Country Profile - Canada 2010
Country Profile
Canada
Economy - Overview
As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada
resembles the US in its market-oriented economic
system, pattern of production, and 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 which is 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.
Given its great natural resources, skilled labor
force and modern infrastructure, Canada has solid
economic prospects. Tight fiscal management
has produced consecutive balanced budgets since
1997, although public debate continues over
the equitable distribution of federal funds to the
Canadian provinces. Exports account for roughly
a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade
surplus with its principal trading partner, the US,
which absorbs 80% of Canadian exports each
year. Canada is the US’s largest foreign supplier
of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric
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2010
power. In 2008, Canada’s growth was greatly
affected by the global economic downturn, the US
housing slump, plunging auto sector demand, and
a drop in world commodity prices.
Canada’s economic performance, however, saw a
significant recovery in the final quarter of 2009,
with all components contributing positively to
growth (with the exception of inventories, which
decreased at an accelerating rate). In the job market,
fiscal stimulus dollars are evidently at work. Since
June, almost all industries in the construction sector
have added jobs. The largest gains have been in
heavy and civil construction jobs, the building of
highways, streets, bridges and utilities systems.
Average weekly earnings of payroll employees
were up 2.1% year-on-year in February 2010. This,
combined with falling unemployment, bodes well
for consumer spending.
Nonetheless, Canadian exporters continue to
struggle with the effects of a very strong currency,
which is felt on the pricing side and on the input
side, as Canadian input (such as labor) becomes
increasingly less cost-completive than the US.
 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Publisher
Jonathan Worrall

Director
John Pedernales

The Country Profiles are published by Mergent, Managing Editor

Peter O’Shea
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Research Analyst
Sharon Kong
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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Canada

Economic Overview
Key Economic Figures
GDP: purchasing power parity: C$1.287 trillion (2009 estimated) 
GDP - real growth rate: -2.4% (2009 estimated)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity: C$38,400 (2009 estimated)
GDP - composition by sector:
Agriculture: 2%
Industry: 28.4%
Services: 69.6% (2008 estimated)
Population below poverty line: 10.8%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a calculation that results in higher
figures than found in many comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line (2005) 
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.2% (2009 estimated)
Labor force: 18.4 million (2009 estimated)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 2.0%, manufacturing 13.0%, construction 6.0%, services 76.0%, other 3.0% (2006)
Unemployment rate: 8.5% (2009 estimated)
Current Budget Revenues: C$514.5 billion
Current Budget Expenditure: C$547.2 billion (2009 estimated)

International Trade
Total exports: C$298.5 billion (2009 estimated)
Total imports: C$305.2 billion (2009 estimated)

Foreign Investment
Foreign investment in Canada: C$434.3 billion (2009 estimated)
Canadian investment abroad: C$552.1 billion (2009 estimated)
Source: CIA - The World Factbook

Key Foreign Investments in Canada by Source of Region/Area

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Region / Area (C$ millions) (C$ millions) (C$ millions) (C$ millions)
(C$ millions) (C$ millions) (C$ millions) (C$ millions)
EU 92,057 94,239 102,158 101,431 104,420 118,365 127,975 132,578
ANDEAN 8 27 x 54 7 7 13 n.a.
ASEAN 200 149 172 165 171 168 x n.a.
CA4 x x x x x x n.a. n.a.
CARICOM 460 451 664 883 783 760 1,228 n.a.
EFTA x 8,935 8,626 9,533 14,565 15,403 18,182 n.a.
FTAA 221,402 232,913 236,909 249,594 262,940 284,019 302,633 n.a.
GCC6 91 88 88 92 88 88 x n.a.
MERCOSUR 869 x x x x x 12,934 n.a.
Developing Countries 9,856 10,715 11,160 13,750 17,173 27,075 38,291 n.a.
Least Developed Countries x 1 4 x x x 5 n.a.
Sub-Saharan Africa 290 291 276 204 x 1,261 x n.a.
Source: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Canada

Industry
Top Industries:
Transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products,
petroleum and natural gas.
Industry 2009 (C$ in millions) % Change in GDP
Finance and insurance, real estate and renting and leasing and
251,867 2.1%
management of companies and enterprises
Manufacturing 151,000 (12.2%)
Construction industries 69,493 (6.7%)
Healthcare and social assistance 81,093 2.6%
Retail trade 74,266 (0.9%)
Wholesale trade 65,821 (6.9%)
Public administration 72,245 2.3%
Mining and oil and gas extraction 51,457 (8.5%)
Educational services 61,211 1.7%
Professional, scientific and technical services 60,577 (0.6%)
Transportation and warehousing 55,855 (4.2%)
Information and cultural industries 45,727 (0.9%)
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services 29,978 (4.2%)
Utilities 29,620 (4.6%)
Other services (except public administration) 32,185 (0.1%)
Accommodation and food services 26,660 (2.1%)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 25,051 (8.6%)
Arts, entertainment and recreation 11,168 0.2%
Source: Statistics Canada

Industrial production growth rate:

-8% (2009 estimated)

Energy:
Electricity - Production:
620.7 billion kWh (2007 estimated)

Electricity - Production by Source:

Fossil fuel: 24.5%
Hydro: 59%
Nuclear: 16%
Other: 0.5% (2006)

Electricity - Consumption: 536.1 billion kWh (2007 estimated)

Electricity - Exports: 55.73 billion kWh (2008)
Electricity - Imports: 23.5 billion kWh (2008)

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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Industry
Key Energy Figures
Oil - production: 3.435 million bbl/day (2008 estimated)
Oil - consumption: 2.26 million bbl/day (2008 estimated)
Oil - exports: 2.421 million bbl/day (2008 estimated)
Oil - imports: 1.165 million bbl/day (2008 estimated)
Oil - proved reserves: 178.1 billion bbl (note: includes oil sands as at January 1, 2009 estimated)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 1.648 trillion cu m (January 1, 2009 estimated)
Source: US Energy Information Administration

Canada’s Export Partners, 2008 Canada’s Import Partners, 2008

All other countries, 17.3%

All other countries, 33.7%

UK, 2.7%

Japan, 2.3%

US, 52.4%

Mexico, 4.1%

US, 7.77%
China, 9.8%

Imports and Exports

Key agriculture products:
Wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, forest products, fish

Exports:
C$298.5 billion (2009 estimated)

Key export commodities:

Motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood
pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum.

Key exports partners:

United States 77.7%, Japan 2.3%, United Kingdom 2.7% (2008)
Source: Statistics Canada

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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Industry
Import value:
C$305.2 billion (2009 estimated)

Key imported commodities:

Machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods

Key import partners:

United States 52.4%, China 9.8%, Mexico 4.1% (2008)
Source: Statistics Canada

Debt - external:
C$833.8 billion (30 June 2009)

Economic donor aid levels:

Official development assistance, C$3.9 billion (2007)  

Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)

Financial year: April 1 - March 31

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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Canada

Securities Trade
Equities Exchanges:
Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)
The Toronto Stock Exchange offers companies a market to raise capital. These companies come from a broad range of industries
from across Canada, the US, and internationally. The TSX also provides opportunities for investors to invest in equities efficiently
in a liquid and stable market.

Street Address: The Exchange Tower, 2 First Canadian Place, Toronto, ON, M5X 1J2, Canada
Postal Address: P.O. Box 450, 3rd Floor, 130 King Street W., Toronto, ON M5X 1J2, Canada
Telephone: (416) 947-4670, (888) 873-8392
Fax: (416) 947-4662
Email: info@tsx.com
Website: http://www.tsx.com

Trading Statistics
Year Volume of Shares Traded
1997 25,670,245,599
1998 26,765,265,298
1999 29,280,363,949
2000 40,751,970,734
2001 37,190,439,190
2002 46,369,870,007
2003 55,654,494,460
2004 61,271,716,134
2005 64,164,086,236
2006 82,045,340,683
2007 96,118,028,803
2008 109,239,686,991
2009 118,525,934,101
Source: Toronto Stock Exchange

Filing Practices
An application form and supporting documents are submitted to the TSX’s Market Regulation department for review. The review
includes background checks on all controlling shareholders, directors and senior officers of the applicant. Once the TSX requirements
have been met, the application is presented to the Board of Directors for acceptance. The average length of time for processing an
application is eight weeks and depends on the completeness of the application and any regulatory issues raised during the review.  

TSX Venture Exchange (TVX)

The TVX Venture Exchange is a public venture capital marketplace for emerging companies. It provides a fair marketplace where
growing companies can raise capital to develop and market their products and services. For investors, TVX provides opportunities
to seek ground-floor investments in companies with high growth potential.

Street Address: The Exchange Tower, 2 First Canadian Place, Toronto, ON, M5X 1J2, Canada
Telephone: (416) 365-2200, (877) 421-2369
Fax: (416) 365-2224
Email: information@tsxventure.com
Website: http://www.tsx.com

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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Securities Trade
Key Market Statistics: Volume Traded
2002 8,719,407,590
2003 13,284,291,554
2004 16,627,663,137
2005 21,085,543,882
2006 30,210,975,060 (as of October 2006)
2007 53,147,443,295
2008 44,052,175,503
2009 11,169,664,945 (as of April 2009)

Filing Practices
There are three ways to list on a Canadian exchange: initial public offering (IPO), reverse takeover (RTO) and, for proven
entrepreneurs with a public market track record, a capital pool company (CPC). Companies listed on an exchange are classified
in three distinct tiers. Tiers 1 and 2 each have initial listing requirements based on a company’s financial performance, stage of
development and financial resources at the time of listing. Tier 3 is a special purpose tier for companies previously quoted on the
Canadian Dealing Network. Industry segments within each tier have specific minimum listing requirements. Companies must
also have directors, officers and a corporate governance structure in compliance with exchange requirements; be sponsored by an
exchange member firm; and submit all necessary agreements and documentation.

Natural Gas Exchange (NGX)

Based in Calgary, Alberta, the NGX offers North American energy traders access to one of the most liquid, secure and efficient
marketplaces for trading and clearing natural gas and electricity contracts. The NGX provides electronic trading and price
discovery, central counterparty clearing of physical and financial exchange-traded and over-the-counter transactions, counterparty
risk mitigation, real-time price index generation and market price information.

Montreal Stock Exchange

The Montreal Stock Exchange, Canada’s oldest exchange, trades derivatives including futures contracts and options.

Street Address: Tour de la Bourse, 800 Victoria Square, 4th Floor, Montreal, Quebec
Postal Address: Tour de la Bourse, P.O. Box 61, 800 Victoria Square, Montreal, Quebec H4Z 1A9
Telephone: (514) 871-2424
Fax: (514) 871-3514
Email:  info@m-x.ca
Website: http://www.m-x.ca

ICE Futures Canada (formerly known as Winnipeg Commodity Exchange)

ICE Futures Canada, the former Winnipeg Commodity Exchange (WCE), is Canada’s largest agricultural futures and options
exchange. Established in 1887 and located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the WCE has provided a meeting place for market participants
for over 100 years. The WCE demutualized in 2001, and its WCE Holdings parent was acquired for C$50 million in August 2007
by the Intercontinental Exchange on August 28, 2007. The business was renamed ICE Futures Canada, effective January 1, 2008.
ICE currently trades agricultural commodity futures contracts and options on futures contracts which include canola, feed wheat,
and western barley.

Street Address: 400 Commodity Exchange Tower, 360 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3Z4, Canada
Telephone: (204) 925-5000
Fax: (204) 943-5448
Website: https://www.theice.com
Email: wce@wce.ce

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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Securities Trade
Trading Statistics - Futures

Annual Volume by Calendar Year: Total Futures Volume

1997 2,300,472
1998 2,338,614
1999 2,327,959
2000 2,600,603
2001 2,871,776
2002 2,139,753
2003 1,797,548
2004 2,025,275
2005 2,047,273
2006 2,868,933
2007 3,430,324
2008 3,299,999
2009 3,569,346

Annual Volume by Calendar Year: Total Options Volume

1997 33,085
1998 25,493
1999 66,802
2000 76,635
2001 115,360
2002 28,839
2003 23,410
2004 17,496
2005 29,447
2006 27,603
2007 21,841
2008 21,211
2009 36,427 (as of April 2009)

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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Canada

Geography and History

Geography
Location:
Located across the north of the North American continent, it borders the North Atlantic Ocean in the east and North Pacific Ocean
in the west, and the Arctic Ocean in the north.

