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#CARD:Canada:Background Notes
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE BACKGROUND NOTES:  CANADA

January 1991
OFFICIAL NAME:  CANADA

PROFILE
Geography
Area: 9.97 million sq. km. (3.8 million sq. mi.); second largest country
in the world.  Cities: Capital-Ottawa (pop. 833,000). Other
cities-Toronto (3.5 million), Montreal (2.9 million), Vancouver (1.4
million).  Terrain: Varied.  Climate: Temperate to arctic.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective-Canadian(s).  Population (1989): 26.2
million. Annual growth rate (1988-89): 1%. Ethnic groups: British 25%,
French 24%, other European 16%, indigenous Indian and Eskimo 1.5%, mixed
background 28%.  Religions: Roman Catholic 47%, United Church 16%,
Anglican 10%.  Languages: English, French.  Literacy: 98% of population
aged 15 and over have at least a ninth grade education.  Health: Infant
mortality rate-7.3/1,000 (US=11.2/1,000).  Life expectancy-73 yrs. male,
80 yrs. female.  Work force (13.3 million, 1988): Agriculture-0.4
million. Manufacturing-2.1 million.  Trade-2.2 million.
Community/business/personal service-4.1 million.  Public
administration-0.8 million.

Government
 Type:  Confederation with parliamentary democracy.  Independence: July
1, 1867. Constitution: The amended British North America Act of 1867,
charter of rights, and unwritten custom. Branches:  Executive-Queen
Elizabeth II (head of state, represented by a governor general), prime
minister (head of government), cabinet.  Legislative-bicameral
parliament (104-member Senate, 295-member House of Commons).
Judicial-Supreme Court. Political parties:  Progressive Conservative,
Liberal, New Democratic, Reform, Social Credit. Suffrage:  Universal
over 18. Government budget (FY 1990-91):  Expenditures-US$127.1 billion.
Revenues-US$102.6 billion. Deficit-US$24.5 billion. Defense:  2% of GDP.
Subdivisions:  10 provinces, 2 territories. Flag:  A red maple leaf on a
white background flanked by vertical red bands.

Economy
GDP (1990): US$554.1 billion. Annual real GDP growth rate (1990): 0.7%.
Per capita GDP (1990):  US$21,000. Natural resources:  Petroleum and
natural gas, hydroelectric power, metals and minerals, fish, forests,
wildlife. Agriculture:  Products-wheat, livestock and meat, feed grains,
oilseeds, dairy products, tobacco, fruits, vegetables. Industry:
Types-motor vehicles and parts, fish and forest products, processed and
unprocessed minerals. Trade (1990): Canada had a record current account
deficit of US$15.9 billion in 1990. Exports-US$123 billion: motor
vehicles and parts, lumber, wood pulp and newsprint, crude and
fabricated metals, natural gas, crude petroleum, wheat. Partners-US 75%,
EC 18%, Japan 5%. Imports-US$116.1 billion: motor vehicles and parts,
industrial machinery, crude petroleum, chemicals, agricultural
machinery. Partners-US 69%, EC 8%, Japan 6%. Official exchange rate
(floating average rate for 1990):  C$1=US$0.86. Fiscal year:  April
1-March 31. Development assistance (FY 1987-88):  $2 billion or 0.4% of
GDP.

Membership in International Organizations
 UN, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), North Atlantic Fisheries
Organization, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD), Commonwealth, La Francophonie, Agency for Cultural and Technical
Cooperation, International Energy Agency (IEA), INTELSAT.

