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Economy & Industry

> Canada's Economy   > Energy   > Mining   > Agriculture   > Transportation   > Useful Links Canada's Economy With a population of 30 million and a GDP of $1,142.62 billion in 2002, Canada is one of the world's largest economies. Amember of the G7 group of leading industrial countries, Canada enjoys an enviable standard of living, an excellent infrastructure, ahighly educated and skilled labour force as well as a well-deserved reputation as a successful trading nation. Canada's leadingindustries include automobile manufacturing, pulp and paper, iron and steel work, machinery and equipment manufacturing, mining,extraction of fossil fuels, forestry and agriculture. Canada's leading exports are automobile vehicles and parts, machinery andequipment, high-technology products, oil, natural gas, metals, and forest and farm products. Energy The core of Canada's energy industry has traditionally been defined as the production of petroleum, natural gas, hydroelectricity, coal and uranium, all of which are part of Canada's resource endowment. There are also newer, and increasingly more important components ofour energy industry - energy efficient alternative fuels and renewable energy, such as solar, wind, biomass and "small" hydro projects. Canada's energy industry also encompasses a wide variety of other activities, such as the transformation, transportation, distributionand refinement of energy products. These activities include petroleum refining, petroleum and natural gas pipelines, retail gas service stations, the transmission and distribution of electricity, and the thermal production of electricity from various types of fossil fuels ... more. Mining The mining and the mineral industry is an enormous and vital contributor to the Canadian economy, as the following figures make clear: 3.7 percent of the national gross domestic product (GDP) is contributed by the mining and mineral processing industries; over 380,000people are employed in the mining and mineral processing industries; average weekly earnings in the mining industry are over $1 000; 13.3 percent of total exports are provided by minerals and mineral products; 80 percent of mineral and metal production is exported; Canada isranked second in the world in exploration investment; and 113 Canadian communities have mining as the major source of economic activity. Such an overview, however, does not tell the whole story. Besides affecting our national livelihood, mining has a direct impact on someof the most important aspects of our everyday lives ... more. Agriculture Agriculture has been a vital force in the Canadian economy for centuries and today remains a major contributor to Canada's trade ininternational markets. In 2002, Canada exported agriculture and agri-food products, totalling $30.9 billion.One of the world's leading food producers, Canada is best known for its excellent grains, oilseeds, vegetables, meats and dairy products.Canadian farming practices, fertilizer and feed technologies, equipment and management techniques all contribute to Canada's abundantproduction of crops and livestock. The Canadian agricultural and agri-food sector is the third largest employer in Canada. Agricultureprovided 406 900 jobs to Canadians in 1999, who represent about 1.3 percent of the country's total population and 2.8 percent of itsworkforce. Another 1.5 million Canadians, or 10.6 percent of the total employment, work in food and beverage processing, food retail,food services, and related industries in the agri-food system. All in all, the agri-food sector generates about 8.5 percent of Canada'sgross domestic product ... more. Transportation Canada's history is closely linked to the history of transportation. One need only look at a map to understand the various geographicalobstacles posed by the nation's landscape. Transportation has always played - and will continue to play - a vital role in shapingCanada's future. With a population density of approximately three persons per square kilometre, Canada's 30 million people are scatteredacross an area that is nearly 10 million square kilometres in size, stretching 5 500 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific.What Canada and Canadians need is a safe, efficient, sustainable transportation system that includes all modes - air, marine, road andrail ... more. Useful Links   > Labour Market Information  > Doing Business with Canada  > Canadian Industry statistics  > Canadian Commercial Corporation  > Fact Sheets about Agri-food Industry  > Canadian Mining Facts  > Stats about Primary Industries  > Stats about Economic Conditions (Price Indexes)  > Stats about International Trade  > Labour Force Survey  > Stats about Labour, Employment and Unemployment  > Currency  > Monetary Policy