Canada is situated in North America, capturing most of the northern part of it.It is the 2nd largest country in the world.The land occupies 9,984,670 sq km area in the surface of the world,in which land is 9,093,507 sq km and water is 891,163 sq km.The capital city is Ottawa(45 25 N, 75 42 W).The country is divided into 6 time zones.The country is bounded by the North Atlantic Ocean in the east and the North Pacific Ocean in the west and the Arctic Ocean in the north.It shares its border with United States to the south and northwest.
In the survey of Human Development Index in United Nations Development Programme Canada is ranked 4th.In Globalization Index 2006 by Foreign Policy Magazine Canada is ranked 6th.In The World in 2005 - Worldwide quality-of-life index, 2005 and in the Global Peace Index by The Economist the country is ranked 14th and 8th respectively.
HISTORY:-The first peoples inhabited in the region of North America. Much later England in 1497 and France in 1534 explored the land. In 1603 and 1610,colonies had been set up by the French and British respectively.The Constitutional Act of 1791 divided the land into French-speaking Lower Canada and English-speaking Upper Canada,with their own elected legislation. The Act of Union (1840) collaborated Canadas into a United Province of Canada and Responsible government was set up in 1849.The Constitution Act, 1867 had declared Canada as a free country on 1st july.The country was engaged in the World Was I in 1914. Canada joined the League of Nations in 1919. Finally the country had been declared independent on 11th December 1931 by the the Statute of Westminster.
CULTURE:- British, French, American and Aboriginal cultures influenced a great deal to form Canadian culture of present days.The numerous government programs like Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) have influenced its culture too.
Ice hockey is the official national sport in winter while lacrosse is the official national sport in summer. Hockey is the most popular game in Canada. Curling, football, Golf, baseball, skiing, soccer, volleyball, and basketball are other most popular sports in Canada.The country has hosted Summer Olympics(1976), Winter Olympics(1988), and FIFA U-20 World Cup(2007) and will host Winter Olympics,2010.
GEOGRAPHY:-Geographically Canada is located at 60 00 N, 95 00 W.Canada is mostly formed of plain land.Though the terrain is mountainous in the west.The southeastern region is low.The hightest point of the country is Mount Logan (5,959 m), and the lowest point is Atlantic Ocean (0 m).The coastline is 202,080 km long.
CLIMATE:-Climate of Canada differs from temperate zone in southern part to subarctic and arctic zone in northern part.
GOVERNMENT:-Canadian government is recognized as federal parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy.Canadian constitution is composed of some written and unwritten acts, laws, judicial verdicts.The written part is a combination of the Constitution Act of 29th March,1867 and the Constitution Act of 17th April,1982.The government has three branches:
GOVERNMENT:-Canadian government is recognized as federal parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy.Canadian constitution is composed of some written and unwritten acts, laws, judicial verdicts.The written part is a combination of the Constitution Act of 29th March,1867 and the Constitution Act of 17th April,1982.The government has three branches:
1.Executive branch:-It consists of the head of state represented by a governor general(king or queen),prime minister(head of government),cabinet.
2.Legislative:-It consists of the bicameral Parliament,which is formed of the House of Commons(308 seats),Senate(105 seats).
3.Judicial:-It consists of the Supreme Court of Canada, Federal Court of Canada; Federal Court of Appeal; and other Provincial Courts.
The prominent political parties of Canada are Liberal Party, Conservative Party of Canada, Bloc Quebecois (BQ), New Democratic Party (NDP), Green Party etc.Voting rights are universal above 18.
Head of State Queen Elizabeth II
Governor General Michaelle Jean
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier
Ambassador to the United States Michael Wilson
Ambassador to the United Nations John McNee
STATES:-Canada is a union of 10 provinces and 3 territories.
POPULATION:- The total population is 33,390,141 with a growth rate of 0.9%.
Literacy rate: 99%
Density per sq mi: 9
Literacy rate: 99%
Density per sq mi: 9
HEALTH:-
Infant mortality rate: 4.6/1000
Life expectancy: 80.3,
Death rate: 7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.),
Birth rate: 10.29 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 3,419
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,500,
RISK FACTORS:-
Anaemia
Child malnutrition
Alcohol, tobacco consumption
Access to water, sanitation
Infant mortality rate: 4.6/1000
Life expectancy: 80.3,
Death rate: 7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.),
Birth rate: 10.29 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 3,419
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,500,
RISK FACTORS:-
Anaemia
Child malnutrition
Alcohol, tobacco consumption
Access to water, sanitation
UNICEF:-UNICEF in Canada works in the region of children rights, development, health, equality, education, protection, malnutrition, and HIV.UNICEF raises funds for their works by selling gifts and cards. Among most recent developments, UNICEF has introduced e-cards in Canada (websites-www.unicef-shop.com, www.unicefshop.org). Kenyan and Canadian cricket teams visited the UNICEF-supported Boys’ Training Centre in Gros Islet, St. Lucia. Penelope Campbell was awarded at XVI International AIDS Conference,2006, for contributing a great deal in fighting AIDS.
ECONOMY:- Canada is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Group of Eight (G8).The country is ranked 10th in Index of Economic Freedom, 2007 by Heritage Foundation.It supports mixed market.It is one of the richest country in North America.
GDP/PPP (2006 est.): $1.09 trillion; per capita $35,200.
Real growth rate: 2.8%.
Inflation: 2%.
Unemployment: 6.4%.
Arable land: 5%.
Agriculture: wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish.
Labor force: 16.3 million (Dec. 2005); agriculture 2%, manufacturing 14%, construction 5%, services 75%, other 3% (2004).
Industries: transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum and natural gas.
Natural resources: iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower.
Exports: $405 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.): motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum.
Imports: $353.2 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.): machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods.
Major trading partners: U.S., Japan, UK, China, Mexico (2004).
Monetary unit: Canadian dollar
RACE:-
British Isles origin 28%
French origin 23%
Other European 15%
Indigenous Indian and Inuit 2%
Other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%
Mixed background 26%
British Isles origin 28%
French origin 23%
Other European 15%
Indigenous Indian and Inuit 2%
Other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%
Mixed background 26%
RELIGION:-
Roman Catholic 43%
Protestant 23% (including United Church 10%, Anglican 7%, Baptist 2%, Lutheran 2%), Other Christian 4%
Muslim 2%
None 16% (2001)
Roman Catholic 43%
Protestant 23% (including United Church 10%, Anglican 7%, Baptist 2%, Lutheran 2%), Other Christian 4%
Muslim 2%
None 16% (2001)
LANGUAGES:-The official languages are English (59.3%), French (23.2%).
Other non-official languages are (Chinese, Italian, German, Punjabi ) spoken by 17.5% people.
Other non-official languages are (Chinese, Italian, German, Punjabi ) spoken by 17.5% people.
TRANSPORTATION:-
Railways: total: 48,467 km km (2005)
Highways: total: 1,042,300 km
Waterways: 631 km
Railways: total: 48,467 km km (2005)
Highways: total: 1,042,300 km
Waterways: 631 km
Ports and harbors: Fraser River Port, Goderich, Montreal, Port Cartier, Quebec, Saint John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Vancouver.
Airports: 1,337
CITIES:- The capital city is Ottawa.The largest city is Toronto.Other largest cities are Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Kitchener.
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