PEOPLE AND HISTORY
 Of Canada's 26.2 million people, 80% live within 160 kilometers (100
mi.) of the US border, and half live in the southeastern part of the
country near the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.  Canada's more
than 6 million French-speaking citizens are primarily descendants of
colonists who settled the country three centuries ago.  The
English-speaking community has increased mostly by immigration from the
United Kingdom.  The largest influx from the United States occurred
during the American Revolution when thousands of "Empire Loyalists" fled
to Canada. Other Canadians have indigenous Indian, Eskimo (Inuit),
German, Ukrainian, Scandinavian, Italian, Dutch, Polish, or Asian
origins
.
Cultural Achievements
 Four major influences have helped shape Canadian culture: a
multi-cultural-including aboriginal-heritage; English/French
bilingualism; sustained government funding for artistic and literary
pursuits; and the abundance and availability of US cultural productions.
 Canadians tend to view their country less as a melting pot than as a
cultural mosaic.  Inuit, Indian nations, Francophones, Anglophones, and
immigrant groups have all sought to maintain their unique cultural
identities.  Such efforts have been encouraged by extensive government
funding of the arts.  The government-funded Canada Council has become
the major patron of all forms of creative endeavor in Canada.
Government support has produced an artistic atmosphere that encourages
creativity over marketability in all areas of art and culture.
 Canada has a colorful literary tradition.  Margaret Lawrence, Margaret
Atwood, Robertson Davies, and Mordechai Richler rank among the most
influential Anglophone authors.  Leading Francophone authors include
Gabrielle Roy and Jacques Ferron.  In visual arts, Canadians are most
proud of a school of painters known as "The Group of Seven," whose style
of landscape painting is called "pictorial nationalism." With the
support of the National Film Board, Canadian filmmakers such as Harry
Rasky and Bill Mason are world leaders in producing documentaries.
Canada also has a number of world-class dance troupes, orchestras, and
repertory theaters.  Numerous well-known musicians claim Canada as their
home, including Joni Mitchell, Anne Murray, Paul Anka, Gordon Lightfoot,
Bryan Adams, and Corey Hart.

