|
|
|
Outcome area: Income security and employment for
Canadians
Outcome area: Strong economic growth
Outcome area: An innovative and knowledge-based economy
Outcome area: A clean and healthy environment
Outcome
area: A fair and secure marketplace
Outcome
area: Healthy Canadians
Outcome area: Safe and secure communities
Outcome area: A diverse society that promotes linguistic
duality and social inclusion
Outcome area: A vibrant Canadian culture and heritage
Outcome area: A safe and secure world through
international cooperation
Outcome
area: Global poverty reduction through sustainable development
Outcome
area: A prosperous Canada through global commerce
Canada experienced employment growth in 2005. Employment grew 1.4 per cent with 227, 600 net new jobs created, continuing an upward trend that began in the mid-1990s. The number of employed relative to the working-age population (persons 15 and over) in December 2005 was 62.7 per cent, the same figure as in December 2004.
The highest employment rates in the country can be found in the three Prairie provinces and Ontario. Alberta, in particular, has consistently had the highest rate of all the provinces. In 2005, the employment rate in Alberta was at a record high of 69.8 per cent, reflecting an upward trend in job growth that began in the early 1990s.
Newfoundland and Labrador has consistently ranked as the province with the lowest proportion of its working-age population holding a job. In 2005, its employment rate was 49.8 per cent, 12.9 percentage points below the national average of 62.7 per cent. However, the employment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador has increased by 7.5 percentage points since 1996, the result of healthy employment growth in the province during this period.
Over the past three decades, the employment rate gap among the provinces has narrowed. Most noteworthy is New Brunswick, where the difference between the provincial employment rate and the national average has decreased more than in any other province. In 1976, the provincial employment rate was 9.1 percentage points below the national average and by 2005, that gap had decreased to 5.3 percentage points.
The unemployment rate in Canada reached historic lows, closing the year 2005 at 6.7 per cent, down from 7.2 per cent in 2004. On a monthly basis, the unemployment rate reached a thirty-year low in November 2005 at 6.4 per cent.
While the unemployment rate decreased in all provinces, there was a great deal of variation in performance. The Atlantic provinces and Quebec continue to have higher unemployment rates than the national average. All provinces east of Ontario experienced higher unemployment rates relative to the national average, while all provinces west of Ontario experienced lower unemployment rates relative to the national average. Alberta and Manitoba registered the lowest unemployment rates in 2005, at 3.9 per cent and 4.8 per cent, respectively, whereas British Columbia and Alberta experienced the fastest drop in their unemployment rates.
Canada has experienced consistent employment growth since the mid-1990s, in contrast with some G-7 countries, such as Japan and Germany, whose employment growth has been minimal. Between 1997 and 2005, Canada experienced the strongest growth in employment among the G-7 countries, outperforming e.g. the United States and the United Kingdom. Strong global growth and rising demand for Canadian commodities, combined with provincial and federal policies to improve flexibility and adaptability, have helped Canada to generate employment growth of 2.09 per cent between 1997 and 2005.
After declining in the first half of the 1990s, real disposable income (RDI) per capita has increased at an average rate of 1.8 per cent per year since 1997, reflecting strong employment growth and cuts in personal taxes. In 2005, RDI rose 1.5 per cent from the 2004 level.
In addition, the 2001 Census indicated increases in overall earnings, defined here as total wages and salaries plus net income from self-employment.
Despite the strong growth in average incomes, some Canadians still experience economic hardships, living on incomes insufficient to meet their daily needs or to allow adequate participation in society. While Canada does not have an official poverty line, low income measures such as Statistics Canada's post-tax low income cut-offs (LICOs) are typically used to measure and monitor Canada's low-income situation.
According to the latest data available, the percentage of Canadians living below the low-income cut-offs decreased from 15.7 per cent in 1996 to 11.2 per cent in 2004, based on their after-tax income. The 2004 figures showed a slight decrease from the previous year's rate of 11.6 per cent.
In 2004, the LICOs based on the income after tax varied from $11,824 for an unattached individual living in a rural area to $44,197 for a family of seven or more persons living in a large Canadian city.
Low income among seniors has declined significantly, from 21.3 per cent in 1980 to 5.6 per cent in 2004.
Of the estimated 1,595,000 single-parent families headed by a woman, 35.6 per cent had an income below the low-income cut-off in 2004, up from 33.8 per cent in 2003. Their low-income rate peaked at 52.7 per cent in 1996.
An estimated 12.8 per cent of children, or 865,000 Canadians under the age of 18, were living in low-income families in 2004. This represents a decline from a peak of 18.6 per cent in 1996 but a slight increase from the 12.1-per-cent rate in 2001.
(Statistics Canada, The Daily, "Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics," 2006)
In 2003, Canada experienced an economic slowdown, reflecting a series of economic shocks, including an unprecedented appreciation of the Canadian dollar. Rebounding in 2004, real GDP rose 3.3 per cent, surpassing the 1.8 per cent recorded in 2003.Real GDP increased by 2.9 per cent in 2005, slightly below its 2004 growth. Within the G-7, Canada had the second-fastest growth in real GDP in 2005, second to the United States.
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canada has been a top performer among the G-7 countries in GDP growth over the 2002–05 period and is expected to continue its dynamic performance over the 2006–07 period, with a projected growth in real GDP of 3.2 per cent (OECD, Economic Outlook No.79, May 2005).
In 2005, four provinces and territories recorded economic growth that was above the national average of 2.9 per cent, most of them in western Canada.
Oil price increases throughout 2004 and 2005 brought good fortune to Alberta's economy, which rose 4.5 per cent, by far the highest among the provinces. Economic growth in Alberta was above the Canadian average for the third year in a row. Surging oil prices in 2005 led to huge gains in corporate profits and a subsequent increase in business investment and personal expenditure.
British Columbia was close behind, with a 3.5 per cent gain. A marked reduction in the unemployment rate, strong labour income, and a boost in residential construction facilitated this economic growth.
The Saskatchewan economy outpaced the Canadian average for a third consecutive year. Strong energy prices led to an increase in corporate profits in the mining and manufacturing sectors. However, its growth of 3.2 per cent in 2005 was just behind the 3.4 per cent increase in 2004.
Manitoba rounded out the West with a 2.7 per cent increase, powered by electricity exports. Manitoba has the second-lowest unemployment rate in the country. This, coupled with strength in labour income and low interest rates, spurred economic growth.
