Canada Travel Guide
Total Area:9,984,670 sq km Land Borders: USA
Population: 33,098,932
Life Expectancy: 80 years HIV % Total Poulation:0.3%
Ethnic Groups: British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%
Languages:English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%
Prime Minister:Stephen HARPER GDP - Per Capita: $34,000
A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Canada's paramount political problem is meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and education services after a decade of budget cuts. Canada also faces questions about integrity in government following revelations regarding a corruption scandal in the federal government that has helped revive the fortunes of separatists in predominantly francophone Quebec.