydroelectric power is  a cheap and  relatively environmentally friendly source of abundant energy.

Canada is  one of the world's most important suppliers of agricultural products, with the Canadian Prairies one of the most important suppliers of wheat and  other grains.^[44] Canada is  the world's largest producer of zinc and  uranium and  a world leader in many other natural resources such as gold, nickel, aluminum, and  lead;^[45] many, if not most, towns in the northern part of the country, where agriculture is  difficult, exist because of a nearby mine or  source of timber. Canada also has a sizeable manufacturing sector, centred in southern Ontario and  Quebec, with the automobile industry especially important.

Canada is  highly dependent on international trade, especially trade with the United States. The 1989 Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and  1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which included Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and  economic integration with the U.S. Since 2001, Canada has successfully avoided economic recession and  has maintained the best overall economic performance in the G8.^[46] Since the mid 1990s, Canada's federal government has posted annual budgetary surpluses and  has steadily paid down the national debt.

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Canada, List of cities in Canada, List of Canadians by ethnicity, and  Immigration to Canada

The 2001 national census recorded 30,007,094 people; the population was estimated by Statistics Canada to be 32.623 million people in September 2006.^[47] Population growth is  largely accomplished through immigration and, to a lesser extent, natural growth. About three-quarters of Canada's population live within 160 kilometres (100 mi) of the U.S. border.^[48] A similar proportion live in urban areas concentrated in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor (notably the Golden Horseshoe - South Central Ontario, Montreal, and  Ottawa metropolitan areas, the BC Lower Mainland (Vancouver and  environs), and  the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor in Alberta.^[49]

 is  one of the world's most multicultural cities."> is  one of the world's most multicultural cities." width="250" height="188" longdesc="../../../c/n/t/Image%7ECntower2.jpg_f020.html" />

Toronto, Ontario is  one of the world's most multicultural cities.^[50]

Canada is  an ethnically diverse nation. According to the 2001 census, it  has 34 ethnic groups with at least one hundred thousand members each. The largest ethnic group is  "Canadian" (39.4%), followed by English (20.2%), French (15.8%), Scottish (14.0%), Irish (12.9%), German (9.3%), Italian (4.3%), Chinese (3.7%), Ukrainian (3.6%) and  First Nations (3.4%).^[51] Canada's aboriginal population is  growing almost twice as fast as the rest of the Canadian population. In 2001, 13.4% of the population belonged to visible minorities.[1] According to the federal government, Canada has the highest per capita immigration rate in the world,^[52] driven by economic, family reunification, and  humanitarian reasons. Immigrants are  particularly attracted to the major urban areas of Toronto, Vancouver and  Montreal.

Canadians adhere to a wide variety of religions, as people in Canada have  the freedom of religion as one of their rights. According to 2001 census,^[53] 77.1% of Canadians identified as being Christians; of this, Catholics make up the largest group (43.6% of Canadians). The largest Protestant denomination is  the United Church of Canada; about 16.5% of Canadians declared no religious affiliation, and  the remaining 6.3% were affiliated with religions other than Christianity, of which the largest is  Islam.

In Canada, the provinces and  territories are  responsible for education; thus Canada has no national department of education. Each of the thirteen education systems are  similar while reflecting their own regional history, culture and  geography.^[54] The mandatory school age varies across Canada but generally ranges between the ages of 5-7 to 16-18,^[54] contributing to an  adult literacy rate that is  99%.^[42] Postsecondary education is  the responsibility of the provincial and  territorial governments that provide most of their funding; the federal government provides additional funding through research grants. In 2002, 43% of Canadians aged between 25 and  64 had post-secondary education; for those aged 25 to 34 the postsecondary attainment reaches 51%.^[55]

Language

Main articles: Language in Canada and  Bilingualism in Canada

 is  predominantly francophone, with a significant anglophone community."> is  predominantly francophone, with a significant anglophone community." width="250" height="187" longdesc="../../../m/o/n/Image%7EMont.jpg_362f.html" />

The population of Montreal is  predominantly francophone, with a significant anglophone community.

