| Location： |
Canada is located in the northern part of North America. It occupies much of the continent of North America, sharing land borders with the contiguous United States to the south, and the US state of Alaska to the northwest. It extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world’s second largest country by total area. |
| Area： |
Approx. 9.98 million sq km |
| Population： |
Approx. 35 million |
| Capital： |
Ottawa |
| Language： |
English, French |
| Currency： |
Canadian Dollar (CAD) |
| Climate： |
The climate in Canada is continental and temperatures vary from region to region. Winters can be harsh in many parts of the country, while spring, summer and autumn are short with rainfall mostly in spring. Vancouver has a temperate climate with mild and rainy winter, the average temperature in January is 3℃ and 17℃ in July. In Toronto, the average temperature in January is -7℃ and 20℃ in July. In Ottawa, the average temperature is 6℃. |
| Education System: |
Education in Canada is for the most part provided publicly, funded and overseen by federal, provincial and local governments. Elementary, secondary and post-secondary education is a provincial responsibility and there are many variations between the provinces. Education is compulsory up to the age of 16 in every province in Canada, except for Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick, where the compulsory age is 18 or as soon as a high school diploma has be achieved. |
| Tax System： |
Both the federal and provincial governments have imposed income taxes on individuals, and these are the most significant sources of revenue for government. Income taxes throughout Canada are progressive with the high income residents paying a higher percentage than the low income residents. Canadian residents and corporations pay income taxes based on their world-wide income. |
| Welfare： |
Canada has a very comprehensive social welfare system, including healthcare, education, housing, unemployment benefits, low-income support, pension, etc. |
