Page 204 - Caribbean-Central America Profile 2018

CANADA

CARIBBEAN-CENTRAL AMERICA PROFILE 2018

GOVERNMENT Country Profile
The Canadian Government is the federal
government of Canada. Powers and structure 1990 2000 2010 2016
World view
of the federal government are set out in the Population, total (millions) 27.79 30.77 34.01 36.29
Constitution of Canada. Queen Elizabeth II Population growth (annual %) 1.5 0.9 1.1 1.2
is the sovereign and head of state of Canada. Surface area (sq. km) (thousands) 9,984.7 9,984.7 9,984.7 9,984.7
The Executive Government and Authority Population density (people per sq. km of land area) 3.1 3.4 3.7 4.0
of and over Canada is vested in the Queen. Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) .. .. .. ..
Canada’s Parliament consists of the Monarch Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) .. .. .. ..
and a bicameral legislature: an elected House of GNI, Atlas method (current US$) (billions) 569.29 695.71 1,508.74 1,584.30
Commons and an appointed Senate. In practice, GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US$) 20,480 22,610 44,370 43,660
legislative power rests with the party that has GNI, PPP (current international $) (billions) 538.64 874.38 1,334.17 1,575.43
the majority of seats in the House of Commons, GNI per capita, PPP (current international $) 19,380 28,420 39,230 43,420
People
which is elected from 338 constituencies for a Income share held by lowest 20% ..
period not to exceed five years. Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 7.6 6.9 7.1 82
77
81
79
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) 1.8 1.5 1.6 1.6
The prime minister is appointed by the Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) 24 17 12 9
governor general, but to ensure the continuity Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15-49) .. 74 .. ..
of a stable government, this person must have Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) 99 99 99 ..
the confidence of the House of Commons to Mortality rate, under -5 (per 1,000 live births) 8 6 6 5
lead the government. In practice, the position Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) .. .. .. ..
usually goes to the leader of the political party Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) 89 96 90 90
that has the most seats in the lower house. Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) .. 97 .. ..
School enrollment, primary (% gross) 103.8 100.3 98.7 100.6
Criminal law, most of which is contained in the School enrollment, secondary (% gross) 99 102 102 110
federal Criminal Code (R.S.C. 1985, Chapter School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) 1 1 1 1
C-46), is uniform throughout the nation, and is Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) .. .. .. ..
Environment
under federal jurisdiction. Civil law is based on Forest area (sq. km) (thousands) 3,482.7 3,478.0 3,473.0 3,470.7
the common law of England, except in Quebec, Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) 3.8 4.6 .. 6.2
to which Britain granted the right in 1774 to Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.4
retain the French civil code. While legislation Improved water source (% of population with access) 100 100 100 100
regarding non-criminal matters is generally Improved sanitation facilities (% of population with access) 100 100 100 100
different from province to province, some non- Urban population growth (annual %) 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.4
criminal legislation, such as the federal Divorce Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) 7,603 8,243 7,788 7,600
Act (R.S.C. 1985, Chapter 3 (2nd Supp.)), CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) 15.66 17.37 15.72 15.11
is applicable throughout the nation. Justice Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) 16,109 16,991 15,270 15,542
is administered by federal, provincial, and Economy
municipal courts. GDP (current US$) (billions) 593.93 742.29 1,613.46 1,529.76
GDP growth (annual %) 0.2 5.2 3.1 1.5
The Supreme Court of Canada is the court of Inflation, GDP deflator (annual %) 3.4 4.3 2.9 0.6 2
last resort. The Supreme Court has nine justices, Agriculture, value added (% of GDP) .. .. .. .. 29 1 29
Industry, value added (% of GDP)
who are appointed by the governor general and Services, etc., value added (% of GDP) .. .. 70 69
led by the Chief Justice of Canada. This court Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 25 44 29 31
hears appeals from decisions rendered by the Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 25 39 31 33
various appellate courts from the provinces Gross capital formation (% of GDP) 21 21 24 23
and territories. Trial courts from common Revenue, excluding grants (% of GDP) 19.8 20.9 16.9 17.0
law provinces are required to follow previous Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP) -4.5 2.2 -2.2 -0.4
decisions from both the Supreme Court of States and markets
Canada and the appellate court of its respective Time required to start a business (days) .. 4 6 2
province or territory. In contrast, a Quebec trial- Domestic credit provided by financial sector (% of GDP) 100.6 111.1 172.3 11.8 ..
Tax revenue (% of GDP)
11.8
14.2
14.9
level court may treat judgments from higher Military expenditure (% of GDP) 1.9 1.1 1.2 1.0
courts to be persuasive but not binding. Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) 2.1 28.4 75.7 84.1
Individuals using the Internet (% of population) 0.4 51.3 80.3 89.8
ELECTIONS High-technology exports (% of manufactured exports) 14 18 14 13
The Canadian Federal election was held on Overall level of statistical capacity (scale 0-100) .. .. .. ..
October 19, 2015, to elect members to the Global links
House of Commons of the 42nd Canadian Merchandise trade (% of GDP) 42 70 49 53
Parliament. The Liberal Party, led by Justin Net barter terms of trade index (2000 = 100) .. 100 123 114
Trudeau, won 184 seats, allowing it to form a External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) (millions) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income)
majority government with Trudeau becoming Net migration (thousands) 699 1,027 1,146 ..
the Prime Minister. The Conservative Party, led Personal remittances, received (current US$) (millions) .. 555 1,199 1,343
by incumbent Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) (millions) 7,581 68,309 29,713 31,602
won 99 seats, becoming the Official Opposition Net official development assistance received (current US$) (millions) .. .. .. ..
after nine years on the government benches. Figures in italics refer to periods other than those specified. Source: World Development Indicators database.
D-4 Caribbean-Central American Action