Canada: A Profile
This profile outlines key facts and figures, the country's political landscape, and the responsibilities of the Bank of Canada.
Key Facts and Figures
HEAD OF GOVT: Prime Minister Jean Chretien
GOVT TYPE: Federal constitutional monarchy
CAPITAL: Ottawa
CURRENCY: Canadian dollar
CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR: David Dodge
FINANCE MINISTER: Paul Martin
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER: John Manley
TRADE MINISTER: Pierre Pettigrew
LAST FEDERAL ELECTION: Nov. 27, 2000
NEXT FEDERAL ELECTION: 2004 (expected)
POPULATION: 30.6 million
PER CAPITA GDP: US$ 22,231
DEFENSE: 1.1% of GDP
AREA: 3.850 mln sq miles
DENSITY: 33.8 people/sq mile
MAIN CITIES: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Halifax, Winnipeg.
KEY NATURAL RESOURCES: Natural gas, oil, grains, oilseeds, gold, copper, iron ore, nickel, potash, wood, zinc, uranium.
KEY INDUSTRIES: automotive, pulp and paper, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, mining, fossil fuels, forestry and agriculture.
MAIN TRADE PARTNERS: NAFTA (mostly U.S. but also Mexico to a much lesser extent, Japan, U.K., Germany, South Korea).
MAIN EXPORTS: Automotive vehicles and parts, machinery and equipment, high-technology, oil, natural gas, metals, farm and forest products.