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Other
sectors
71% of the economically active population
work in the service industries and contribute 68%
of the GNP. The strong sectors of the economy are
telecommunication, transport equipment,
aeronautics, data processing, mineral industries,
metal and newsprint paper.
The leading companies are Bombardier (urban rail
transport), Quebecor (printing).
There are 11,000 small and medium size companies
and manufacturers, 4,000 of which are
exporters.
Quebec has the lowest corporate taxes. Unemployment
is approx. 10%.
Population
Canada numbers 29 million inhabitants
spread through the 10 provinces.
80% live in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British
Columbia, and three quarters of them are
domiciliated in the big towns : Toronto, Montreal,
Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa.
Language
The official languages are both English and
French. More than a quarter of the country is
French speaking (Quebec, Ontario, New
Brunswick).
It is highly recommended to have a good knowledge
of English before going to Canada.
Religion
Religious affiliations in Canada are :
Catholics 47.3%, Protestants 41.2%, Orthodox 1.5%,
Jews 1.2%, others 1.4% and no religion 7.4%.
Weights, measures and voltage
Electric current is at 110 v.
The metric system has been in use for several
years.
Money
The currency is the Canadian dollar with
the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.
It is worth approx. 4.10 FF (depending on the
exchange rate).
It is divided into 100 cents and is depreciating
against the American dollar.
Main towns
The main towns are Toronto, Montreal,
Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Regina.
Climate
Summer is usually short and hot, winter is
very long and very cold. Spring and autumn are
short,
the autumn is famous for its beautiful colours
(Indian summer). On the west coast (Vancouver)
there is a more temperate climate, more humidity
and flowering lasts longer.
The north of the country (in Quebec, in the
Labrador region) is extremely cold and practically
uninhabited except for some Eskimos and
Inuit.
In Toronto
temperatures can go down to -20° C in winter
and up to 30°C in summer.
It is
recommended to take a coat, scarf and gloves with
you
Insects and animals
Mosquitoes
(known locally as maringouins) are usually quite
active at the beginning of the summer from sundown
and when the weather is cloudy. Black flies take
over from sunrise. There is really a lot near pools
and lakes, which abound in the Canadian forest. It
is necessary to have creams and sprays with
you.
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