Political History
  Canada's early history was dominated by rivalry between France and
Britain. John Cabot reached Newfoundland in 1497 and claimed a large
portion of the Atlantic seaboard for Britain.  Cabot was followed by the
French explorer Jacques Cartier, who claimed the Gaspe Peninsula for
France. While the British settled along the coast, the French pushed
rapidly into the interior, and, for more than a century, Canada was a
colony of France. The major settler of French Canada was Samuel de
Champlain, who founded Quebec City (1608) and a number of other
settlements along the Bay of Fundy and the St. Lawrence River.
Explorers, traders, and missionaries, including Marquette, Joliet, and
La Salle, extended French influence in what had come to be called "New
France."  Following the early years of settlement, French and English
pioneers competed in the lucrative fur trade. Canada's future political
contours began to emerge after Britain defeated France in North America
during the Seven Years' War (1756-63) and took over all French colonies
in North America except for the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon.
Under the terms of an 1814 agreement with the British, the islands
remain a territory of France. The bitter memory of that event still has
strong emotional force for French-Canadians. Although New France came
under British control, it was permitted to retain its religion and civil
code. During the American Revolution, French and British colonists in
Canada rebuffed the overtures of American leaders and chose retention of
British rule rather than independence in association with the United
States. American expeditions into Canada in 1775 under Generals
Montgomery and Arnold were defeated. In the War of 1812, US-British
rivalry in North America again resulted in the invasion of Canada.
Several events spurred unification of the British-ruled Canadian
colonies under the British North America Act of 1867.
 First, political uprisings in 1837 in both English Upper Canada and
French Lower Canada led to the creation of local governments and to
greater citizen participation in government. Second, at the end of the
American Civil War, it was feared that the United States might turn
against British North America. Finally, development of US western
territories and the slower settlement of the Canadian west prompted
development of a Canadian transcontinental railroad and the perception
among eastern Canadian political leaders that a Canadian federation from
the Atlantic to the Pacific had to be achieved if western Canada was to
avoid being absorbed by the United States.
 The 1867 act created the new nation of Canada, comprising four
provinces-Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.  It provided
for a union and for a parliamentary system of government.  Six other
provinces eventually entered the confederation; the last was
Newfoundland in 1949. In the early post-World War II period, Canada
embarked on a foreign policy that has become its
trademark-multilateralism.  The country was a charter signatory to the
United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).  While Canada has worked
to remain anchored to the West, it also has pursued policies designed to
accentuate its independence from the United States.  These include
Canada's early "normalization" of relations with Fidel Castro's Cuba and
the People's Republic of China, as well as strong Canadian opposition to
US involvement in the war in Vietnam. The United Nations holds and
always has held a special significance for Canada.  The country sent its
troops to participate under UN auspices in the Korean conflict.
Canadian Secretary of State Pearson mediated in the 1956 Suez Canal
crisis, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  Since Suez,
Canadians have participated in peacekeeping forces in a number of
international trouble spots. Like the United States, Canada enjoyed
significant postwar economic growth and prosperity, which was reflected
in World Exposition '67 in Montreal.  However, concerns about foreign
(particularly US) investment in Canada mounted and contributed to a
cooling of the US-Canada relationship during the Diefenbaker and Trudeau
administrations. In the province of Quebec in the early 1960s, Jean
Lesage's "Quiet Revolution" led to a new assertiveness and heightened
sense of identity among the French-speaking Quebecers, who make up about
one-quarter of Canada's population.  Radical elements within Quebec,
most notably the Quebec Liberation Front (FLQ), precipitated an urban
violence campaign and the "October Crisis" of 1970, during which Trudeau
invoked extraordinary measures to maintain public safety and order.  In
1976, the separatist Parti Quebecois (PQ) won the provincial election
and began to explore a course for Quebec of greater independence from
the rest of Canada. In 1982, Queen Elizabeth ceremonially turned over
full responsibility for Canada's constitution-the amended British North
America Act of 1867-to the Canadian parliament.  This was made possible
when the federal government and all provinces, except Quebec, agreed on
a charter of rights and an amending formula.  Quebec's status remains a
serious political issue in Canada.  In a 1980 referendum, the Parti
Quebecois sought a mandate from the people of Quebec to negotiate a new
status-"sovereignty association"-combining political independence with
continued economic association with the rest of Canada.  Sixty percent
of Quebec voters rejected the proposal. Canada continued its quest to
develop a constitutional formula that will satisfy the aspirations of
French-speaking Quebec through the 1987 Meech Lake Constitutional
Accord.  Quebec's current Liberal government strongly endorsed the
accord, which would have brought the province into Canada's federal
constitutional framework while recognizing Quebec as a "distinct
society."  However, since the accord was not ratified by Manitoba and
Newfoundland-which felt it gave too much power to Quebec-it expired on
the June 23, 1990, deadline.  Quebec has since announced that it will
negotiate constitutional issues only on a bilateral basis with Ottawa,
and a special commission established by Quebec's "National Assembly" is
considering options for the province's future relationship with the rest
of Canada.

GOVERNMENT
  Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a bilingual federal system, a
parliamentary form of government, and strong democratic traditions.
Although Canada consolidated its written constitution in 1982, many of
the country's legal and parliamentary practices are based on unwritten
custom, as is the case in the United Kingdom.  But  the federal
structure which unites the 10 provinces resembles the US  system.  The
constitution provides for a federal government to which are reserved
specific powers, such as those relating to defense, trade and commerce,
banking and currency, criminal law, postal services, and certain taxes,
as well as all powers not expressly granted to the provinces.  The
provinces have authority to administer and legislate on such matters as
education, property laws, health, and local affairs generally.  The 1982
Charter of Rights guarantees basic rights in many areas. Queen Elizabeth
II, as Queen of Canada, serves as a symbol of the nation's unity.  She
appoints a governor general on the advice of the prime minister of
Canada, usually for a 5-year term. Canada's parliament consists of an
elective House of Commons and an appointive Senate.  In practice,
legislative power rests with the Commons (295 members).  Commons members
are elected at least every 5 years but also at any time that the prime
minister advises the governor general to dissolve the House.  Senate
members, in contrast, are appointed by the governor general on the
advice of the prime minister.  During the Meech Lake debate, many
Canadians called for reform of the Canadian Senate, such as election of
senators.  The cabinet is led by the prime minister, who is the leader
of the political party in power.  The cabinet remains in office as long
as it retains majority support in the Commons on major issues. Criminal
law, a federal prerogative based largely on British law, is uniform
throughout the nation. Civil law is also based on the common law of
England, except in Quebec, which has retained its own civil code
patterned after that of France.  Justice is administered by federal,
provincial, and municipal courts. Each province is governed by a premier
and a single, elected legislative chamber.  A lieutenant-governor,
appointed by the governor general, represents the crown in each
province.

