Something About Canada

International Business

Why choose Canada as a possibility to invest? I chose Canada because it is a country relatively close to Mexico and the United States, and there are a lot of ways to send products to Canada. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) sets a free trade between Canada, U.S. and Mexico. (Hill, 2009).

This report contains information about Canada that may help you to decide if it is good or not to export and sell cupcakes there.

Stage 1 – Country Facts and Statistics

The first stage contains the most important information about Canada’s geographic, demographic and economic characteristics.

Geographic

Country name: Canada

Major cities

The major cities are Ottawa, Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Windsor, Toronto, Oshawa, Montreal, Quebec and Halifax. (Maps of World, 2012) (see figure 1)

Ottawa: is the capital of Canada, and the country's fourth largest city (Maps of World, 2012). Ottawa lies in northeast North America, in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It is bordered by the Ottawa River to the north, while the historic Rideau River and Rideau Canal meander north to south through the city. (City of Ottawa, 2011)

Whitehorse: is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in Canada. Over 25,000 people enjoy living here. Its economic base includes mining, transportation services, tourism, and government services. (City of Whitehorse, 2013)

Yellowknife: is a culturally rich capital thriving with diversity, and home to about 20,000 people. Located on the shores of the beautiful Great Slave Lake, only 512 km south of the Arctic Circle. (Yellowknife, 2013)

Vancouver: is the third-largest city in Canada. It is a beautiful and vibrant city located on west coast of Canada, surrounded by water from three sides. (Maps of World, 2012)

Victoria: is the Capital City of British Columbia. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Victoria is one of the most uniquely special places in Canada with a natural beauty and a temperate climate. (City of Victoria, 2013)

Edmonton: is the capital of Alberta and the second largest city of the province. It is located on the banks of North Saskatchewan River. It occurs as the staging point for major oil sands and diamond mining projects. Also, it is an important cultural and educational hub. (Maps of World, 2012)

Calgary: is the largest city in the province of Alberta in Canada . It is located in the south of Alberta province. Calgary is also the largest metropolitan area between Toronto and Vancouver. It is well-known to be a winter sports destination. (Maps of World, 2013)

Saskatoon: is situated on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, which is crossed by seven bridges within the city limits. It is Saskatchewan’s largest city with an estimated population of 246,300 and growing (as of June 30, 2013). (City of Saskatoon, 2013)

Regina: is the capital of Saskatchewan, located in the south central area of the province. The city covers an area of 118.4 sq. km. It borders the American states of Montana and North Dakota. (City of Regina, 2013)

Winnipeg: Located in the heart of Canada, Winnipeg, the largest city in the province of Manitoba, is a multicultural city, home to people from around the world. (The University of Winnipeg, 2013)

Thunder Bay: Located on the north shore of Lake Superior. It is rich in people and resources, and connects Northwestern Ontario to the world. (City of Thunder Bay, 2013)

Windsor: Located at the busiest border crossing in North America, Windsor has always been one of Canada's most international cities. (University of Windsor, 2013)

Toronto: is the biggest city in Toronto and the capital of Ontario province. It is an educational center with a number of colleges, universities, and other professional institutes. (Maps of World, 2012)

Oshawa: The City of Oshawa is the largest city in Durham Region within the Greater Toronto Area. Located 60 km from Toronto Downtown core. (City of Oshawa, 2013)

Montreal: Montreal is the biggest city in Quebec and the second biggest in Canada. The city also serves as an important center for aerospace, pharmaceuticals, technology, design, culture, tourism, film and world affairs. (Maps of World, 2013)

Quebec city: is the capital of Quebec and it is famous for its European charm and well-preserved architectural treasures. The entire district, which is best explored on foot, is a living history book. (Québec City, 2013)

Halifax: is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. Halifax is located in the center of the east coast of Nova Scotia facing the North Atlantic Ocean. (Munroe, 2013)

Figure 1

(Maps of World, 2013)

Provinces and Territories

Canada is a federation composed of ten provinces and three territories.

Region Province or Territory Capital City

Atlantic Region Newfoundland and Labrador St. John’s

Prince Edward Island Charlottetown

Nova Scotia Halifax

New Brunswick Fredericton

Central Canada Quebec Quebec City

Ontario Toronto

Prairie Provinces Manitoba Winnipeg

Saskatchewan Regina

Alberta Edmonton

West Coast British Columbia Victoria

North Nunavut Iqaluit

Northwest Territories Yellowknife

Yukon Whitehorse

(Brock University, 2010)

Ports

There are nearly 600 public ports in Canada, with approximately 70% located in the eastern half of the country. Most of Canadian ports are relatively small. (Government of Alberta, 2012)

The Association of Canadian Port Authorities: is the pre-eminent Association for the advocacy and advancement of the Canadian Port Industry. ACPA members contribute greatly to the local, regional and national economy of Canada. (Association of Canadian Port Authorities [ACPA], 2013) These are some of its members:

Port of Halifax: is an ice-free port with minimal tides and no currents that is one day closer to southeast Asia. (ACPA, 2013)

Port of Montreal: is located on one of the largest navigable waterways in the world – the majestic St. Lawrence River – and offers the shortest route between major European and Mediterranean ports and North American markets. (ACPA, 2013)

Port of Oshawa: offers smooth and efficient access to markets in south central Ontario, the northeastern United States and the entire world. (ACPA, 2013)

Port of Prince Rupert: is strategically located on British

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