Canada: history, geography and culture Essay

3.1. POLITICAL ASPECTS
Canada follows a multiparty system. Many of the country's legislative practices derive from the unwritten conventions of and precedents set by the United Kingdom Westminster Parliament (Dilawari, 2015).
3.2. ECONOMIC ASPECTS
According to Dilawari (2015), Canada is one of the wealthiest nations in the world. It is also a member of the G-8 and the Organization of the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Its economy is however mostly dominated by the service sector. It is also among the world's energy net exporter and is among the top ten trading nations in the world. The service sector employs over 75% of Canada's population and contributes nearly 70% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It has great resemblance to the US in its market oriented economic system, affluent living standards and pattern of production (Dilawari, 2015). It is highly industrialized and is characterized with a comprehensive healthcare and social security system, and low labor cost which is an advantage to external investors.
The US is Canada's largest trading partner and also its largest investor through investments in petroleum, mining, chemicals, smelting and machinery. It also has great trading and economic integration with the US. This greatly increased since the signing of the US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 1989 and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 (Dilawari, 2015).
3.3. SOCIAL ASPECTS
In terms of income, on average, in the year 2000, the family income in Canada was $66,160, with the top 20% families receiving 43.6% of the income and the bottom 20% receiving 5.2% of the income (Dilawari, 2015). It therefore has less income disparity than the United States.
In terms of schooling, which is very important for the development of the labor force of the population, occupation and income, it has been noticed lately that women have completed more schooling in the country than men (Dilawari, 2015). Schooling is greatly valued in the country though.
In terms of income across the genders, men earn more income, accumulate more wealth and enjoy more occupational prestige than women. In terms of poverty levels however, an approximate number of 4.4 million Canadians live below the poverty level, which refers to the point below which people spend approximately 55% of pre-tax income on shelter, clothing and food (Dilawari, 2015).
3.4. TECHNOLOGICAL ASPECTS
The country's population greatly uses the internet as a source of information. It also uses other technologies like the voice recognition systems, Skype, digital courts and credit cards among other technologies (Dilawari, 2015).
3.5. ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
The Canada's Department of the Environment has several duties, including the preservation and enhancement of the quality of the natural environmental resources including water, soil and air quality among others (Dilawari, 2015).
Environment Canada also became the lead federal department to ensure the clean up hazardous waste and oil spills under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (R.S., 1999, c. 33). Therefore, the company will have to adhere to these laws if it is to invest in Canada (Dilawari, 2015).