Prince Edward Island's economy led the Atlantic provinces in 2005, rising 2.0 per cent, just above the 1.8 per cent gain in 2004. Labour income strength, low interest rates, and continued job stability led to increased personal spending on durable goods and business investment in machinery and equipment.
Economic output in Nova Scotia rose 1.1 per cent, slightly lower than the 1.4 per cent gain in 2004. Increases in government spending at hospitals and universities, and a surge in labour income facilitated the economic growth. The Newfoundland and Labrador economy recovered from public-sector unrest in 2004, edging up 0.4 per cent in 2005. Natural resources continued to play an important role in the economy as the Voisey's Bay nickel mine and the White Rose oil field began production late in the year.
The New Brunswick economy advanced 0.5 per cent in 2005, well off its 2004 pace. Business investment outpaced government investment to feed demand for housing, and office and rental space. Consumers took advantage of continued low interest rates and strong labour income.
Economic output in Ontario advanced 2.8 per cent in 2005, slightly below the Canadian average for a third consecutive year. Appreciation in the value of the Canadian dollar and an increase in foreign competition hampered export growth from the intense pace of 2004. However, the all-important auto sector remained strong, with steady demand for Ontario-built automobiles.
In Quebec, economic output grew 2.2 per cent, just off the pace in 2004. Goods production was outpaced by services production and Quebec's aerospace industry contributed to growth in manufacturing activity. Electronic equipment manufacturing advanced, but the gain in the Canadian dollar and increased foreign competition contributed to declines in much of manufacturing.
Economic output in Yukon rose 3.4 per cent in 2005, slower than the growth rate of 3.5 per cent in 2004. The Canada Games Centre became the impetus for an upswing in business investment. The tight labour market aided personal income, which in turn led to increases in personal expenditures and housing demand.
In the Northwest Territories, economic output rose only 1.0 per cent, its slowest increase since 1999. With mining operations nearing capacity at the existing diamond mines in the Northwest Territories, construction of a new mine at Snap Lake has taken over as the engine of growth. Truckers and airlines benefited from the construction activity and growth in labour income remained strong in 2005.
Nunavut's economy edged down 0.5 per cent in 2005. Mining operations and exports suffered a setback with another mine closure, but the development of the Jericho mine site bodes well for the future. The completion of several public building projects gave rise to increases in various levels of government services, but left construction activity suffering.
The comparison of business costs demonstrates the advantages of locating business operations in Canada. Lower costs encourage the investment, expansion, or start of businesses in Canada. Costs related to labour, transportation, communications, and taxes were some of the factors considered in a 2006 study published by KPMG (Competitive Alternatives: KPMG's Guide to International Business Costs).
Among the nine countries studied, Canada leads the G7 countries in terms of low business costs, with a cost advantage of 5.5 per cent relative to the United States (the baseline of the study). Canada has retained its top ranking among G7 countries, although the size of its advantage has been reduced by the strong appreciation in value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar over the last two years. In 2004, Canada had a 9.0-per-cent cost advantage relative to the U.S., down from 14.5 per cent in 2002. According to the study, the decline in the U.S. dollar relative to world currencies was the most important factor affecting international business competitiveness since 2002.
Among the 95 commercial fish stocks assessed between 2003 and 2006, 20 stocks were healthy and increasing; 28 were healthy and stable; and 47 were declining or depleted. A healthy designation is indicative of a biologically sustainable stock, whereas a declining or depleted designation is an indication of concern with regard to the current or future sustainability of the stock within the context of the commercial fishery. The percentage of assessed stocks that are healthy as compared with those that are declining or depleted has increased approximately six per cent since the 2001–03 period. Variables affecting the status of these commercial fish stocks include both natural (e.g. cyclic fluctuations in abundance) and anthropogenic factors (e.g. impacts of development).
It should be noted that this is not a balanced representation of all Canadian fish stocks. Stocks in the North and Pacific salmon are under-represented, due to their assessment schedules, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada intentionally organizes its assessment schedule to regularly evaluate the status of stocks not considered to be healthy. As a result, they may be over-represented in the group of stocks beings assessed.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Advisory Secretariat, 2006
Maintaining a strong economy calls for the integration of environmental considerations into economic decision making and can be measured by the number of firms certified with the environmental management system ISO 14001. The number of certifications to the international environmental management standard ISO 14001 is often used as an indicator of a country's development in the use of voluntary environmental agreements and is understood as a form of country-level environmental performance indicator. The number of Canadian firms with ISO 14001 certification increased from 100 in 1999 to 1,492 in 2004 and then to 1,636 in 2005.
Consideration of the size of a country (measured by population) and its level of economic development (measured by GDP) should be taken into account when using ISO 14001 certification as a measure of green economic practices, as these provide context in which to judge a country's environmental management development.
Canada's international ranking ranges from 33rd in 1999 to 19th in 2001 and 27th in 2003 when taking into account the level of Canada's economic development. When factoring in Canada's size, Canada's 2003 ranking is unchanged from 22nd in 1999, with its highest ranking of 15th occurring in 2001. For both measures in 2003, Canada places second last within the G-7, ahead of only the U.S. Globally, since 1999 Sweden has held the top ranking when economic development and country size are considered, with Switzerland, Denmark, and Finland also consistently in the top five.
Canada's Gross Domestic Expenditures on Research and Development (GERD) as a percentage of GDP was 1.96 per cent in 2004, continuing a downward trend from 2.09 per cent in 2001. It is increasingly important for Canada to be competitive with other countries that are aggressively increasing their GERD, such as Finland, Iceland, and Japan, all of which by 2002 exceeded 3 per cent GERD as a percentage of GDP, following steady increases since the early 1990s.
After a decrease in 2002, increases in GERD are reported for 2004 and 2005, with a gain of 5.3 per cent in 2004 and preliminary estimates of an additional 4.0 per cent in 2005 to reach a total of $26.3 billion. In 2004, government funded 25.4 per cent of GERD, a figure that represents an overall gain since 1999, when the government share was 22.6 per cent. This is more than an 8.0-percentage-point decrease from 1991, however, when government financed 33.8 per cent. In contrast, industry-financed GERD has increased since 1991, growing from 38.2 per cent to 47.1 per cent in 2005.
In terms of performance of GERD for 2005, industry performed 52.7 per cent, higher education 37.5 per cent, and government 9.5 per cent. The business enterprise sector's performance share has decreased from 1998 when it was 60.2 per cent, though the 2004 figure represents an increase since 1991 when it was 49.7 per cent. Higher education's performance share of GERD has increased since 1998, from 27.2 per cent in 1998. Government-performed GERD has decreased since 1991, when it was 18.7 per cent. Budget 2005 notes that Canada ranks among the top five nations in terms of publicly performed research (universities, research hospitals, and government laboratories) as a proportion of GDP.
