CANADA – Economy

·       Canada is the 9th biggest economy in the world.

·       Until the early 20th century Canada had a predominantly agricultural economy

·       Today, it is highly industrialised with one of the world´s highest per capita income rates

·       Well endowed with natural resources:

1. minerals (potash, uranium, nickel, zinc, asbestos, aluminium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, gold, diamonds)

2. petroleum and natural gas

3.forests

4.extensive coastal waters for fishing

5. rivers and falls for hydroelectric power

·       One of world´s most open economies, where exports account for around 40% of GDP

·       Good economic growth continued into the 2000s (naughties)

·       In 2008 investment and exports collapsed in the world economic downturn and the economy went sharply into recession

-persisted into the 3^rd quarter of 2009

Labour force

·       18,59 million

·       unemployment rate: 8%

·       labour force by occupation: agriculture 2%, manufacturing 13%, construction 6%, services 76%, other 3%

·       Public debt: 34% of GDP

Agricultural products

·       wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetable, forest products, fish

Industries

·       transportation equipment, chemicals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum and natural gas

·       The main industrial centres are Ontario, Quebec, Alberta

 

·       Canada is the biggest legume (luštěniny) producer in the world

·       7^th biggest food exporter

·       2^nd largest oil reserves

·       US´s largest foreign supplier of energy

·       Pharmaceutical industry is the 9^th biggest in the world

Export commodities: (Comprises 1/3 of economic output)

·       motor vehicles and parts (3^rd biggest car exporter in the world – Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Freightliner); produces 2,5 mil cars a year

·       aircraft

·       chemicals

·       plastics

·       wood pulp, timber

·       natural gas, electricity, aluminium

Import commodities:

·       machinery and equipment

·       motor vehicles and parts

·       crude oil

·       chemicals

·       electricity

Transportation

Airports: 1404

Railways: 46 688 km

Roadway: 1 042 300 km

Waterways: 636 km

Currency

·       Canadian dollar (CAD), 1 dollar = 100 cents

·       Circulating coins: Cents: 1,2,5,10,25,50; Dollars: 1,2; Banknotes: 5,10,20,50,100

·       USD/CAD exchange rate in 2010: 1 CAD = 0,9744 USD

·       CAD/CZK: 1 CAD = 17,83 CZK

Important national holidays:

·       Victoria Day (Svátek královny Viktorie) = 1^st Monday before the 25^th May

·       Canada Day (Den vzniku) = July 1

·       Thanksgiving = 2^nd Monday in October