RailwaysHighwaysWaterwaysPipelinesPorts and harborsDeena Disraelly MST Esmè Fantozzi MLOG Donovan Lowtan MST Vikas Mehrotra MLOG Craig Prisby MLOG Country CANADA 1. Area total: 3,851,063 sq mile land: 3,559,546 sq mile water: 291,516 sq mile Coastline total: 151,470 miles 2. 2.a. Canada’s population is: 31,902,268 (estimate @ July 2002) 2.b. Metro Toronto 4 Million 680 Thousand Metro Montreal 3 Million 426 Thousand Metro Vancouver 1 Million 987 Thousand Population of the three largest cities = 31.7% of Canada’s population. (Ottawa – Hull, the fourth largest Canadian metro area has 1 Million 64 Thousand) 3. 3.a. English (59.3%), and French (23.2%) are the two official languages. The predominant language is English. Other languages account for the remaining 17.5%.3.b. English is most widely used in business. Quebec bill 101 requires that French be the predominant language in all signs in the province of Quebec. Federal legislation requires all consumer products to be labeled in both French and English. 4. In the last three years there have been very mild signs of instability. The province of Quebec has elected separatist governments since 1994. There was a referendum on separation in 1995, which the separatists lost by less than 1% of the vote. The federal government’s “clarity” act – which outlines what is required for separation has somewhat, dimmed the prospects of the separatists in Quebec. 5. 5.a. Canada’s currency is the Canadian dollar. 5.b. The change @ February 21, 2003 is the following: Canadian Dollar 1 = US$ 0.65 5.c. The exchange rate has remained steady at around 65 cents US for the last two years (with fluctuations between 61 cents and 67 cents.): Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.60 (January 2002), 1.55 (2001), 1.49 (2000), 1.49 (1999), 1.48 (1998), 1.38 (1997). 6. 6.a. There are six time zones. Pacific Time Zone, Mountain Time Zone, Central Time Zone, Eastern Time Zone, Atlantic Time Zone, Newfoundland Time Zone (half time zone). 6.b. It is Noon in Ottawa (Eastern Time Zone) when it is noon in Cambridge. 7. The regulations for products sold in Canada are very similar to those of products sold in the United States. Under the US-Canada Free Trade Agreement of 1989, the testing facilities,inspection agencies, and certification authorities of each country have the ability to accredit products for both countries without establishing additional agencies or facilities in each country. The most notable unique requirements are the product labeling requirements: 1) All products must be labeled in both French and English 2) All product labels must have a product identity declaration – a generic name or functional description of the product. 3) All products labels must contain a net quantity declaration (volume, net weight or number of units contained per package). There are precision requirements for each value, and all values are expressed in the metric measurement system. Textiles and cloth products must also contain fiber contents by percentage and a CA number registered with the Canadian Competition Bureau. 4) In addition, the name and working mailing address of the business by or for whom the product was packaged must be included on the label. This labeling may be in either French or English. All products sold in Canada must be sold by an individual or company with a registered business number. Business numbers may be applied for by the importing agency, for products brought into the country. Business numbers are issued by the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency. In addition, there are specific documentation regulations for importing and exporting of goods; these regulations vary depending on the value of the items and the nature (ie. food, medicine, and toxic/hazardous substances have additional labeling, documentation, and inspection regulations).8. The Canadian Air Transportation system is the only deregulated method of moving freight in Canada. In June 2002, the Canadian and US governments announced the collaboration in FAST (Free and Secure Trade), a public-private partnership designed to improve security measures throughout the supply chain. This partnership expedites the inspection and transportation of pre-inspected goods across the US-Canadian border by pre-authorized carriers, destined for pre-authorized importers. The two countries are collaborating on a minimum set of standards for each level of the supply chain and coordination of shipment documentation. In addition, the two countries are working together to identify higher risk shipments prior to arriving in either country; each country has inspectors in the other’s major ports to assist in the inspections. Canada has a similar voluntary partnership governing basic security regulations for carriers called “Partners in Protection”. For ships entering Canadian waters, ships must provide 96-hour notification of cargo and crew; this is an increase over the previous notification period. Canada is also working with her trading partners to establish stricter safety and security regulations. All products and cargo carried by sea, air, rail or truck are subject to both inspection and screening. 9. 9.a. There are several saltwater ports which accommodate large cargo ships, including Halifax, Montreal, Vancouver and several ports along the Canadian border of the Great Lakes. The largest, Vancouver, handles 72.9million tonnes of cargo per year. The second largest port, Halifax, handles, 14.0million tonnes of cargo per year.9.b. In order, the three largest Canadian cities are Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver respectively. Two of these three are situated in the direct vicinity of and grew around the major Canadian shipping ports. Access to all of the ports is available by truck and rail; additionally, limited boat transport within the country, via the Saint Lawrence River, the Great Lakes, and coastal shipping, is available. 10. The following is from Canada Customs website. (Canada Customs Coding Form B3-3 appears to be the standard form that needs to be filled out when importing into Canada. Duties and taxes must be paid in Canadian or U.S. currency by cash, certified cheque, money order, or travellers cheque. U.S. amounts will be adjusted with the applicable exchange rate. Payments may be made in: (a) Cash (Canadian or U.S. currency); (b) Certified cheque or money order (payable to the Receiver