Principal Government Officials
Chief of State-Queen Elizabeth II
Governor General-Ramon Hnatyshyn
Prime Minister-Brian Mulroney
Secretary of State for External Affairs-Joe Clark
Ambassador to the United States-Derek Burney
Ambassador to the United Nations-Yves Fortier

 Canada maintains an embassy in the United States at 501 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC  20001 (tel. [phone]).

Canadian Consulates
 Atlanta, Georgia-404-577-6810; Boston, Massachusetts-617-262-3760;
Buffalo, New York-716-852-1247; Chicago, Illinois-312-427-1031;
Cleveland, Ohio-216-771-0150; Dallas, Texas-214-922-9806 ;Detroit,
Michigan-313-567-2340; Los Angeles, California-213-687-7432;
Minneapolis, Minnesota-612-333-4641; New York, New York-212-586-2400;

San Francisco, California-415-981-2670; Seattle, Washington-206-443-1777

POLITICAL CONDITIONS
 The three principal national parties in Canada are the Progressive
Conservatives, the Liberals, and the New Democratics, a social
democratic party formed in 1961.  Since 1921, either the Liberal or the
Conservative Party has controlled the Canadian government.  Both are
broadbased parties of the center.  In past federal elections, the
Liberals relied on strong support from Quebec.  However, in 1984 and
1988, the Progressive Conservatives won the majority of seats in that
province.  The Conservatives traditionally have been strong in the
western provinces.  Heavily populated Ontario often plays a decisive
role in elections. The Progressive Conservative Party won 169 seats in
the House of Commons in the 1988 election and again formed a majority
government with representation from every region in the nation.  The
Liberal Party, the official opposition, won 83 seats; the New Democratic
Party, 43. Federal-provincial interplay is a central feature of Canadian
politics.  Quebec wishes to preserve and strengthen its distinctive
nature.  (See HISTORY section.)  Western provinces desire more control
over their abundant natural resources, especially energy reserves.
Industrialized central Canada is concerned with economic development,
while the Atlantic provinces have resisted federal claims to fishing and
mineral rights off their shores.  Canadians have responded to these
differing regional needs by attempting to strengthen both their
confederation and the fundamental democratic principles essential to a
balanced federal-provincial political system, but setbacks such as the
June 1990 failure to ratify the 1987 Meech Lake accord  have made this
process more difficult. The Calgary-based Reform Party of Canada
recently has emerged to represent the interests of western Canadians who
are disenchanted with Canada's three major parties.  Following the
failure of Meech Lake, members of Canada's parliament from Quebec
organized the new "Bloc Quebecois" to advocate that province's concerns
in Ottawa.

ECONOMY
 Canada ranks seventh in the world in gross domestic product and is one
of the world's largest producers of a wide variety of minerals.  The
mineral industry, forest products, and agriculture have been major
factors in Canada's economic development.  Canada's lakes have more than
50% of the world's surface fresh water, and 75% of Canada's power needs
are met by hydroelectric energy. The spectacular growth of Canadian
manufacturing, particularly since the 1950s, has transformed the nation
from a rural, agricultural society into one primarily industrial and
urban.  Industry is now the leading segment of the nation's economy,
employing one-third of the work force. Following rapid expansion in
1985-89, the Canadian economy slipped into a shallow recession in the
first half of 1990.  Growth for the year was a sluggish 0.7% in real
terms.  With the slowdown, unemployment rose and stands at over 8%.
Inflation for the year was moderate-just under 5%-as the government
continued to follow a tight monetary policy.  Interest rates remain high
in relation to the United States.  Partly because of this, the Canadian
dollar is near its decade-high value against the US dollar.

Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries
 Agriculture's contribution to the Canadian economy is similar to that
of the United States, averaging less than 4% of both GNP and employment
in the late 1980s.  Agricultural exports are less than 10% of all trade
and are led by wheat and barley to third markets and by pork and
horticultural products to the United States.  The United States is
Canada's leading market, taking nearly one-third of all food exports,
dominated by pork and horticultural products.  Conversely, Canada is the
United States' second largest agricultural market, primarily importing
fresh fruits and vegetables and livestock products. Forest covers about
half of Canada's total land area.  Forest product exports, including
pulp and paper, represent 15% of Canada's total export trade with nearly
two-thirds going to the United States.  Canada is the world's leading
producer of newsprint, accounting for 40% of global output.  Nearly 75%
of Canada's total newsprint production goes to the United States.
Commercial fisheries provide an annual catch of about 1.4 million metric
tons (1.5 million tons), of which about 70% is exported.

Minerals
 Canada ranks first in the world in mineral exports and third in mineral
production after the United States and the Soviet Union.  It is the
world's largest producer of zinc, potash, uranium, and nickel; the
second largest producer of asbestos, silver, titanium, gypsum, and
sulfur; and a leading producer of molybdenum, aluminum, cobalt, gold,
lead, copper, iron, and platinum.  Significant mineral deposits are
located in all regions. Canada is a major producer of hydroelectricity,
oil, and gas and, unlike most of its industrial partners, is a net
exporter of energy (primarily gas and electricity). Canada's exports and
imports of oil are currently in approximate balance. Crude petroleum is
the largest single component of Canada's minerals output. In 1988,
Canadian oil reserves were about 6.8 billion barrels. Canada produces
annually more than 500 million barrels of oil and about 3.5 trillion
cubic feet of natural gas. The United States imports about 6% of its
natural gas requirements from Canada.

Foreign Trade
 In total volume of trade, Canada ranks seventh in the world, after the
United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy.
The value of US-Canadian merchandise trade for 1989 was $167 billion,
more than that between any other two countries in the world. US exports
to Canada were $78 billion, and imports were $88 billion. Also in 1989,
about 22% of all US merchandise exports went to Canada, and Canada
supplied about 19% of total US merchandise imports. Almost one-third of
US-Canadian trade occurs under the terms of the US-Canada Automotive
Agreement (Auto Pact), which provides for free trade in cars, trucks,
and auto parts.  Under the 1965 agreement, two-way trade in automotive
products rose from $715 million in 1964 to $23 billion by 1978.  In
1980-81, it declined to about $18 billion, but it rose to $51.5 billion
in 1988.
Foreign Investment The investment relationship between the United States
and Canada is close, and the United States is Canada's largest foreign
investor.  At the end of 1988, the stock of US direct investment in
Canada was $61 billion, or about 80% of total foreign direct investment
in Canada.  US investment in Canada is primarily in the mining and
smelting industries, petroleum, chemicals, the manufacturing of
machinery and transportation equipment, and finance. Canada's investment
exposure in the United States is substantial.  At the end of 1988, the
stock of Canadian direct investment in the United States was $27.4
billion, or 20% of total foreign direct investment in the United States.
 Canadian investment in the United States is concentrated in
manufacturing, wholesale trade, real estate, and petroleum.

