Canada's Economy
Canada is a trading nation with a advanced market economy founded on natural resources (oil, timber, minerals, agriculture), advanced manufacturing, and high-tech services. Canada's largest trading partner is the United States, sharing the world's longest undefended international border.
The Five Geographic Regions (10 Provinces, 3 Territories)
1. The Atlantic Provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Renowned for coastal fisheries, offshore petroleum, shipping, and historic maritime towns.
2. Central Canada: Ontario and Quebec. The industrial and manufacturing heartland, containing more than half of Canada's total population. Toronto is Canada's largest financial centre; Montreal is the second-largest city.
3. The Prairie Provinces: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Known as Canada's breadbasket for fertile agricultural wheat fields, massive oil sands, and natural gas.
4. The West Coast (British Columbia): Bordering the Pacific Ocean; famous for spectacular mountain ranges, forestry, tourism, and deep-water ports connecting trade to Asia. Capital is Victoria.
5. The Northern Territories: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Covering one-third of Canada's land area with rich diamond, gold, and mineral deposits. Nunavut was established in 1999 with its capital at Iqaluit.