Agriculture: accounts for about 3% of GDP; one of the world's major producers and exporters of grain (wheat and barley); key source of US agricultural imports; large forest resources cover 35% of total land area; commercial fisheries provide annual catch of 1.5 million metric tons, of which 75% is exported
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; growing role as a transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market
Economic aid: donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $7.2 billion
Currency: 1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.4129 (January 1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991), 1.1668 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Canada:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 78,148 km; note - there are two major transcontinental freight
railway systems: Canadian National (government owned) and Canadian
Pacific Railway; passenger service provided by VIA (government
operated)
standard gauge: 78,148 km 1.435-m gauge (185 km electrified) (1994)
Highways:
total: 849,404 km
paved: 253,692 km (15,983 km of expressways)
unpaved: gravel 595,712 km (1991)
Inland waterways: 3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway