About Canada 2 Canada is a wonderful place to live, work, study and invest. It is very welcoming to immigrants and its immigration programs are some of the most accessible in the world. Every year Canada welcomes close to 250,000 immigrants.

Overview

Canada is geographically the second largest country in the world and has a population of just over 30 million people. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the United States to the south. It is a parliamentary democracy and has two official languages; English and French. It is divided into 10 provinces and three territories. The capital is Ottawa, Ontario. The three largest cities are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Quality of Life

Canada is consistently ranked as having one of the highest quality of life in the world. It is a peaceful tolerant society where people are encouraged to hold on to their culture and traditions. Canadians enjoy an excellent standard of living, an excellent education system, free health care, a clean environment and low crime. Freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the right to equality are guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Economy

Canada has one of the strongest and most dynamic economies in the world and is an emerging energy superpower. It is a great place to start and expand a business and one of the safest places to invest. Canada offers many advantages to investors and entrepreneurs including a well educated work force, competitive tax rates, and access to one the largest markets in the world thanks to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which gives Canadians access to over 442 million consumers in the United States and Mexico. Canada's geographical location also gives Canadians easy access to European markets as well as Asia's booming economies. In addition, Canada has a stable banking system and well regulated financial institutions and was therefore one of the countries least affected by the recent global financial crisis.

Job Market

Canada's job market is rapidly expanding and the Canadian government is actively seeking skilled works and professionals to fill labour shortages. Areas where workers are in high demand include high-tech industries, aerospace, business and financial services, engineering, construction trades, truck transportation, food services, and health care. The largest demand is in the booming oil and gas industry as well as construction trades and health care.

Education

Canada has one the best education systems in the world and offers both private and public education. Public primary and secondary education is free. Canada is also home to some of the world's most prestigious universities including McGill University, the University of Toronto, and the University of British Columbia, as well as internationally-recognized vocational schools and colleges.