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Institutions in charge of migration issues
Interesting documents:
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Background: A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Canada's paramount political problem is meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and education services after a decade of budget cuts. The issue of reconciling Quebec's francophone heritage with the majority anglophone Canadian population has moved to the back burner in recent years; support for separatism abated after the Quebec government's referendum on independence failed to pass in October of 1995.
Canadian dollar (CAD) Currency code: CAD Exchange rates: 1 US dollar = 0.96 Canadian dollars
Location: 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 Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 95 00 W Area: Total: 9,984,670
sq km Area - comparative: Somewhat larger than the US Land boundaries: Total: 8,893 km
Coastline: 202,080 km Climate: Varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast Elevation extremes: Lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m Natural resources: Iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower 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 east of the mountains Geography - note: Second-largest country in world (after Russia).
Population: 34,108,752 (2010 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.2%
(male 3,038,800; female 2,890,579) Median age: Total: 38.2 years
Net migration rate: 5.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) Nationality: Noun: Canadian(s)
Ethnic groups: British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26% Religions: Roman Catholic
46%, Protestant 36%, other 18% Languages: English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5% Literacy: Definition: age
15 and over can read and write
Country name: Canada Government type: Confederation with parliamentary democracy Capital: Ottawa Administrative divisions: 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* Independence: 1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (independence recognized) 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. Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: Chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Adrienne CLARKSON (since 7 October 1999) Legislative branch: 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 105 senators)
and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308 seats; members
elected by direct, popular vote to serve for up to five-year terms)
Judicial branch: 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) International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MICAH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC Flag description: Two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white Economy Economy - overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 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 sluggishness in the United States in 2001-02 had a negative impact on the Canadian economy. Real growth averaged nearly 3% during 1993-2000, but declined in 2001, with moderate recovery in 2002-03. Agriculture - products: Wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish Industries: Transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products, petroleum and natural gas Exports - commodities: Motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum Exports - partners: US 86.6%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.4% (2003) Imports - commodities: Machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods Imports - partners: US 60.6%, China 5.6%, Japan 4.1% (2003) Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: $36.27 billion (2003) Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 19,950,900 (2003) Telephones - mobile cellular: 13,221,800 (2003) Telephone system: General assessment:
excellent service provided by modern technology Radio broadcast stations: AM 535, FM 53, shortwave 6 (1998) Television broadcast stations: 80 (plus many repeaters) (1997) Internet country code: .ca Transportation Railways: Total: 48,909 km Highways: Total: 1,408,800
km Waterways: 631 km Pipelines: Crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km (2003) 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: 1,357 (2003 est.) Heliports: 12 (2003 est.)
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Regional Conference on Migration