confederation with parliamentary democracyCapital:
Ottawa
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces and 2 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba,
New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia,
Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Independence:
1 July 1867 (from UK)
National holiday:
Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Constitution:
amended British North America Act 1867 patriated to Canada 17 April
1982; 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Raymond John HNATYSHYN (since 29 January 1990)
head of government:
Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993) was elected on 25
October 1993, replacing Kim CAMBELL; Deputy Prime Minister Sheila
COPPS
cabinet:
Federal Ministry; chosen by the prime minister from members of his own
party sitting in Parliament
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Parlement)
Senate (Senat):
consisting of a body whose members are appointed to serve until 75
years of age by the governor general and selected on the advice of the
prime minister; its normal limit 104 senators
House of Commons (Chambre des Communes):
elections last held 25 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October
1998); results - number of votes by percent NA; seats - (295 total)
Liberal Party 178, Bloc Quebecois 54, Reform Party 52, New Democratic
Party 8, Progressive Conservative Party 2, independents 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Party, Jean CHRETIEN; Bloc Quebecois, Lucien BOUCHARD; Reform
Party, Preston MANNING; New Democratic Party, Audrey McLAUGHLIN;
Progressive Conservative Party, Jean CHAREST
Member of:
ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC,
CDB (non-regional), COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating
state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA,
NSG, OAS, OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WIPO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Raymond CHRETIEN
chancery:
501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
telephone:
(202) 682–1740
FAX:
(202) 682–7726
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles,
Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, and Seattle
consulate(s):
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Pittsburg, Princeton, San Diego, San
Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador James Johnston BLANCHARD
embassy:
100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa
mailing address:
P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669–0430
telephone:
(613) 238–5335 or 4470
FAX:
(613) 238–5720
consulate(s) general:
Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver
Flag:
three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width,
square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band
@Canada, Economy
Overview:
As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely
resembles the US in per capita output, market-oriented economic
system, and pattern of production. Since World War II the impressive
growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has
transformed the nation
