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| Political Data | |||
| Head Of State (Governor General): | Romeo Leblanc | ||
| Prime Minister: | Jean Chrétien | ||
| Finance Minister: | Paul Martin | ||
| Foreign Affairs Minister: | Lloyd Axworthy | ||
| International Trade Minister: | Sergio Marchi | ||
| Central Bank Governor (Bank Of Canada): | Gordon Theissen | ||
| Environment Minister: | Christine Stewart | ||
| Justice Minister And Attorney General: | Anne Mclellan | ||
| Industry Minister: | John Manley | ||
| Labour Minister: | Lawrence Macaulay | ||
| Sherpa: | Donald Campbell (Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs) | ||
| Sous-Sherpa: | Ian Bennett (Finance) | ||
| Sous-Sherpa: | Jonathan Fried (DFAIT) | ||
| Political Director: | Paul Heinbecker | ||
| Structure Of Government | ||
| Seats in House of Commons | ||
| Governing Party - | Liberal Party | 155 |
| Opposition Parties - | Reform Party | 59 |
| Bloc Quebecois | 44 | |
| New Democratic Party | 21 | |
| Progressive Conservatives | 20 | |
| Independents | 1 | |
| Vacant | 1 | |
| Total | 301 | |
Date of Last Election - June 1997
Date of Next Election - June 2002 (at the latest)
Public Opinion / Approval Rating - The governing Liberal Party and its leader, Prime Minister Jean Chretien, are enjoying a high level of popularity as demonstrated by a recent Liberal Party convention's overwhelming endorsement of Mr. Chretien's leadership, and by a recent by-election in which the Liberals defeated the heavily-favored Reform Party candidate, partly due to Mr. Chretien's high-level of support.
| Economic Data | |
| GDP: | (1996) Can$ 820.32 bln (1997) Can$ 856.13 bln Source: IMF |
| GDP per Capita: | between Can$ 26,500 and Can$ 27,000 |
| Economic Growth Rate: | (3 months*) +3.0 % change at annual rate (1 year/1997 4th quarter) +4.2% change at annual rate The Economist's Forecasts: (1998) +3.3%; (1999) +2.8% Source: The Economist |
| Consumer Price Inflation Rate: | (3 months*) +3.0% change at annual rate (1 year/Feb. 1999) +0.9% change at annual rate Source: The Economist |
| Unemployment Rate: | (March 1998) 8.5% Source: The Economist |
| Interest Rate: | Banks prime (22 April 1998): 6.50% per annum Source: The Economist |
| Exchange Rate: | [Canadian dollar per US dollar / Market Rate - Period Average] (1996) 1.3635 (1997) 1.3846 (Jan. 1998) 1.4408 (Feb. 1998) 1.4340 Source: IMF (22 April 1998 - The Economist) 1.43 |
| Current Account: (latest 12 months) | (1997 4th quarter) US$ (-)12.2 bln Source: The Economist |
| Foreign Aid: | 0.38 (ODA % of GNP) - 2nd among G7 countries |
| World Ranking: | 7th |
| Major Trading Partners: | |||
| Exports to ($billion) | Imports from ($billion) | ||
| United States | $229.10 | United States | $183.40 |
| Japan | $10.76 | Japan | $12.51 |
| United Kingdom | $3.59 | Mexico | $6.97 |
| South Korea | $2.88 | United Kingdom | $6.43 |
| Germany | $2.62 | P. R. China | $6.3 |
| Major Trade Products (1997) | |||
| Exports ($billion) | Imports ($billion) | ||
| Automotive Products | $69.21 | Machinery / Equip. | $91.12 |
| Machinery / Equip. | $62.78 | Automotive Products | $60.44 |
| Industrial Goods/ | Industrial Goods/ | ||
| Materials | $53.27 | Material | $53.67 |
Prepared by Jason Krausert, Wendy Kwok, Thalia Lidakis, and Mike Youash, University of Toronto G8 Research Group, May 1998.
 
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