In 2003, the top three industries for research and development (R&D) intensity, as measured by R&D spending as a percentage of GDP, were scientific research and development services, communications equipment manufacturing, and health care and social assistance services.
Between 1991 and 2002, the total number of researchers in Canada increased from 67,080 to 112,630. Per thousand total employment, there were 5.1 researchers in 1991 and 7.2 in 2002. The R&D sector as a whole had a workforce of 177,120 in 2002 or 11.3 personnel per thousand total employment. (Statistics Canada, 2005; OECD, 2004)
For further information on GERD, see the OECD Factbook 2005: Economic, Environmental and Social Statistics, which can be accessed on the OECD website at http://www.oecd.org/home.
Shares in triadic patent families are used to measure a country's inventive performance, diffusion of knowledge, and innovative activities. Canada's world share in triadic patent families among the OECD countries grew slightly from 1.13 per cent in 1996 to 1.31 per cent in 2002, peaking at 1.34 per cent in 1998. In contrast, the U.S. had the greatest share in 2002 at 36.29 per cent.
The number of triadic patent families with a Canadian residence of the inventor increased from 1996 to 2002, peaking at 670 in 2001. Similarly, numbers of triadic patent families have increased overall for the major OECD countries. (OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators 2005/2)
Within the G-7, Canada had the second-lowest number of triadic patent families per million population in 2001, with 20.6, greater only than Italy's 14.8. Japan led the way with 92.3. In all G-7 countries, the number of triadic patent families per million population increased between 1991 and 2001. Examining the number of triadic patent families in relation to population size provides some context in terms of capacity to innovate. (OECD, Science, Technology and Industry: Scoreboard 2005)
|
Country |
Number of |
Number of |
|
Canada |
9.8 |
20.6 |
|
France |
30.5 |
40.3 |
|
Germany |
46.0 |
90.7 |
|
Italy |
11.7 |
14.8 |
|
Japan |
71.8 |
92.3 |
|
United Kingdom |
21.8 |
36.7 |
|
U.S. |
40.0 |
57.7 |
(Source: OECD, Science, Technology and Industry: Scoreboard 2005)
Over the past 15 years, Canada's share of science and engineering articles has been relatively low as compared to other OECD countries. In 2003, output totalled 24,803 articles, the highest output registered since 1988. In 2001, Canadian science and engineering article outputs totalled 22,626, down from 23,417 in 1999.
For further information on science and engineering article outputs, see the National Science Foundation report entitled Science and Engineering Indicators 2006, Volume 2 (http://www.nsf.gov/statistics).
OECD studies suggest that an innovation gap separates Canada from the leading OECD countries. The Canada's Innovation Performance chart shows that in a number of indicators of innovation performance, Canada is considerably behind the U.S. and other G-7 countries.
According to the 2001 Census, 61.0 per cent of Canadians aged 25 to 34 had educational credentials beyond high school—28.0 per cent had a university education, 21.0 per cent held a college diploma, and 12.0 per cent had trade credentials. This is a marked increase over a decade earlier when only 49.0 per cent of people in that age category had credentials past high school.
In 2003, full-year, full-time workers with a university degree earned on average $67,091 compared to $37,840 for those with only a high school diploma, a difference of $29,251. (Statistics Canada, 2005)
About two thirds of the new jobs created in Canada will be in management or will require some form of post-secondary education, from trades certificates to advanced degrees. (Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, 2005)
According to the OECD, Canada is the world leader in education when considering the combined proportion of university and college graduates. In 2003, 44 per cent of Canada's population aged 25 to 64 had completed a college or university education, increasing annually from 29.9 per cent in 1991. Within the rest of the G-7 figures range from the U.S. with 38 per cent to 10 per cent in Italy.
According to the OECD, in 2003, 53 per cent of all Canadians aged 25 to 34 had educational credentials beyond high school in comparison with 34 per cent of all Canadians aged 55 to 64. Differences between tertiary attainment of younger and older age groups is a measure of progress in the provision of higher education. (OECD, Education at a Glance, 2005)
Within the age group of 25–34 year olds, 23.0 per cent of males and 29.0 per cent of females in 2002 attained university and advanced research program levels. Every year since 1998, the proportion of the female population marking this achievement has been higher than the proportion of the male population.
In 2002, 40.0 per cent of Canadian males aged 25–64 attained tertiary-level education, while 45.0 per cent of females reached the same level. (OECD, Factbook 2005: Economic, Environmental and Social Statistics)
The 2003 results of the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey found that the average literacy score for Canadians has not changed significantly since the last major survey in 1994, the International Adult Literacy Survey. During this period, there were significant numbers of adult Canadians with low-level literacy skills that constrained their participation in society and in the economy. For example, while 58.0 per cent of Canadian adults aged 16 to 65 placed in the top three literacy levels on the prose scale, 15.0 per cent, or over 3 million Canadians, scored on the lowest level, indicating significant problems with dealing with printed materials. Level 3 is considered the required minimum for successfully functioning within the emerging knowledge society and information economy.
Among the seven countries that participated in the 2003 survey, Canada ranked roughly in the middle. On the prose scale, residents of Norway and Bermuda performed better than Canada, whereas Canadian adults performed slightly better than Americans on all scales.
The 2003 OECD study on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) evaluated reading literacy, mathematics literacy, and science literacy of 15-year-old students in 41 countries. In reading, the overall achievement of Canadian students was significantly above the OECD average and only students in Finland outperformed Canadian students. These results are consistent with those of the 2000 PISA study. Canada also performed well in mathematics and science, with two countries and four countries respectively outperforming Canada. Where comparisons of the 2000 and 2003 mathematics results are possible (due to refinements in methodology), similar and improving scores were observed. Lower science performance scores were recorded in 2003 as compared to 2000.
Ground-level ozone is a key component of smog and one of the most common and harmful air pollutants to which people are exposed.
The measure of ground-level ozone used in this report attempts to capture the trend in long-term ozone concentrations at the national level and to take into account human exposure to the pollutant. Ground-level ozone is an important indicator of air quality, as there are currently no established thresholds below which it does not pose a risk to human health.
Ground-level ozone concentrations may vary from location to location and from hour to hour, depending on sunlight intensity, weather conditions, and the movement of air over various distances. Ozone is not emitted directly as a pollutant but is a colourless gas formed by chemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOC). These ozone precursors may be emitted locally or transported by the movement of air from other regions, including other countries.
