Canada

Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest nations, with a high per capita income, and is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the G8. It is one of the world’s top ten trading nations. Canada is a mixed market, ranking lower than the U.S. but higher than most western European nations on the Heritage Foundation’s index of economic freedom. Since the early 1990s, the Canadian economy has been growing rapidly, with low unemployment and large government surpluses on the federal level. Today, Canada resembles the U.S. in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards. As of February 2009, Canada’s national unemployment rate was 7.77%. Provincial unemployment rates vary from a low of 3.6% in Alberta to a high of 14.6% in Newfoundland and Labrador. According to the Forbes Global 2000 list of the world’s largest companies in 2008, Canada had 69 companies in the list, ranking 5th next to France.

Demographic Data

Economic Data

Cultural & Other Data

GDP (PPP, $bn)

1,307

Capital

Ottawa

Area (sq. km.)

9,984,670

GDP Real

Growth (%)

0.6

Other Large Cities

Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary

Population (million)

33.49

PerCap GDP ($)

39,300

Primary Language

English, French

Population

Growth %

0.817

Prime Lending

Rate (%)

6.1

Urban

Population %

80

% Population

Under 15yrs

16.1

Inflation Rate%

1

Urban Growth %

1

Population below

poverty line (%)

10.8

Unemployment%

6.1

Literacy

(% of population)

99

Agricultural Workers

(% of population)

2

Foreign Direct

Investment($bn)

586.6

Education spending

as % of GDP

5.2

Industrial Workers

(% of population)

22

Debt-External

($bn)

758.6

CPI Score (1-10)*

8.7

Service Workers

(% of population)

76

Exports ($bn)

461.8

Corporate Income Tax %

19.5

Labor Force (mil)

18.18

Imports ($bn)

436.7

Ease of Doing

Business Ranking **

8

 

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE

05/12/09 $1 = 1.16 CAD

 

Franchising Laws Overview(Alberta, Ontario, Prince Edward Island)

Disclosure laws:

  • Disclosure must be provided at least fourteen days before the earlier of (1) the signing of any agreement or (2) the payment of any funds by the prospective franchisee to the franchisor.

Relationship laws:

  • Impose a duty of fair dealing on each party.
  • A franchisor may not restrict franchisees from forming an organization of franchisees.

Registration laws:

  • None.
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