FOREIGN RELATIONS
  In Canada's early days as a nation, its foreign affairs were conducted
by the United Kingdom. By 1909, the Canadian drive for autonomy led to
the creation of a department of external affairs.  After World War I,
Canadian representatives signed the Treaty of Versailles and began to
conduct a truly independent foreign policy. World War II gave
considerable impetus to Canadian participation in world affairs.  Canada
took an active role in the creation of the United Nations, which it
strongly supports.  It has contributed troops to UN forces in Korea, the
Middle East, the Congo, Yemen, Namibia, and Cyprus.  Canada also has
contributed naval vessels and fighter aircraft to the multinational
force in the Persian Gulf crisis.  In addition to its peacekeeping
activities, Canada has assumed a prominent role in UN disarmament
discussions, environmental activities, law of the sea negotiations,
human rights issues, North-South issues, and world food problems.
Canada also continues to be a strong supporter of the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty and its goals. A member of NATO since its
inception, Canada shares responsibility with the United States and other
allies for the North Atlantic Treaty area.  Due to its membership in
NATO, Canada is an active participant in discussions stemming from the
Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). Two other
international organizations of special interest to Canada are the
Commonwealth-an association of former British colonies that share
similarities of language, customs, and institutions-and La
Francophonie-an association of French-speaking countries that include
France and former French colonies. Since about 24% of all Canadians
regard French as their mother tongue, Canada has sought to broaden and
strengthen ties with La Francophonie. Canadian economic assistance to
developing countries totals more than $2 billion annually.  The official
channel for government overseas aid programs is the Canadian
International Development Agency.  Canada also contributes substantially
to international and regional development organizations and is a major
supplier of food aid worldwide.

DEFENSE
 US defense arrangements with Canada are more extensive than with any
other country.  The Permanent Joint Board on Defense, established in
1940, provides policy-level consultation on bilateral defense matters.
The United States and Canada share NATO mutual security commitments.  As
the only other non-European ally, Canada contributes forces to NATO
commands in Europe and the North Atlantic.  In addition, US and Canadian
military forces have cooperated since 1958 on continental air defense
within the framework of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, an
integrated bilateral military command exercising operational control
over US and Canadian air defense forces and also providing early warning
information on possible air and missile attack on North America.  Canada
and the United States work closely in defense research and production.

US-CANADIAN RELATIONS
 Canada views its relationship with the United States as crucial to a
wide range of Canadian interests.  The bilateral relationship is varied
and complex.  Although occasional differences occur, US-Canadian
relations are close and cooperative. Investment and trade issues are a
major feature of US-Canadian relations.  There are a number of
cooperative economic efforts, such as the Auto Pact, which created a
largely integrated two-country market for automobiles, and defense
economic arrangements, which diminish obstacles to trade and technology
exchange and encourage a balance of trade in defense related areas. The
US-Canada trading relationship has been enhanced by the bilateral Free
Trade Agreement (FTA) that became effective on January 1, 1989.  Over a
10-year period, the FTA will remove all tariffs and virtually all import
and export restrictions; resolve many longstanding bilateral irritants;
and liberalize rules in several areas including agriculture, services,
energy, financial services, investment, and government procurement. The
United States and Canada recently have resolved several major issues
involving fisheries.  By common agreement, the two countries submitted a
Gulf of Maine boundary dispute to the International Court of Justice in
1981; both accepted the court's October 12, 1984, ruling.  On January
28, 1985, the United States and Canada signed the Pacific Salmon Treaty,
the culmination of years of difficult negotiations aimed at rebuilding
the Pacific salmon resource.  In 1990, the United States and Canada
signed a bilateral Fisheries Enforcement Agreement which, when
implemented, should deter illegal fishing activity and thereby reduce
the risk of  injury during fisheries enforcement incidents. The two
countries work closely to resolve transboundary environmental issues, an
area of increasing importance in the bilateral relationship.  A
principal instrument of this cooperation is the International Joint
Commission (IJC) established in 1909 to promote international
environmental cooperation.  The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreements of
1972 and 1978, aimed at preserving and enhancing the water quality of
the Great Lakes, are historic examples of joint cooperation in
controlling transboundary water pollution. The two governments also
frequently consult on transboundary air pollution, which remains an
issue of concern in both countries.  As of January 1991, the United
States and Canada were close to concluding an Air Quality Accord which
would limit the effects of transboundary air pollution such as acid
rain. Energy and transportation problems, such as natural gas trade and
trucking regulations, also are often nettlesome and require frequent
attention from both sides, though such issues usually have been
successfully resolved or managed through bilateral consultative forums.
Canada and the United States recently have announced an interest in
negotiating a new "open skies" regime in civil aviation.