The 2003 indicator of warm-season, population-weighted, ground-level ozone averaged approximately 40 parts per billion (ppb) in Canada, a 16 per cent increase over time from 1990.
In 2001, average residential water use per person was 335.0 litres per day. Water use involves taking water from the environment, as well as returning water to the environment; as a result, a variety of pressures are placed on Canada's water resources. The quantity of water used is a concern, which includes concern over the capability of aquatic ecosystems to meet demand during dry periods. Water quality is a related issue of water use due to the increased use of water treatment chemicals that are subsequently discharged with wastewater.
In Canada, water use is dominated by agriculture and industry—e.g. 64.0 per cent of water use in Canada is attributed to the flow of water into and out of thermal power plants.
Since 1978, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has been assessing and reassessing the status of Canadian wild species suspected of being at risk.[1]By the end of April 2006, COSEWIC had assessed 727 species, with 516 of these considered to be at risk of extinction (extirpated, endangered, threatened, or of special concern).
An additional 13 species have been assessed by COSEWIC as extinct—the same number as reported in May 2005. A total of 163 species have been assessed by COSEWIC more than once. Of these, the status of 48 species worsened (29.4 per cent), whereas 27 species (16.6 per cent) improved, i.e. were determined to be no longer at risk or placed in a lower risk category. This would seem to illustrate that, despite some successes, the state of biodiversity overall has deteriorated. As an indicator, however, COSEWIC reassessments offer only a glimpse of the overall status of biodiversity in Canada. Other indicators are currently under development for Canada.
For more information on environmental sustainability indicators, please consult the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators 2005 report at http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/16-251-XIE/16-251-XIE2005000.htm. The companion report, Canadian Environment Sustainability Indicators 2005: Socio-economic Information, fills an essential and complementary need: helping readers put the indicator results in context by providing information about the forces driving the changes in the indicators. It draws on the wealth of information that Statistics Canada has assembled over many decades, presenting data in familiar formats and in ways that will be new to many readers. This report can be found at http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/Statcan/16-253-X/16-253-XIE2005000.pdf.
Total GHG emissions in Canada in 2004 were 758 Mt, which represents a 0.6 per cent increase over the 2003 total of 754 Mt and a 26.6 per cent increase over the 1990 total of 599 Mt and a 34.6 per cent increase over the Kyoto target of 563 Mt. The increase from 2003 to 2004 was small, primarily due to significantly reduced emissions from electricity production and a reduced demand for heating fuel due to warmer weather.
Between 2003 and 2004, emissions from most sectors were up. Industrial Processes, Solvent and Other Product Use, Agriculture, and Waste were up by 8.3 per cent, 0.9 per cent, 4.5 per cent, and 0.8 per cent, respectively. On the other hand, Energy Sector emissions actually showed a decrease of 0.4 per cent, the first since the 1990–91 period. This minimized overall growth. The Energy Sector decrease was due primarily to lower emissions from electricity, on the basis of increased nuclear availability and reduced coal generation.
Between 1990 and 2004, significant growth in oil and gas production, much of which was provided to the United States, resulted in a dramatic increase in the emissions associated with the production and transportation of fuel for export. In 2004, net emissions associated with these exports were 47.8 Mt, a 123 per cent increase over the 1990 level of 21.5 Mt. (Environment Canada, 2006)
According to the OECD, Canada has developed a strong regulatory capacity that has greatly contributed to Canada's economic growth. Three areas for measuring the regulatory climate and producing an overall score for barriers to entrepreneurship are as follows:
In 2003, Canada had the lowest level of regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship among G-7 countries, sharing the top position with the United Kingdom. Canada's overall score has improved from 1998. These low barriers contribute to an innovative economy and provide an advantage for Canadian entrepreneurs in the global marketplace. According to the OECD, however, a key priority for Canada should be to reduce barriers to foreign ownership because restrictions are holding back competition and innovation. (OECD, Product Market Regulation in OECD Countries, 1998 to 2003;Ibid,Economics Working Paper No. 419, 2005; Ibid, Economic Policy Reforms—Going for Growth, 2005)
Life expectancy for Canadians reached a record high of 79.9 years in 2003, compared with 77.8 years in 1991. A woman born in 2003 can expect to live 82.4 years, while a man can expect to live 77.4 years. The gender gap has nevertheless significantly decreased in recent years. While women were expected to live 7.1 years longer than men in 1981, today women are expected to live 5.0 years longer than men. (Statistics Canada, The Daily, December 21, 2005, and Statistics Canada Database)
The remarkable gains in life expectancy in the G-7 countries over the past four decades are due largely to rising standards of living, public health interventions, and progress in medical care. According to the OECD, Japan had the highest life expectancy among G-7 countries in 2003 (81.8 years), followed by Italy (79.9 years) and Canada (79.7 years). The U.S. ranked lowest among G-7 countries at 77.2 years. (OECD, Health Data 2006: Statistics and Indicators for 30 Countries).
The links between geography, socio-economic characteristics, health behaviours, and health status are complex. Recent data indicate that Canadian communities with the lowest life expectancies are in the most northern and isolated parts of Canada and are also characterized by low incomes and a high proportion of the population receiving government transfer payments. Smoking, heavy drinking, and high mortality rates due to suicides and accidents are also prevalent in these health regions. The health regions enjoying the highest life expectancies, meanwhile, are typically urban communities experiencing high population growth and that are characterized by higher incomes and educational attainment. (Statistics Canada, The Daily, February 1, 2005)
Between 2003 and 2005, the proportion of Canadians describing their health as "excellent" or "very good" increased.
In 2005, 65.5 per cent of Canadians aged 12 and older reported that they were in excellent or very good health, up from 59.6 per cent in 2003. However, the percentage of Canadians who rated their own health as "good" declined, from 29.7 per cent in 2003 to 27.5 per cent in 2005.
The percentage of Canadians who rated their health as "fair" or "poor" fluctuated over the same period from 10.6 per cent in 2003 to 6.9 per cent in 2005. People in Canada who reported fair or poor health also reported lower income levels, infrequent exercise, lower educational attainment, and older age. (Statistics Canada, 2006)
Internationally, Canada ranks third in the percentage of the population reporting their health status as either good or better, falling close behind New Zealand and the U.S. (OECD, Health Data 2005: Statistics and Indicators for 30 Countries)
According to the Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health, the vast majority in both countries—88.0 per cent of Canadians and 85.0 per cent of Americans—reported that they were in good, very good, or excellent health in 2003.
