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Canada

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Last updated: 19 June 2009

Country information

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Canada today

Country facts

Area: 9,984,670 million sq km
Population: (estimated population) is 33.4 million (2009)
Capital city: Ottawa
People: Canada is a multicultural country with people from all over the world who have now made Canada their home. Ethnic Groups (wholly or partly): North American Origin 40%, British Origin 33%, French Origin 16%, Other European 29%, Aboriginal peoples 4%, South, East & South-East Asian 9%, Other (mostly Caribbean, Arab, African, Latin/Central/South American and West Asian) 6%. The total comes to more than 100% because many Canadians (approximately 38%) have a mixed background.
Languages: Canada has two official languages, English (59%) and French (23%). 17% of the population have another language as their ‘mother tongue’.
Religion(s): Roman Catholic 43%; Protestant 23% (including United Church 9%, Anglican 6%, Baptist 2%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4%, Muslim 1% other and unspecified 11%, none 16%.
Currency: Canadian Dollar. 1 Dollar is made up of 100 cents.
Major political parties: The main political parties at federal (i.e. national) level are: Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Bloc Quebecois (in Quebec Province only) and New Democratic Party (NDP). The Liberals and NDP are also represented at provincial level. There are also some notable provincial parties, e.g. the Progressive Conservative Party, the Parti Quebecois in Quebec, the Saskatchewan Party and the Yukon Party.
Government: Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a federal state with a democratic system of government.
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Michaelle Jean (since 27 September 2005).
Head of Government: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (re-elected on 14 October 2008)
Foreign Minister: The Honourable Lawrence Cannon (October 2008)
Membership of international groupings/organisations: Member of the Commonwealth; North America Free Trade Assocation (NAFTA); North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO); Organisation of American States (OAS); G8; World Trade Organisation (WTO); La Francophonie.

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