Canada ranks among the ten leading manufacturing nations, and has also experienced tremendous growth in the high technology and services industries.
In 1998, Canada's gross domestic product (GDP) was an
estimated $688.3 billion up from $643 billion in 1997.
Most of Canada's manufacturing industry is in Ontario and
Quebec, where motor vehicle production comprises the largest sector within this industry. Other important manufacturing sectors include food and beverages, paper and allied products, primary metals, fabricated metals, petrochemicals and chemicals.
The Atlantic, Prairie and Pacific regions of Canada have more natural resource-based economies. The Atlantic provinces focus on fishing, forestry and mining, while Prairie provinces are dependent on agriculture and mineral fuels. British Columbia's primary sectors are forestry and mining, as well as tourism.
Major Exports: automobile vehicles and parts, machinery and equipment, high-technology products, oil, natural gas, metals, and forest and farm products.
Major Imports: machinery and industrial equipment including communications and electronic equipment, vehicles and automobile parts, industrial materials (metal ores, iron and steel, precious metals, chemicals, plastics, cotton, wool and other textiles), along with manufactured products and food.
Climate
There are many climatic variations in Canada, ranging from the permanently frozen ice caps north of the 70th parallel to the lush vegetation of British Columbia's west coast. On the whole, however, Canada has four very distinct seasons, particularly in the more populated regions along the US border.
Daytime summer temperatures can rise to 35°C and higher, while lows of -25°C are not uncommon in winter. More moderate temperatures are the norm in spring and fall.
Over the years, Canadians have adapted extremely well to the colder periods of weather by installing heat in housing and cars, and by having heated public transportation systems, and in some instances - in walkways to and from buildings in schools
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