Americans were slightly more likely to report excellent health than Canadians. This was mainly the result of the 15.0 per cent of Americans aged 65 and older that reported excellent health, almost twice the proportion of Canadians (8.0 per cent) in the same age group. Overall, the range of health status was more polarized in the U.S. than it was in Canada. More Americans reported being at either end of the health status spectrum, as 26.0 per cent stated they were in excellent health and 15.0 per cent in fair or poor health compared with 24.0 per cent and 12.0 per cent respectively for Canadians according to Statistics Canada's Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health.
The prevalence of physical activity among Canadians has significantly increased over the past decade. In 2005, 51.0 per cent of Canadians aged 12 and over were at least moderately physically active during their leisure time, up 8.4 percentage points from the 2000–01 survey and 11.6 percentage points from the 1994–95 survey. (Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2004)
From 1994–95 to 2005, the proportion of Canadian adults considered obese grew from 12.7 per cent to 15.5 per cent, approaching 3.8 million people. In 2005, about 16.8 per cent of adult men and 14.2 per cent of adult women were considered obese, indicating few differences between the sexes. Rates of obesity were highest, however, for both men and women in the age group of 45 to 64 years old.
The proportion of Canadians considered overweight also increased slightly during the past five years. In 2005, 33.4 per cent of the adult population aged 18 and over was considered overweight, compared to 32.4 per cent in 2000–01. (Statistics Canada, 2006)
Canada is experiencing what the World Health Organization has called a "global epidemic of obesity." The prevalence of obesity is rising not only in western countries such as the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland, but also in countries such as Brazil, China, and Israel. According to the OECD, the U.S. has the highest proportion of adults considered overweight or obese, followed by Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Australia. (OECD, Health Data 2006: Statistics and Indicators for 30 Countries)
A recent study based on the National Population Health Survey found that once overweight, Canadians are far more likely to continue to tip the scales into obesity than reverse the trend and return to their normal weight. In fact, almost one quarter of Canadians who had been overweight in 1994–95 had become obese by 2002–03. The study also indicates that only half as many, about 10 per cent, who had been overweight were in the normal weight range eight years later.
Over the eight years, this translates into more than 1.1 million adult Canadians joining the ranks of the obese. Between 1994–95 and 2002–03, 38.0 per cent of the men whose weight was normal had become overweight compared to 28.0 per cent of the women. Women (28.0 per cent) were more likely to go from being overweight to being obese than men (20.0 per cent), but for both men and women, being a member of a high-income household was associated with a decreased likelihood of becoming obese. (Statistics Canada, The Daily, April 7, 2005)
Another study also indicated that adults who lived in large Canadian cities were far less likely to be obese than were their counterparts who lived outside such metropolitan areas. In 2004, 20 per cent of residents of Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) aged 18 or older were obese, compared with 29 per cent of those who lived outside a CMA. Furthermore, as the size of the city increased, the likelihood of being obese fell. In CMAs with a population of at least 2 million (Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver), only 17 per cent of adults were obese. The comparable figure for CMAs with a population of 100,000 to 2 million was 24 per cent. In urban centres with populations of 10,000 to 100,000, 30 per cent of adults were obese. (Statistics Canada, The Daily, August 22, 2006)
For more information on obesity, click on the following:
Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health
In 2005, the median waiting time was about four weeks for specialist visits and non-emergency surgery, and three weeks for diagnostic tests. The median is the point where exactly one half of waiting times are higher and one half lower. Nationally, median waiting times remained stable between 2003 and 2005, but there were differences at the provincial level. The proportion of individuals who reported that they were affected by waiting for care ranged from 11.0 per cent for non-emergency surgery to 17.7 per cent for specialist visits.
The primary effects of waiting for specialized care were worry, stress and anxiety, pain, and problems with activities of daily living. The study also indicated that waiting times vary across provinces for selected specialized services. (Statistics Canada, Access to Health Care Services in Canada, January to December 2005)
Overall, the majority of Canadians who accessed any of the three specialized services (visit to a specialist, non-emergency surgery, and diagnostic tests) received such services within three months. Individuals who waited to visit a specialist or get a diagnostic test were more likely to get care within one month than those waiting for non-emergency surgery.
Between 2000–01 and 2005, the percentage of Canadians who rated the quality of overall health services as being either "excellent" or "good" increased slightly from 84.4 per cent to 85.2 per cent. During the same time period, the percentage of Canadians who reported that they were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with those services remained fairly constant, increasing from 84.6 to 85.3 per cent. (Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey,2000–01 and 2005)
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) estimated that in 2005 Canada spent $142 billion on health care, a $12.0-billion increase from 2004. This brought health care's share of the total economy—the GDP—to 10.4 per cent, similar to the 2004 figures. CIHI estimates for 2005 also show health spending in Canada at an average of $4,411 per person. (Canadian Institute for Health Information, Health Care in Canada 2006)
Public-sector spending currently accounts for seven out of every 10 dollars spent on health care. In 2005, governments and social security programs spent $98.8 billion. Over the last three decades, however, private-sector spending rose more quickly than public-sector spending—4.4 per cent versus 3.5 per cent, respectively, on average, per year.
With the exception of 2002, the Canadian infant mortality rate has dropped steadily in the past decade from 6.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1991 to 5.3 per 1,000 in 2003. In 2002, however, infant mortality in Canada increased 0.2 deaths from the previous year. (Statistics Canada)
Canada was tied with the United Kingdom in fifth place among G-7 countries in 2003, with 5.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Only the U.S. had a higher rate at 6.9 per 1,000. (OECD, Health Data 2006 Statistics and Indicators for 30 Countries)
Based on data reported by police services, Canada's national crime rate fell 5.0 per cent in 2005 despite increases in serious crimes such as homicide, attempted murder, serious assaults, and robbery. With the exception of a slight increase in 2003, the overall crime rate has generally been falling since it peaked in 1991.
Following last year's increase of 13.0 per cent, the homicide rate rose an additional 4.0 per cent in 2005, reaching its highest level in almost a decade. Police reported 658 homicides last year, 34 more than in 2004.Most of this increase was attributable to a rise in homicides in both Ontario and Alberta.
Crime committed by youth aged 12 to 17 fell 6.0 per cent last year, the second consecutive decline. While violent crime among youth was down 2 per cent, the number of young people accused of homicide rose from 44 in 2004 to 65 in 2005, putting the youth-accused homicide rate at its highest point in more than 10 years.
