Chapter 8, Section 3
Canada Today
Review
• Who are Canada’s major cultural groups?
• Why is it difficult for Canada to establish a
true national identity?
Challenges for Canada Today
• Natural Resources
– Canada must balance opportunities offered by its
natural resources with the need to preserve the
environment.
• Ex. Aboveground pipeline, Forestry, Fishing
Challenges for Canada Today Continued…
• Urbanization
– In 1990, only 1/3rd of Canada’s people lived in urban
areas.
– Today, 77% of the nation’s population live in cities.
– Problems?
• Providing housing and services.
• Controlling pollution.
• Preventing overcrowding.
Links with the United States
• Canada-United States border is the longest (over
5000 mi. long) undefended border in the world.
There is no fence.
• Travelers between the two countries pay customs.
– Fees charged by one country’s government on goods
people bring in from the other country.
Links with the US Continued..
• Cultural Links
– Border neighbors share radio and television programs
from stations in both countries.
– Professional Baseball, Hockey and Basketball leagues
include teams from both nations.
Links with the US Continued…
• Economic Links
– Canada buys 25% of all US exports.
– US buys 85% of Canadian exports.
– 1988, the Free Trade Act (FTA) ended export barriers
and called for the elimination of tariffs by 1999
between the US and Canada.
• Mixed reactions.
– Canadians could buy cheaper goods across the border.
– Many factories closed shop causing unemployment after relocating
south of the border.
Links with the US Continued…
• In 1993, Canada and the United States
extended the FTA to include Mexico.
• The new pact was called The North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), designed to
establish a free trade zone across all of North
America.
Links with the US Continued…
• An Uneven Relationship
– Canada struggles to prevent its identity from being
overshadowed by the US.
– Canadians are generally aware of what’s happening in
the United States, while Americans tend to give little
thought to their northern neighbors.
Links with the World
• The United States is considered a Super Power,
Canada plays a role of a middle power in the
global community.
– Middle Powers join together to achieve common
goals.
– Due to its location, size and multicultural population,
Canada is suited to working with other nations.