Canada: Government, Trade, and Finances Essay Example

NAFTA in 1994.

Canada may be much like the US in many ways, but they are much more different from fellow first world country New Zealand.

 New Zealand is very dependent on the British market to survive, while Canada can take care of itself.  Their GDP is only $59.4 billion, much less than that of Canada, but their per capita GDP is $16,281, which is not as big of a difference.  New Zealand's annual growth rate is 2.8%, which is almost double that of Canada.  New Zealand shares all of Canada's trading partners, and also Australia.

In 1996, they exported $13.6 billion in goods such as meat, dairy, manufactured products, wood, fish, fruit, vegetables, and wool.  They imported $13 billion of products like machinery, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, chemicals, and mineral fuels.  Like Canada, they export more than they import.

Group EvaluationCanada is a very successful first world country, with far more advantages than disadvantages.

They have many natural resources, like timber, wheat, minerals, petroleum, industrial materials, and natural gas. Their low population density (7.7 people per square mile) and gargantuan size (second only to Russia) means lots of land free for farming, mining, and agriculture, not to mention the large, dense forests with all of their highly profitable lumber. Their GDP is quite high, with a respectable 1.

5% yearly growth. They export more than they import, as stated earlier. Canada is a member of NATO, OSCE, OAS, APEC, and NAFTA, as well as close friends with France. What may be Canada's biggest asset is its strong relationship with the US.

Many say that the US and Canada are friendlier than any other two nations in the

world. They trade with each other quite freely, and have the longest friendly border in the world.

Their unemployment rate is still high, but it is dropping, currently 8.6%, down from November's 9%.  Canada's biggest disadvantage is its inner conflict between the French-speaking residents of Quebec, who call themselves the Quebecois, and the rest of the country.

 Many Quebecois want to separate from the rest of the country, and have voted on this twice.  The first time, in 1980, it was rejected by 20%, while recently in 1995 it only lost by .56%.  The Quebecois want to hold another vote before the end of 1999, and since the last one was so close, there is a very strong possibility that Canada will become a nation divided.

Bibliography

1. "Background Notes: Canada."  SIRS Government Reporter, SIRS Inc., October 1998.
2. "Canada's Fiscal Situation and Outlook - Budget Fact Sheet 1998." http://www.fin.gc.ca/budget98/facte/fiscfte.html"Canada's Strong Economy." http://www.cyberhaven.com/globalinvesting/canadaeconomy.html