As for property crimes, police reported nearly 1.2 million last year. The property crime rate dropped 6.0 per cent, as most categories showed a decline. Property crime has generally been decreasing since 1991, with the exception of a notable increase in 2003. (Statistics Canada, The Daily, July 20, 2006)
A comparison of police-reported crime rates between Canada and the U.S. for 2000 showed that the U.S. had much higher rates of violent crime, while Canada generally had higher rates of property crime. The report indicated that the U.S. showed a higher rate of robbery than Canada by 65.0 per cent and a homicide rate (5.5 per 100,000 population) three times higher than Canada's (1.8 per 100,000 population). Meanwhile, Canada reported 30.0 per cent more break-ins and motor vehicle thefts per capita than the U.S. (Statistics Canada, Crime Comparisons Between Canada and the United States, 2000)
According to the 2004 General Social Survey, 94.0 per cent of Canadians were satisfied that they were personally safe from becoming a victim. This proportion was up from 86.0 per cent in 1993 and 91.0 per cent in 1999. Overall, 95.0 per cent of men were satisfied that they were personally safe from becoming a victim, compared with 93.0 per cent of women. This gap between sexes is narrowing, as the proportion for women rose by five percentage points between 1999 and 2004, while the proportion for men went up two points.
In 2004, 58.0 per cent of people believed that there had been no change in crime levels, while 30.0 per cent felt that crime had worsened over the previous five years. These views were fairly consistent with those reported in the 1999 survey. These perceptions on neighbourhood crime have improved, however, since the 1993 survey, when Canadians were more likely to say crime was on the rise. At that time, 46.0 per cent felt it had increased.
Six of the 10 countries that participated in the International Crime Victimization Survey in both 1996 and 2000, including Canada, experienced no change in their victimization rate.
While a total of 24.0 per cent of Canadians reported having been victimized, Australia and England had the highest rates of all at 30.0 per cent and 26.0 per cent, respectively. Portugal, Japan, and Northern Ireland had the lowest rates, all at 15.0 per cent. Results from the 2004 survey will be available in the course of 2007.
Between 1996 and 2001, housing conditions have considerably improved in Canada's 27 largest metropolitan areas, after deteriorating earlier in the decade. Despite this overall improvement, one out of six households in Canada's metropolitan areas still lived below one or more housing standards (house adequacy, affordability, and suitability) established by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
In 1996, 19.0 per cent of households in Canada's metropolitan areas and 17.9 per cent of all of Canada's households were labelled "in core housing need." Five years later, this proportion had dropped to 16.6 per cent among Canada's metropolitan areas and to 15.8 per cent for all of Canada's households. Of these households, more than three quarters were facing affordability issues only. In fact, nine out of 10 households in urban centres reported that their housing was not in need of major repairs and that they had an appropriate "bedrooms-to-members" ratio in accordance with the National Occupancy Standards.
As an attitude toward diversity, personal tolerance of others increased slightly between 1991 and 2004. For example, 29.0 per cent of Canadians believe they are more tolerant toward ethnic groups, an increase of 6 percentage points; 65.0 per cent feel there has been no change, an increase of 3.0 per cent; and 8.0 per cent believe they are less tolerant, a decrease of 2.0 per cent.
Meanwhile, support for affirmative action and employment equity declined between 1985 and 2004, falling from 44.0 per cent to 28.0 per cent of Canadians agreeing with the idea that "Government should require employers to advance non-whites to higher positions." (Environics, 2004 Focus Canada—Multiculturalism and Ethnic Tolerance)
In 2006, 72 per cent of Canadians said they personally favour bilingualism for all of Canada, representing a 16-per-cent increase since 2003 (56 per cent).
This increase is due to greater support from Anglophones. In fact, the gap between Anglophones' and Francophones' support for bilingualism for all of Canada has gradually diminished over the years. While the support among Anglophones increased by 14per cent from 1991 to 2003 (a 12-year period), it grew by a robust 19 per cent from 2003 to 2006. Meanwhile, the percentage of Francophones in favour of bilingualism in Canada stayed relatively stable between 2003 and 2006, moving from 88 per cent to 90 per cent.
Moreover, the Canadian public continues to view bilingualism as an advantage, both in personal and economic terms. In 2006, 68.7 per cent of Canadians agree that having French as well as English spoken in Canada enhances employment and business opportunities for all Canadians.
Finally, seven out of 10 Canadians think that living in a country with two official languages is one of the things that really define what it means to be Canadian. (Decima Research, The Evolution of Public Opinion on Official Languages in Canada, 2006)
Nationally, nearly 12 million Canadians, or 45 per cent of the population aged 15 and over, volunteered through a group or organization during the 12-month period covered by the 2004 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP). Their contributions totalled almost 2 billion hours, which was equivalent to one million full-time jobs. On average, volunteers contributed 168 hours each.
During the same one-year period, more than 22 million Canadians—85 per cent of the population aged 15 and over—made a financial donation to a charitable or other non-profit organization. They donated an estimated $8.9 billion, an average of $400 per person.
Rates of donating and volunteering in 2004 are higher than those found in two similar surveys in 1997 and 2000. However, because the 2004 CSGVP employs a different survey approach and because it uses a somewhat different questionnaire than did the previous surveys, it is not appropriate to compare results from the 2004 CSGVP with the two previous surveys.
After declining steadily over the past decade, voter participation in general elections has improved in 2006. From the lowest rate in recent Canadian history at 60.9 per cent in 2004, the voter turnout at the 2006 federal general election reached 64.7 per cent. Factors such as age, education, income, place of birth, and mobility significantly influence voter patterns.
A growing number of analysts tend to suggest that the decline in voter turnout observed in the past decade does not necessarily indicate a decline in civic participation but rather a significant shift, as the political activities that people are engaged in outside of the polling booth (e.g. signing of petitions, public demonstrations, boycotts) are garnering more and more attention.
A cornerstone of the Government of Canada's engagement is an accountability and coordination framework for the Official Languages Program that was tabled in Parliament in October 2005. It represents the first government-wide legislative policy and program-based framework of the Government of Canada. It connects and ensures coherence between priorities and results, and allows for progress reporting. It will make it possible for the government to manage the Official Languages Program in a comprehensive fashion.
Also tabled in Parliament in October 2005, The Update on the Implementation of the Action Plan for Official Languages—Midterm Report reviewed the investments and results of the 10 federal institutions funded under the Plan. Overall, the report concluded that, with the $123.4 million spent out of a total of $787.3 million, the necessary structures had been established and implementation was well under way. Monitoring and data gathering will continue with a view to presenting a final report in 2008.