Geographic coordinates:
60 00 N, 95 00 W

Area:
Total: 9,984,670 sq km
Land: 9,093,507 sq km
Water: 891,163 sq km

Area - comparative:
Slightly larger than the US

Land boundaries:
Total: 8,893 km
Border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)

Coastline:
202,080 km

Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
 
Climate:
Canada’s climate varies from temperate in the south to sub-arctic and arctic in the north.

Terrain:
The terrain is mostly plains in the central provinces with the Rocky Mountains in the west and lowlands in the southeast. 

Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m

Natural resources:
Aluminum, silica, iron ore, nickel, uranium, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife,
coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower.

Land use:
Arable land: 4.57%
Permanent crops: 0.65%
Other: 94.78% (2005)

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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Geography and History

Irrigated land:
7,850 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
Continuous permafrost in the north is a serious obstacle to development. Cyclonic storms tend to 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.

Environment - current issues:

Air pollution and resulting acid rain has severely affected lakes and damaged forests. Metal smelting, coal-burning utilities,
and vehicle emissions have also affected agricultural and forest productivity, with ocean waters becoming contaminated due to
agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities.
 
Environment - international agreements:
Canada is a party to the Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-
Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
The second-largest country in the world (after Russia) by size. It has a strategic location between Russia and the US via the north
polar route. Approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US/Canada border.

History
Canada is a land of vast distances and rich natural resources. In 1867, Canada became a self-governing dominion while retaining
ties to the British monarchy. Economically and technologically, Canada has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the
south across an unfortified border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in
healthcare and education services, as well as responding to separatist concerns in predominantly francophone Quebec. Additionally,
Canada aims to develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the environment.

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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Canada

People
Canada has ten provinces and three territories. The three territories — Nunavut, Yukon, and Northwest Territories — account for
over a third of Canada’s area but have very few people, which can make the population density column somewhat misleading. The
territories have a smaller combined population than the smallest province, Prince Edward Island.

Canada’s population grew by 0.36% in the second quarter of 2009, with all territories and provinces experiencing increased
population. The increase was largely due to net international migration, which totaled 84,800, the second highest figure for a second
quarter since 1972. In terms of percentage change, the fastest growing province or territory was Nunavut, with an increase of 0.68%
from April 1, 2009 to July 1, 2009, followed by Alberta, with 0.59% growth. These different rates of change were caused by birth
and death rates, as well as interprovincial migration and immigration from outside Canada. As a whole, Canada’s population has
increased every year between 2002 and 2009.

Although Canada’s population is growing slowly, the country’s growth rate is higher than that in most industrialized countries.
Canada’s population is concentrated in areas close to the US border. As a result, most Canadians live in areas with densities higher
than the national average of 3.64 persons per square kilometer.

Population:
33,487,208 (July 2009 estimated)

Population by Province (as of July 1, 2009)

Province Population
Newfoundland and Labrador 508,900
Prince Edward Island 141,000
Nova Scotia 938,200
New Brunswick 749,500
Quebec 7,828,900
Ontario 13,069,200
Manitoba 1,222,000
Saskatchewan 1,030,100
Alberta 3,687,700
British Columbia 4,455,200
Yukon 33,700
Northwest Territories 43,400
Nunavut 32,200
Source: Statistics Canada

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 2,761,711/female 2,626,836) 
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 11,633,950/female 11,381,735) 
65 years and over: 15.2% (male 2,220,189/female 2,862,787) (2009 estimated)
 
Population growth rate:
0.817% (2009 estimated)
 
Birth rate:
10.29 births/1,000 population (2008 estimated)
 

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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

People
Death rate:
7.74 deaths/1,000 population (2009 estimated)
 
Net migration rate:
5.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 estimated)
 
Sex ratio:
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 estimated)
 