Canada's two official languages, English and  French, are  the mother tongues of 59.7% and  23.2% of the population, respectively.^[56] On July 7, 1969, under the Official Languages Act, French was made commensurate to English throughout the federal government. This started a process that led to Canada redefining itself as an  officially "bilingual" nation.

English and  French have  equal status in federal courts, Parliament, and  in all federal institutions. The public has the right, where there is  sufficient demand, to receive federal government services in either English or  French. While multiculturalism is  official policy, to become a citizen one must be able to speak either English or  French, and  98.5% of Canadians speak at least one (English only: 67.5%, French only: 13.3%, both: 17.7%).^[57]

French is  mostly spoken in Quebec, but there are  substantial francophone populations elsewhere, mainly in the northern parts of New Brunswick, eastern, northern and  southwestern Ontario, and  southern Manitoba. Of those who speak French as a first language, 85% live in Quebec. Ontario has the largest French population outside Quebec. French is  the official language of Quebec; New Brunswick is  the only officially bilingual province in the country.^[58] No provinces other than Quebec and  New Brunswick have  constitutionally official language(s) as such, but French is  used as a language of instruction, in courts, and  other government services in all of the majority English or  Inuktitut speaking provinces and  territories. In Ontario, French has some legal status but is  not fully co-official. Several aboriginal languages have  official status in Northwest Territories. Inuktitut is  the majority language in Nunavut, and  one of three official languages in the territory.

Non-official languages are  important in Canada, with 5,202,245 people listing one as a first language.^[56] Some significant non-official first languages include Chinese (853,745 first-language speakers), Italian (469,485), German (438,080), and  Punjabi (271,220).^[56]

Culture

Main articles: Culture of Canada, National symbols of Canada, and  Sport in Canada

 are  the federal and  national police force of Canada and  an international icon."> are  the federal and  national police force of Canada and  an international icon." width="250" height="168" longdesc="../../../r/c/m/Image%7ERCMP_officer_Expo_67.jpg_a790.html" />

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, seen here at Expo 67, are  the federal and  national police force of Canada and  an international icon.

Canadian culture has historically been heavily influenced by British, French, and  Aboriginal cultures and  traditions, and  over time has been greatly influenced by American culture because of its proximity and  the interchange of human capital between the two countries. Many forms of American media and  entertainment are  popular, if not dominant in Canada; conversely, many Canadian cultural products and  entertainers are  successful in the US and  worldwide.^[59] Many cultural products are  now marketed toward a unified "North American" market, or  a global market generally.

The creation and  preservation of distinctly Canadian culture has been partly influenced by federal government programs, laws and  institutions such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), and  the  and  Telecommunications Commission">Canadian Radio-television and  Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).^[60]

 and  traditional "big house" in Victoria, BC."> and  traditional "big house" in Victoria, BC." width="250" height="191" longdesc="../../../k/w/a/Image%7EKwakwaka%27wakw_big_house.jpg_404c.html" />

A Kwakwaka'wakw totem pole and  traditional "big house" in Victoria, BC.

As Canada is  a geographically vast and  ethnically diverse country, there are  cultural variations and  distinctions from province to province and  region to region. Canadian culture has also been greatly influenced by more  recent immigration of people from all over the world. Many Canadians value multiculturalism, indeed some see Canadian culture as being inherently multicultural.^[16] Multicultural heritage is  enshrined in  and  Freedoms">Section 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and  Freedoms.