Principal US Officials
Ambassador-Edward N. Ney Deputy
Chief of Mission-J. Todd Stewart
Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs-Stephen W. Buck
Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs-Lawrence P. Taylor
Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs-Dell F. Pendergrast
Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs-George Mu

 The US Embassy in Canada is located at 100 Wellington Street, Ottawa,
(tel. [phone]).  There are US consulates general in the following
cities: Calgary, Alberta (tel. [phone]); Halifax, Nova Scotia (tel.
902-429-2480); Montreal, Quebec (tel. [phone]); Quebec City, Quebec
(tel. [phone]); Toronto, Ontario (tel. [phone]); and
Vancouver, British Columbia (tel. [phone]).

 Canada's Provinces and Territories Atlantic Provinces:  Newfoundland,
Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick. Area-541,180 sq. km.
(208,146 sq. mi.).  Population (1988)-2.3 million.  Ethnic
groups-predominantly British, French.  Industry-fishing, agriculture,
mining, manufacturing.

 Quebec:  Area-1,356,790 sq. km. (523,857 sq. mi.).  Population
(1988)-6.7 million.  Ethnic groups-predominantly French, British, other
European groups.  Industry-agriculture, mining, manufacturing,
hydroelectric power.

 Ontario:  Area-891,190 sq. km. (345,420 sq. mi.).  Population
(1988)-9.5 million.  Ethnic groups-British, French, other European
groups.  Industry-manufacturing, agriculture, mining.

 Prairie Provinces:  Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta. Area-1.77 million
sq. km. (680,757 sq. mi.).  Population (1988)-4.5 million.  Ethnic
groups-British, other European groups.  Industry-agriculture, cattle,
petroleum and natural gas, mining, manufacturing.

 British Columbia:  Area-934,125 sq. km. (359,279 sq. mi.).  Population
(1988)-3 million.  Ethnic groups-British, other European, Chinese,

indigenous Indian.  Industry-forestry, manufacturing, fishing, mining,
agriculture.

 Territories:  Northwest Territory and Yukon Territory.  Area-3.79
million sq. km.  (1.45 million sq. mi.).  Population (1988)-72,300.
Ethnic groups-British, indigenous Indian, Inuit.  Industry-mining.

Houston Economic Summit, July 9-11, 1990
 President Bush hosted the 16th annual G-7 summit for the leaders of the
major industrialized democracies-Canada, the Federal Republic of
Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United
States-and the president of the European Community, in Houston, Texas,
July 9-11.  The Houston summit was held against the backdrop of movement
toward democracy and freer markets in many parts of the world, including
elections in Eastern Europe and Nicaragua, increasing momentum toward
German unification, and political reforms in the Soviet Union.  The
summit leaders agreed on most international economic and political
issues, but intense discussions were needed on agricultural subsidies in
the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, economic
assistance to the Soviet Union, and global warming before consensus
could be reached.

