Canada at a Glance

Canada is ranked as the second largest country of the world. It spans six time zones. It extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and later creeps deep into the Arctic. Surprisingly, its total population is just a ‘little more’ than the national capital region of India ‘Delhi’. It is bounded by the luxurious Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans. Canada’s vast spread of untouched natural beauty; breath-taking mountains and glaciers; secluded lakes and forests; is unparalleled worldwide. Its ultra modern cosmopolitan cities which are clean, safe, friendly and multicultural, add to its allure and grandiosity. The United Nations has ranked Canada as one of the best places in the world, to live!! This assessment bases its assertiveness on factors like: educational attainment; life expectancy; national income; and quality of life.

There is a subtle edginess between Canada's indigenous, French and British traditions. This fact provides a complex three-dimensional character, to the nation. There is a thriving multicultural society and a fascinating ethnic diversity. This is coupled with a constant infusion of US culture and a plethora of traditions, imported by the recent immigrants from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Multiculturalism symbolizes the cornerstone of the Canadian identity. The United Nations has ranked ‘Toronto’, Canada’s largest city, as the most multicultural city in the world.

Canada is ranked as one of the wealthiest nations of the world, producing a high per-capita income. It is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and is a part of the G8 countries. It is ranked as, one of the top ten, trading and manufacturing nations. It takes pride to speak of a near-negligible unemployment rate. Canada resembles the U.S. in its; market-oriented economic system; pattern of production; and high living standards. The Canada-United States, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) of 1988 eliminated tariffs between the two countries, whereas North American Free trade Agreement (NAFTA) worked to expand the free trade zone, to include Mexico in the 1990s. Thus it has become a very interesting economic zone.