National symbols are  influenced by natural, historical, and  First Nations sources. Particularly, the use of the maple leaf, as a Canadian symbol, dates back to the early 18th century and  is depicted on its current and  previous flags, the penny, and  on the coat of arms.^[61] Other prominent symbols include the beaver, Canada goose, common loon, the Crown, and  the RCMP.^[61]

Canada's official national sports are  ice hockey (winter) and  lacrosse (summer).^[62] Hockey is  a national pastime, and  is by far the most popular spectator sport in the country. it  is also the most popular sport Canadians play, with 1.65 million active participants in 2004.^[63] Canada's six largest metropolitan areas - Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and  Edmonton - have  franchises in the National Hockey League (NHL), and  there are  more Canadian players in the league than from all other countries combined. After hockey, other popular spectator sports include Canadian football and  curling. The Canadian Football League (CFL) is  the nation's second most popular professional sports league,^[64] and  plays a large role in Canada's national identity^[65]. Golf, baseball, skiing, soccer, volleyball, and  basketball are  also widely played at youth and  amateur levels^[63], but professional leagues and  franchises are  not as widespread. Canada will host the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and  the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and  Whistler, British Columbia.^[66][67]

International rankings

Canada was ranked number one country by the United Nations' Human Development Index 10 times out of 16 between 1980 and  2004.

See also

	Topics in Canada  edit
History	Timeline | New France | Canada under British Imperial Control (1764-1867) | Post-Confederation Canada (1867-1914) |  and  Interwar Years">Canada in the World Wars and  Interwar Years | History of Canada (1945-1960) | History of Canada (1960-1981) | History of Canada (1982-1992) | History of Canada (1992-Present) | Military history | Economic history | Constitutional history
Politics	Constitution | The Crown | Governor General | Parliament (Senate - House of Commons) | Prime Minister | Courts (Supreme Court) | Military
Geography	Appalachian Mountains | St. Lawrence River | Great Lakes | Canadian Shield | Canadian prairies | Canadian Rockies | Coast Mountains | Western Canada | Central Canada | Atlantic Canada | Northern Canada | Islands | Rivers | Extreme communities | Canadian national parks
Economy	Companies | Stock Exchange | Banking | Bank of Canada | Canadian dollar | Taxation | Health care | Transportation | Agriculture
Demographics	Languages | Immigration | Religion | 2001 Census | 2006 Census | Top 100 cities
Culture	Art | Literature | Theatre | Music | Canadian blues | Sport | Holidays | Cinema | Architecture
Symbols	Flags | National Flag | Coat of Arms | Royal symbols |  and  territorial symbols">Provincial and  territorial
Other	Famous Canadians | Fauna of Canada

Notes

References

External links

Canada Portal

Government

• Official website of the Government of Canada
• Official website of the Prime Minister of Canada
• Official website of the Governor General of Canada
• Official website of the Canadian Forces
• Official Government of Canada online Atlas of Canada
• Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations

Crown corporations

• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
• Canada Post
• Canadian Tourism Commission

Other

• Encyclopaedia Britannica, Canada - Country Page
• Culture.ca - Canada's Cultural Gateway
• Culturescope.ca - Canadian Cultural Observatory
• Canadian Studies: A Guide to the Sources
• Statistics Canada with Canada's population clock
• The Canadian Atlas Online
• Canada at The World Factbook
• UN Human Development Program: Country Fact Sheet: Canada, Statistics - Country Sheet: Canada
• Canada travel guide from Wikitravel

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 and  territories of Canada">Provinces and  territories of Canada

Provinces: British Columbia • Alberta • Saskatchewan • Manitoba • Ontario • Quebec • New Brunswick • Nova Scotia • Prince Edward Island •  and  Labrador">Newfoundland and  Labrador

Territories: Yukon • Northwest Territories • Nunavut

v • d • e

International relations of Canada

Geographical: North America (Northern America)

Historical and  cultural: Commonwealth of Nations • Commonwealth Realm • Francophonie