Infant mortality rate:
Total: 5.04 deaths/1,000 live births
Male: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 estimated)
 
Life expectancy at birth:
Total population: 81.23 years
Male: 78.69 years
Female: 83.91 years (2009 estimated)
 
Total fertility rate:
1.58 children born/woman (2009 estimated)

HIV/AIDS:
Adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2007 estimated)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 73,000 (2007 estimated)
Deaths: fewer than 500 (2007 estimated)

Ethnic groups:
British Isles origin 28.0%, French origin 23.0%, other European 15.0%, Amerindian 2.0%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab
6.0%, mixed background 26.0%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2.0%), other
Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%,other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census)

Languages:
English 58.8% (official), French 21.6% (official), other 19.6% (2006 census)

Literacy:
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99.0%
Male: 99.0%
Female: 99.0% (2007 estimated)

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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Canada

Government
Country name:
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Canada

Data code:
CA

Government type:
A constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation

Capital:
Ottawa

Administrative divisions:
Ten provinces and three territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest
Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

Independence:
July 1, 1867 (union of British North American colonies); December 11, 1931 (recognized by the UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day/Canada Day, July 1, 1867

Constitution:
Made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of the
Constitution Act of March 29, 1867, which created a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of April 17, 1982, which
transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as
well as procedures for constitutional amendments

Legal system:
Based on English common law, except in Quebec, where a civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Head of state:
Queen Elizabeth II (since February 6,  1952), represented by Governor General Michaelle Jean (since September 27, 2005)

Head of government:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper (since February 6, 2006)

Cabinet:
Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament

Elections:
The monarchy 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 or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Commons is
automatically designated prime minister by the governor-general. House of Commons - last held January 23, 2006 (next to be held
in 2011).

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Government
Legislative branch:
Canada has a bicameral parliament which consists of a senate (105 seats; members appointed by the governor general with the
advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308
seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve a maximum five-year term starting with the 2009 elections)

Recent election results:

House of Commons elections last held on October 14, 2008 (next to be held no later than October 19, 2012)  - percent of vote by
party - Conservative Party 37.6%, Liberal Party 26.2%, New Democratic Party 18.2%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, Greens 6.8%, other
1%; seats by party - Conservative Party 143, Liberal Party 77, New Democratic Party 37, Bloc Quebecois 49, other 2

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)

Key political parties:

Conservative Party of Canada
Green Party of Canada
Le Bloc Québécois
Liberal Party of Canada
New Democratic Party of Canada

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Chief of mission: Ambassador Gary Doer
Chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
FAX: [1] (202) 682-7701
Consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York,
Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Tucson
Consulate(s): Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton (New Jersey), Raleigh, San Jose (California)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

Chief of mission: Ambassador David C. Jacobson
Embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
Mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430
Telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470
FAX: [1] (613) 688-3082
Consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg

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Canada

Communications
Communications have always played a large role in Canadian affairs and are the subject of continuous study and government
support. Since the creation of Canada’s domestic satellite system, telecommunications have been front and center in the nation’s
scientific and industrial policies.

Canada has been consistently in the forefront of communications technology. Marconi’s first Trans-Atlantic radio transmission
was received in Newfoundland. The concept of the telephone was developed by Alexander Graham Bell at his parent’s home in
Brantford, Ontario. Canada had the world’s first commercial telephone system and North America’s first mobile telecommunications
system. JANET, the first commercial meteor-burst communication system, was Canadian. Canada had the western world’s first
domestic satellite communications system. Canada had the world’s first nationwide digital data network. Canada has the world’s
largest contiguous cellular telephone network. Canadians have greater access to cable television service than the people of any other
nation. Canada now has nationwide fiber optic links.

Despite the atypical distribution of Canada’s relatively small population across a vast land mass, Canada has been and remains a
world leader in communications networks and technology. For an industry that is just two decades old, Canada’s wireless phone
industry, in particular, has made solid progress. The country’s wireless carriers currently offer coverage to more than 98% of
Canadians. Wireless phones are among the fastest growing consumer products in Canada. At the end of December 2008, Canadian
wireless phone subscribers numbered 21.5 million, representing a national wireless penetration rate of more than 60%. The Canadian
Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) estimated that wireless penetration in major urban centers has exceeded 70%,
with some greater metropolitan areas approaching the 80% mark.