Economic Accomplishments
 -- Agreement on progressive reductions in internal and external support
and protection of agriculture and on a framework for conducting
agricultural negotiations in order to successfully conclude by December
1990 the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade talks under the auspices of
the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
 -- Request to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank,
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to undertake, in close
coordination with the European Community (EC), a study of the Soviet
economy, to make recommendations, to establish the criteria under which
Western economic assistance could effectively support Soviet reforms,
and to submit a report by the end of 1990.
 -- Support for aid to Central and Eastern European nations that are
firmly committed to political and economic reform, including freer
markets, and encouragement of foreign private investment in those
countries and improved markets for their exports by means of trade and
investment agreements.
 -- Pledge to begin negotiations, to be completed by 1992, on a global
forest convention to protect the world's forests.
Political Accomplishments
 -- Promotion of democracy throughout the world by assisting in the
drafting of laws, advising in fostering independent media, establishing
training programs, and expanding exchange programs.
 -- Endorsement of the maintenance of an effective international nuclear
nonproliferation system, including adoption of safeguards and nuclear
export control measures, and support for a complete ban on chemical
weapons.

TRAVEL NOTES
 Customs: US citizens visiting Canada may be required to show proof of
citizenship.  A US passport, birth certificate, or naturalization
certificate will suffice. Climate and clothing: Climate varies by
region.
 Currency: The unit of currency is the Canadian dollar.  Canadian and US
dollars are fully convertible at banks and at most border crossing
points.  The rate of exchange varies daily (1990 avg. was C$1=US$0.86).
 Tourist attractions:  In addition to abundant mountain and aquatic
recreational resources, Canada offers a wide range of regional events.
Newfoundland's annual regatta is one of the oldest sporting events in
North America.  Prince Edward Island features Country Days and Old Home
Week, with music, agricultural and handicraft displays, harness racing,
and parades.  Events in Nova Scotia include the Annapolis Apple Blossom
Festival, the Halifax Tattoo, and the Highland Games. New Brunswick
provides a variety of festivities related to its fishing industry, such
as the Shediac Lobster Festival, the Richibukto Scallop Festival, and
the Campbellton Salmon Festival. Quebec has many attractions, including
Man and His World (formerly Expo '67) and the Sherbrooke Festival des
Cantons, featuring Quebecois shows, horsepulling, soirees, and gourmet
cuisine.  In Ontario, drama festivals in Stratford and
Niagara-on-the-Lake are major attractions. Events in western Canada tend
to reflect its cultural diversity and pioneer heritage.  They include
the National Ukrainian Festival in Manitoba and the Oktoberfest in
Vancouver, British Columbia.  Saskatchewan has its Pioneer Days, and
Alberta has its Indian Days and the popular Calgary Stampede, one of the
largest rodeo shows in the world. Canada is abundantly endowed with
natural attractions.  The federal government maintains 34 national
parks, most of them with campsites and other basic camping facilities,
and each province maintains a number of similar parks.  In addition, 96
national historic parks and sites are maintained by the government of
Canada.
 Time zones:  Time zones in Canada correspond to those in the United
States, with the exception of Atlantic time (1 hour ahead of eastern
standard time), which is observed in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and
Prince Edward Island; and Newfoundland time (1 hour and 30 minutes ahead
of eastern standard time), which is observed only in the Province of
Newfoundland.
 Transportation, telecommunication, and other:  Virtually all US
products are available in Canada.  Canadian telephone facilities are
excellent, and direct dialing is possible between the United States and
Canada.  Public transportation, education, and health services generally
are excellent.

National Holidays:
  New Year's Day-Jan. 1
  Queen's Birthday-mid-May
 Dominion Day-July 1
  Civic Holiday-1st Mon. in   Aug.
 Thanksgiving Day-Oct. 12
 Remembrance Day-Nov. 11
 Christmas Day-Dec. 25
 Boxing Day-Dec. 26

 Further information about Canada is available from the Canadian Embassy
in Washington, DC, and Canadian consulates in several US cities (see
page 5).

 Published by the United States Department of State  --  Bureau of
Public Affairs  -- Office of  Public Communication  -- Washington, DC
--  January 1991 -- Editor:  Marilyn J. Bremner.   Department of State
Publication 7769--Background Notes Series  --  This material is in the
public domain and may  be reprinted without permission; citation of this
source is appreciated.  For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, US
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC  20402. (###)


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