International organisations: UN • NATO •  and  Development">OECD • G8 • OAS

Trade agreements: NAFTA • WTO • APEC

v • d • e

Commonwealth of Nations

Sovereign States:  and  Barbuda">Antigua and  Barbuda • Australia • Bahamas • Bangladesh • Barbados • Belize • Botswana • Brunei • Cameroon • Canada • Cyprus • Dominica • Fiji • The Gambia • Ghana • Grenada • Guyana • India • Jamaica • Kenya • Kiribati • Lesotho • Malawi • Malaysia • Maldives • Malta • Mauritius • Mozambique • Namibia • Nauru • New Zealand • Nigeria • Pakistan • Papua New Guinea •  and  Nevis">Saint Kitts and  Nevis • Saint Lucia •  and  the Grenadines">Saint Vincent and  the Grenadines • Samoa • Seychelles • Sierra Leone • Singapore • Solomon Islands • South Africa • Sri Lanka • Swaziland • Tanzania • Tonga •  and  Tobago">Trinidad and  Tobago • Tuvalu • Uganda • United Kingdom • Vanuatu • Zambia
Dependencies:  and  Dhekelia">Akrotiri and  Dhekelia (Cyprus) (U.K.) •  and  Nicobar Islands">Andaman and  Nicobar Islands (India) • Anguilla (U.K.) •  and  Cartier Islands">Ashmore and  Cartier Islands (Aus.) • Australian Antarctic Territory (Aus.) • Bermuda (U.K.) • British Antarctic Territory (U.K.) • British Indian Ocean Territory (U.K.) • British Virgin Islands (U.K.) • Cayman Islands (U.K.) • Christmas Island (Aus.) • Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Aus.) • Cook Islands (N.Z.) • Coral Sea Islands (Aus.) • Falkland Islands (U.K.) • Gibraltar (U.K.) • Guernsey (U.K.) •  and  McDonald Islands">Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Aus.) • Isle of Man (U.K.) • Jersey (U.K.) • Lakshadweep (India) • Montserrat (U.K.) • Niue (N.Z.) • Norfolk Island (Aus.) • Pitcairn Islands (U.K.) • Ross Dependency (Antarctica) (N.Z.) • Saint Helena (including Ascension Island and  Tristan da Cunha) (U.K.) •  and  the South Sandwich Islands">South Georgia and  the South Sandwich Islands (U.K.) • Tokelau (N.Z.) •  and  Caicos Islands">Turks and  Caicos Islands (U.K.)

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Commonwealth Realms

 and  Barbuda">Antigua and  Barbuda • Australia • Bahamas • Barbados • Belize • Canada • Grenada • Jamaica • New Zealand • Papua New Guinea •  and  Nevis">Saint Kitts and  Nevis • Saint Lucia •  and  the Grenadines">Saint Vincent and  the Grenadines • Solomon Islands • Tuvalu • United Kingdom

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North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

Belgium • Bulgaria • Canada • Czech Republic • Denmark • Estonia • France • Germany • Greece • Hungary • Iceland • Italy • Latvia • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Netherlands • Norway • Poland • Portugal • Romania • Slovakia • Slovenia • Spain • Turkey • United Kingdom • United States

Candidate countries: Albania • Croatia • Republic of Macedonia (as FYROM)

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Francophonie

Members: Albania • Andorra • Belgium • Benin • Bulgaria • Burkina Faso • Burundi • Cambodia • Cameroon • Canada • New Brunswick • Quebec • Cape Verde • Central African Republic • Chad • Comoros • Côte d'Ivoire • Cyprus • Democratic Republic of the Congo • Djibouti • Dominica • Egypt • Equatorial Guinea • France • French Guiana • Gabon • Ghana • Guadeloupe • Guinea • Guinea-Bissau • Haiti • Laos • Lebanon • Macedonia • Madagascar • Mali • Martinique • Mauritania • Mauritius • Morocco • Niger • Republic of the Congo • Romania • Rwanda • Saint Lucia •  and  Príncipe">São Tomé and  Príncipe • Senegal • Seychelles •  and  Miquelon">Saint-Pierre and  Miquelon • Switzerland • Togo • Tunisia • Vanuatu • Vietnam

Observers: Armenia • Austria • Croatia • Czech Republic • Georgia • Hungary • Lithuania • Mozambique • Poland • Serbia • Slovakia • Slovenia • Ukraine