Step 1: CIA World Fact book: Canada Data Collection

GEOGRAPHY

Natural Resources: iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, rare earth elements, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower

Land use: Agricultural land 6.8%: Arable land: 4.7%; permanent crops: 0.5%; permanent pasture: 1.6% Forest: 34.1% Other: 59.1% (2011 est.)

Natural hazards: Continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountains

Volcanism: the vast majority of volcanoes in Western Canada's Coast Mountains remain dormant

Environmental issues: metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities

PEOPLE AND SOCIETY

Population: 35,362,905 (July 2016 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.44% (male 2,799,758/female 2,661,645) 15-24 years: 12.12% (male 2,204,127/female 2,080,587) 25-54 years: 40.32% (male 7,231,200/female 7,028,692) 55-64 years: 13.94% (male 2,443,452/female 2,484,788) 65 years and over: 18.18% (male 2,863,114/female 3,565,542) (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios: Total dependency ratio: 47.3% Youth dependency ratio: 23.5% Elderly dependency ratio: 23.8% Potential support ratio: 4.2% (2015 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.74% (2016 est.) Country comparison to the world: 146

Urbanization: Urban population: 81.8% of total population (2015) Rate of urbanization: 1.22% annual rate of change: (2010-15 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: Total population: 81.9 years Male: 79.2 years Female: 84.6 years (2016 est.) Country comparison to the world: 19

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2016 est.) Country comparison to the world: 183

Health expenditures: 10.4% of GDP (2014) Country comparison to the world: 15

Economy

GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.674 trillion (2016 est.) $1.655 trillion (2015 est.) $1.638 trillion (2014 est.) note: data are in 2016 dollars country comparison to the world: 17

Unemployment rate: 7.1% (2016 est.) 6.9% (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Population below poverty line: 9.4% note: this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off, a calculation that results in higher figures than found in many comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line (2008 est.

Exports: $402.4 billion (2016 est.) $411 billion (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Debt - external: $1.608 trillion (31 March 2016 est.) $1.55 trillion (31 March 2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines: Total subscriptions: 15.902 million Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (July 2015 est.) Country comparison to the world: 17

Telephones - mobile cellular: Total: 29.39 million Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 84 (July 2015 est.) Country comparison to the world: 44

Internet users: Total: 31.053 million percent of population: 88.5% (July 2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Step 2: How Canada is perceived around the world

Canada is viewed as full with natural beauty. Many people around the world are attracted to our “down to earth Canadian spirit” meaning we are seen as nice and welcoming to others, and is cherished by its multicultural heritage and freedom. Canadians are appreciated around the world as we are partners, teachers and supporters.

Step 3: Analysis

1. Canada’s biggest strength is its natural resources. “Only five countries produce more oil than we do. Canada is the third-largest producer in the world of both natural gas and hydroelectricity and the second-largest producer of uranium. Canada has over 200 active mines turning out more than 60 different minerals and metals, including more potash than anyone else.” https://www.nrcan.gc.ca. By Canada having its own natural resources we are saving money by extracting what is ours, instead of paying other countries to extract and import their natural resources.

Canada’s biggest weakness is its population growth. In today’s society the baby boomers are aging and the millennials are becoming more and more focused on starting and expanding their carriers that we are postponing having children. We are also having less children because the cost of living is becoming more expensive. Canada is developing, people are retiring and there is not enough people to replace in the work field.

2. Canada’s most pressing issue is slowing economy and rising taxes. Like I mentioned before people are retiring and less people are producing. There are not as many people as there were before and now taxes are rising. There are not enough people to help pay the taxes so the people who are in the working field are getting taxed more and more leaving them with way less than what they deserve and earned.

3. I think Canadians should be proud of their country. Putting aside most political and economic disadvantages, Canada is a relatively safe and welcoming place. We have a good health care system and a good education system. We have well developed and growing cities and over all, Canada is a beautiful place.

4. I wouldn’t say Canada is “better off” compared to other countries. Canada has disadvantages like every other country around the world. Canada still has crime, inequality etc. we are a well-developed country with a good health care and education system which are important but there are various disadvantages that need to be fixed before I consider Canada a country “better off”. We could start with the tax rate.