From 1998 to 2005, cultural participation among the Canadian population aged 15 and over was on the rise in almost all areas. Professional concert and performance attendance increased from 35 per cent to 41 per cent and public art gallery and art museum visits grew from 22 per cent to 26 per cent. Rates for reading newspapers, magazines, and books all enjoyed increases and are now at 86 per cent, 77 per cent and 66 per cent, respectively. Listening to music (excluding downloads) also increased, rising from 77 per cent to 83 per cent. The movie-going rate, 60 per cent in 2005, remained similar to the 1998 rate of 59 per cent. (Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, Cycle 12 in 1998 and Cycle 19 in 2005)
A 2005 Créatec + survey indicates that reading for pleasure is a solidly established habit among all ages, with little or no change over the last 15 years. Eighty-seven per cent of those polled said they read at least one book per year, while 54 per cent said they read virtually every day. Furthermore, the survey reveals that Internet chatting is positively correlated with the general reading rate. In fact, a recent survey by Statistics Canada observed that Internet users spend more time reading books than non-users (Statistics Canada, 2006, The Internet: Is it Changing the Way Canadians Spend Their Time?)
The Créatec + survey also highlighted the fact that Canadians want to read Canadian books. Seventy-one per cent of Canadians are interested in reading Canadian authors, while 72 per cent claim to have read at least one book by a Canadian author. Forty-eight per cent remember doing so in the past year, a rate that is higher for Francophones (55 per cent). Women and the most educated are the most interested in reading Canadian books. (Créatec +, Reading and Buying Books for Pleasure—2005 National Survey)
A Decima Research survey was carried out in 2005 in order to determine what the attitudes and behaviours of Canadians are toward Canadian feature film and Canadian music. Results of this survey showed that, although half of Canadians go to the movies at least once every three months, this rate varies widely with age, reaching a peak of 84 per cent for Canadians aged 15–20, and dipping to a low of 24 per cent for those over the age of 55. Twenty percent never go to theatres. When it comes to Canadian feature film, 49 per cent of those in Quebec had high viewership, compared to only 6 per cent for the rest of Canada.
However, due to various external factors such as cost, time, and various matters of convenience, Canadians watch more movies at home, on conventional and specialty television or on a movie channel, by renting movies, or watching from their own personal movie collection.
Listening to music is a widespread habit in Canadian society, with Canadians listening to music an average of 18.8 hours per week using a variety of technologies. Radio was cited as their primary and most frequent source, followed by CDs, mp3s, or cassettes. Canadians aged 15–20 spend the most amount of time listening to music, about 26.8 hours per week; however, they spend the least amount of time listening to the radio and the most time listening on CDs, mp3s, or cassettes. On average, Canadians buy about 10 CDs per year, four of which are by Canadian artists. (Decima Research, Canadian Film and Music Opinion Study, prepared for Canadian Heritage, 2005)
In 2005, there were 32 armed conflicts in 27 countries—down from 36 armed conflicts in 28 countries in 2003. These figures represent a general decline in armed conflicts since 1996, when the number worldwide was at 40. The threshold of 1,000 direct deaths separates armed conflict from lower levels of violence. (Project Ploughshares, The Ploughshares Monitor, Summer 2006, volume 27, no.2)
In terms of geographic distribution, in 2005, Africa and Asia suffered 26 of the 32 armed conflicts (13 and 13 respectively) or 81.25 per cent of the world's conflicts, down from 29 conflicts in 1996. The Middle East experienced two conflicts or 6.25 per cent of the total, down from the 1996 level of seven armed conflicts. Europe and the Americas had four armed conflicts (two and two, respectively) or 12.5 per cent of the total, the same number as in 1996. (Project Ploughshares, The Ploughshares Monitor, Summer 2006, volume 27, no.2)
Analysts suggest that the general downward trend in armed conflicts since 1987 supports the value of increased multilateral efforts at peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding to prevent the re-emergence of violent conflict. Despite the persistence of political, communal, and criminal violence across the globe, there is evidence that international efforts to reduce, end, and prevent armed conflicts are bearing fruit. (Project Ploughshares, Armed Conflicts Report 2005)
Canada increased its spending on national defence by about $700 million to $13.9 billion in 2004–05 over 2003–04. As a percentage of GDP, spending on defence remained at 1.2 per cent. Since the early 1980s, Canadian expenditures on defence as a percentage of GDP have gradually declined. In 1983 and 1984, the ratio was 1.9 per cent, but for the period from 1991 to 1993, the ratio had declined to 1.7 per cent. (National Defence, NATO, and Statistics Canada, 2005)
Defence spending among all NATO members has increased remarkably since 1980. Since defence spending has not kept pace with the growth of GDP in these countries, however, defence expenditures as a percentage of GDP have gradually declined.
Among NATO countries in 2005, the U.S. ranked first in terms of defence expenditures (over U.S.$472 billion). When measured as a percentage of GDP, the U.S. is also first with a ratio of 3.8 per cent, ahead of Turkey at 3.2 per cent and Greece at 3.1 per cent.[2] (NATO, 2005)
In 1969, the Commission on International Development recommended that developed countries contribute 0.7 per cent of their gross national product (GNP) to their official aid budgets. In 1970, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed this standard. Recent comparative statistics, such as those compiled by the OECD, use a slightly different figure, gross national income (GNI does not include goods and services rendered by non-residents), against which to measure national governments' ODA expenditures.
In 2005, Canada contributed 0.34 per cent (or about U.S.$ 3.7 billion) of its GNI to ODA and ranked 14th among the OECD's 22 Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member countries.
