| Canada, a land of vast distances and rich | | | | quarters of Canadians. But Canada differs |
| natural resources, is the second largest | | | | from many of them being a net exporter of |
| country in the world. | | | | energy with its vast deposits of natural gas |
| | | | and large oil resources, the second largest |
| The fresh water makes up over 10 percent of | | | | of the world. Besides, hydroelectric power |
| the total area of Canada, and the coastline | | | | presents for Canada a cheap source of |
| is the largest in the world (273,792 km). | | | | additional abundant energy. |
| | | | |
| Nearly all of it's (about 90 percent) of 30 | | | | Along with it, due to its Prairies, Canada is |
| million people is concentrated within 160 km | | | | world's most important suppliers of |
| near the United States/Canada border. | | | | agricultural products, among them wheat and |
| | | | other grains. Canada is also world's largest |
| In 1867 it became a self-governing dominion | | | | producer of many important natural resources |
| with parliamentary democracy retaining ties | | | | such as zinc, uranium, gold, nickel, aluminum |
| to British Crown. Also Canada economically | | | | and lead. |
| and technologically developed in parallel | | | | |
| with the United States, it differs from its | | | | Canada has as well a significant |
| southern neighbor in many respects, such as | | | | manufacturing sector with automobile industry |
| its economy; social, political, legal and | | | | especially important. |
| health care systems. | | | | |
| | | | Partly due to its large primary sector Canada |
| Among its specific problems is the | | | | maintains a great level of international |
| relationship with Quebec, French-speaking | | | | trade, especially with the United States. The |
| province of unique culture. Another problem | | | | trade and economic integration of Canada with |
| is the flow south to the United States of | | | | the United States have strongly increased |
| professionals caused by higher pay, lower | | | | after approving of the 1989 U.S. - Canada |
| takes, and the rich high-tech infrastructure. | | | | Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North |
| | | | America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). |
| Though differing in some respects, | | | | |
| economically Canada closely resembles the | | | | Since then Canada enjoys stable economic |
| United States with its dynamic, high-tech | | | | development, with real rates of grows nearly |
| industrial society, market-oriented economic | | | | 3 percent, falling unemployment, and |
| system, pattern of production and high living | | | | government budget surpluses are being |
| standards. Being one of the world's | | | | partially devoted to reducing the large |
| wealthiest countries, Canada is a member of | | | | public sector debt. This is mainly due to the |
| Group of Eight (G8) and the Organization for | | | | education and health sections, which are |
| Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). | | | | among Canada's largest, being largely under |
| As for other most developed states the | | | | the government control. The rapid growth of |
| service sector of Canada is the dominating | | | | health care has led to problems for |
| sector of its economy employing about three | | | | governments to finance it. |