Telephones - main lines in use:

18.25 million (2008)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

21.46 million (2008)

Domestic:
Canada has a domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations.

Country code:
1

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 184, FM 465, (2006)

Radios:
32.3 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

148 (2007)

Televisions:
21.5 million (1997)

Internet Hosts:
7.193 million (2009)

Internet Users:
25.086 million (2008)

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Canada

Media
Key newspapers:
The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Ontaro)
National Post (Toronto, Ontario)
Le Devoir (Montreal, Quebec)
Toronto Star (Toronto, Ontario)
Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario)
CanWest News Service (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Sun Media (Toronto, Ontario)
Le Journal de Montréal (Montreal, Quebec)
Toronto Sun (Toronto, Ontario)
The Dominion (Montreal, Quebec)

Television:
CTV – Canada’s largest privately owned English language television network
TVA – A private, Canadian-owned French language network
TQS – A private, Canadian-owned French language network based in Quebec
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) – A Canadian broadcast and cable television network
CityTv – A Canadian English language television system owned by Rogers Communications
A-Channel – A Canadian English language privately-owned television system owned by CTV Ltd, previously known as the
NewNet
E! – A Canadian English language television system owned by CanWest MediaWorks Inc
Crossroads Television System (CTS) – A privately held Canadian television system that airs predominantly Christian-based
religious programming

Regulatory body:
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

Radio:
CKX – Is the call sign of a Canadian radio station operating in Brandon, Manitoba
CKY – A radio station owned by Rogers Communications
VOAR – A Canadian AM station
Voice of Wesley United Church Radio (VOWR) – A Canadian radio station, which airs religious programming, as well as oldies
music
VOCM – may refer to two radio stations (VOCM (AM) and VOCM (FM)) in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, both owned
by Newcap Broadcasting

News Agencies:
Canada Live News Agency inc
Reuters
Bloomberg
Agence France-Presse

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 Country Profile - Canada 2010

Canada

Transportation
Airports:
1,388 (2009) 
 
Airports - with paved runways:
Total: 515
Over 3,047 m: 19
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 148
914 to 1,523 m: 251
Under 914 m: 79 (2009) 
 
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Total: 873
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 373
Under 914 m: 427 (2009) 
  
Pipelines:
Crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km (2009)
 
Railways:   
Total: 46,688 km
Standard gauge: 46,688 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
 
Roadways:   
Total: 1,042,300 km
Paved: 415,600 km (includes 17,000 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 626,700 km (2008)
 
Waterways:
636 km
Note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2008) 
 
Merchant marine:  
Total: 175 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,191,099 GRT/2,815,416 DWT
By type: bulk carrier 60, cargo 13, carrier 1, chemical tanker 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, passenger 6, passenger/cargo
64, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 6
Foreign-owned: 17 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 3, US 10)
Registered in other countries: 206 (Australia 9, Bahamas 84, Barbados 9, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong
Kong 44, Liberia 7, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 6, Norway 10, Panama 18, St Vincent and The Grenadines 1, Spain 4, Taiwan 2,
Vanuatu 5) (2008)

Key ports and terminals:

Fraser River Port, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, Port-Cartier, Quebec, Saint John’s (New Brunswick), Sept-Isles, Vancouver

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China Liechenstein Switzerland
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Cote d'Ivoire Malawi Thailand
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Cyprus Malta The Netherlands
Czech Republic Marshall Island The Netherlands Antilles
Denmark Mauritius Trinidad and Tobago
Djibouti Mexico Tunisia
Dominican Republic Monaco Turkey
Egypt Morocco Ukraine
El Salvador Namibia United Arab Emirates
Ecuador New Zealand United Kingdom
Estonia Nigeria United States of America
Finland Norway Uruguay
France Oman Venezuela
Germany Pakistan Vietnam
Ghana Panama Zambia
Greece Papua New Guinea
Grenada Paraguay

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