This represents an improvement over 2004 and 2003, when Canada contributed 0.27 per cent and 0.24 per cent, respectively, of its GNI to ODA. In 2005, Canada thus increased its net ODA by 43.5 per cent (or more than U.S.$ 1.1 billion) from 2004, due to a combination of one-time contributions and currency gains. In 2004, Canada had given about U.S.$ 2.6 billion in ODA. Among G-7 countries in 2005, Canada ranked fourth behind the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, but ahead of Italy, Japan, and the U.S. (OECD, 2006)
Two decades ago, Canada's ODA-GNP ratio was 0.49 per cent, peaking at 0.50 per cent in 1986–87. Since then, the ratio has been on a downward trend at 0.42 per cent in 1994–95 and 0.27 per cent in 2001–02 but, as seen above, the situation is slowly improving. (Canadian International Development Agency, Statistical Report on Official Development Assistance 2003-04) Outcome area: A strong and mutually beneficial North American partnership
In 2005, Canadian merchandise imports from the U.S. totalled $215.1 billion or 56.5 per cent of all imports. Imports from the U.S. rose steadily through the 1990s and 2000s ($137.3 billion in 1994), peaking at $229.7 billion in 2000. Merchandise imports from Mexico in 2005 totalled $14.6 billion or 3.8 per cent of all imports, up $2.6 billion from 2000 and $10.1 billion since 1994. (World Trade Atlas, Statistics Canada, 2006)
In 2005, Canadian merchandise exports to the U.S. totalled $365.7 billion or 83.9 per cent of all exports. Exports to the U.S. also increased through the 1990s and 2000s ($183.3 billion in 1994), peaking in 2005 at $365.7 billion. Merchandise exports to Mexico in 2005 totalled $3.2 billion, or 0.8 per cent of all exports, up nearly $1.3 billion since 2000, and up $2.2 billion since 1994. (World Trade Atlas, Statistics Canada, 2006)
Since the 1990 level of $98.4 billion, Canadian direct investment abroad (CDIA) has more than quadrupled, reaching $465.1 billion in 2005—a 3.0-per-cent increase from 2004. This increase is moderate, though, compared to 2004, which marked a 10.3-per-cent increase from 2003. Nonetheless, this is up from $161.2 billion in 1995 and $356.5 billion in 2000. (Statistics Canada, 2006)
Similar to Canada's trading pattern, North America—notably the U.S.—receives the majority of this investment. In 2005, countries classified as North American for investment purposes (the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean) received $286.7 billion of CDIA, $213.7 billion—or 46.0 per cent of total CDIA—of which went to the U.S. These figures more than quadruple the totals since 1990, when Canadian investment in North American countries was at $66.1 billion—$60.0 billion of which went to the U.S. (Statistics Canada, 2006)
The United Kingdom was the second most common destination for CDIA at $42.7 billion, although down $1.7 billion from 2004. Countries in the European Union accounted for 23.7 per cent of CDIA in 2005, down 9.0 per cent from 2004. The appreciation of the Canadian dollar against the euro and the British pound had a negative impact on CDIA in European countries and is the main reason explaining this decrease. (State of Trade 2006, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, 2006)
Brazil was the newcomer among the top 10 destinations, with CDIA in that country increasing by 14.8 per cent to $8.0 billion, while Japan dropped from the 10 most common destinations for CDIA. In 2005, holdings of Canadian investment abroad were concentrated in the finance and insurance sector (44 per cent), followed by energy and metallic minerals (23 per cent). (State of Trade 2006, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, 2006 and Statistics Canada, 2006)
Since 1990, the level of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Canada has grown by almost 218 per cent, from $130.9 billion to $415.6 billion in 2005.
As is the case with international trade and Canadian direct investment abroad, FDI in Canada comes primarily from North America. In 2005, the North American countries invested a total of $270.8 billion in Canada, up $74.0 billion since 2000 and up $185.0 billion since 1990. U.S. investment in Canada has grown by more than 216 per cent since 1990, going from $84.1 billion to $266.5 billion in 2005.
In 2005, the U.S. was the number one investor in Canada, followed by the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Combined, these five countries held just over 86.4 per cent of FDI in Canada in 2005.
Despite the fact that FDI has more than tripled in Canada since 1990, the bulk of foreign investment continues to come from the U.S. and Western Europe. (State of Trade 2006, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, 2006 and Statistics Canada, 2006)
In addition to the United Kingdom, three other European countries were in the top 10 for CDIA in 2005: Ireland, France, and the Netherlands. Other top 10 destinations were the tax-friendly jurisdictions of Barbados ($34.7 billion), Bermuda ($13.6 billion), and the Cayman Islands ($11.0 billion). These three small countries witnessed the highest average growth in CDIA over the period 1995–2005. (State of Trade 2006, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, 2006 and Statistics Canada, 2006)
The difference between Canadian direct investment abroad and FDI in Canada is Canada's net direct investment position. In 2005, although still positive, this net direct investment position decreased to $49.5 billion. 2004 marked the highest ever, when the net direct investment position was $70.4 billion.
More than three quarters of the countries with CDIA or FDI in Canada have a positive net direct investment position—except for the U.S., France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland—whose net direct investment has never been positive. (Statistics Canada, 2006)
Import and export major commodity groups and principal trading areas[3]
|
Year |
Imports, |
Exports, |
|
1990 |
140,999.9 |
152,055.5 |
|
1991 |
140,657.9 |
147,669.4 |
|
1992 |
154,429.6 |
163,463.5 |
|
1993 |
177,123.2 |
190,213.1 |
|
1994 |
207,872.5 |
228,167.1 |
|
1995 |
229,936.5 |
265,333.9 |
|
1996 |
237,688.6 |
280,079.3 |
|
1997 |
277,726.5 |
303,378.2 |
|
1998 |
303,398.6 |
327,161.5 |
|
1999 |
327,026.0 |
369,034.9 |
|
2000 |
362,336.7 |
429,372.2 |
|
2001 |
350,071.2 |
420,730.4 |
|
2002 |
356,727.1 |
414,038.5 |
|
2003 |
342,691.9 |
398,953.9 |
|
2004 |
363,638.5 |
429,120.9 |
|
2005 |
388,210.3 |
453,060.1 |
(Statistics Canada, 2006)
Canada's merchandise exports[4] to the European Union and China increased between 1999 and 2005. In 2005, 1.6 per cent of Canada's merchandise exports were shipped to China, up from 0.7 per cent in 1999. Exports to the European Union now make up 5.6 per cent of Canada's merchandise exports, up from 4.8 per cent in 1999. The percentage of Canada's merchandise imports arriving from China and the European Union respectively reached 7.7 per cent and 12.0 per cent in 2005, which in the latter case was second only to the 56.4 per cent of merchandise imports that arrived from the U.S. In 1999, China's share of Canada's imports stood at 2.8 per cent, while the European Union's share was 10.1 per cent. (Statistics Canada, 2006)
Crown corporations that received budgetary appropriations in 2005–06
*Note: The financial assistance to The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited went directly to its subsidiary, The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated.
[1]. COSEWIC uses the following status categories for assessments and reassessments of species at risk: extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened, of special concern, and not at risk.
[2]. Figures for 2005 are estimated.
[3]. All numbers are calculated using Balance of Payment base concepts and definitions.
[4]. All numbers are calculated using Custom base concepts and definitions.
