|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
|
Income Tax
. Residents pay both federal and provincial income tax each year by April 31; taxation year is January 1 to December 31. . Individuals who do not work during a whole year do not have to file an income tax return for that year, but they are advised to do so as they may be eligible for tax credits. Those who have worked, no matter for how short a period, must file a tax return. . Federal income tax rates range from 17 per cent on earnings up to C$29,590 to 29 per cent on earnings above C$59,180, which is usually deducted at source. . Provincial income tax rates depend on the province and are calculated on the percentages of federal income tax payable and range from around 42 to 70 per cent. Returns must be filed for provincial income tax. There are credits and deductions for both federal and provincial income tax. . Good & Services Tax (GST) is 7% and Provincial Services Tax (PST) is 7% ; PST differs in some provinces. .Most goods and services are subject to GST and PST; some goods such as most food products, prescription drugs, medical devices and all exports are exempt from GST. A limited number of services including health care, educational services, child and personal care services are also exempt from the GST. . Social security (called social insurance in Canada) contributions are compulsory for most Canadian residents and are deducted from your gross monthly salary. On earnings above C$3,500 a year the employee pays 3.5 per cent towards social security for benefits. One of the world's highest living standards: . 83% of Canadian households have at least one car . 97.5 % have color televisions . one out of five persons has a computer Canadians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world and have a relatively low cost of living (compared to most western European countries) with low inflation and high salaries. The quality of life in Canada has been rated the highest in the world by the United Nations. . This is a country for open minded & hard working newcomers from diverse national backgrounds who share in its prosperity and participate freely in its economy. . Population/Land Area: 30,007,094 (May 2001 census) spread over an area (world's second-largest country after Russia) of 9,976,140 km² stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and spans a quarter of the world's 24 timelines. . Climate: 4 seasons; Spring (20 March - 20 June); Summer (21 June - 21 September); Autumn/Fall (22 September - 20 December); Winter (21 December - 19 March) Employment Unemployment rate: 7.7% Youth unemployment rate: 14% Average annual salary: with degree - $53,927; without a degree - $35,918 Number of people who work at home: 1,086,055 (.04%)
Political System and Government
Constitutional monarchy and a federal state with a democratic parliament. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is Canada's Head of State and the Queen of Canada. Her representative in Canada is the Governor General, currently Adrienne Clarkson. Has a Parliament divided into two chambers, the Senate (appointed) and the House of Commons (elected). The head of the majority party in Commons is the nation's prime minister, currently Jean Chretien of the Liberal Party. The Deputy Prime Minister is John Manly. The major political parties are: Liberal Party of Canada, Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, New Democratic Party of Canada, Canadian Alliance Party and Bloc Quebecois ( a separatist party present only in Quebec). Three levels of Government - federal, provincial and municipal. Each is freely elected by popular vote by citizens 18 years and older. Federal - responsible for national defense, foreign policy, trade and commerce, currency, banking, criminal law, fisheries, shipping, postal services and some social benefits. Provincial - responsible for civil and some criminal law, property rights, education, vehicle and marriage licensing, municipal institutions, working conditions, health care and social services.Immigration and agriculture are shared by the federal and provincial governments. Municipal - look after police, fire protection, local courts, jails, garbage and snow removal, road maintenance and public health services. Each level of government collects different taxes. Income tax and Goods and Services Tax (GST) are federal. Many provinces charge a sales tax (PST). Education and property taxes are municipal.
10 provinces & 3 territories in 5 regions; culture and population are different in each region.
. Atlantic Canada: Newfoundland and Labrador (St. John's) The Maritimes: Nova Scotia (Halifax); Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown); New Brunswick (Fredericton) Resources such as fishing, farming, forestry and mining are important to the Atlantic economy. . Central Canada: Quebec (Quebec City); Ontario (Toronto). Together Ontario and Quebec produce more than three-quarters of all Canadian manufactured goods. . The Prairies: Manitoba (Winnipeg); Saskatchewan (Regina); Eastern Alberta. Much of the land in these provinces is flat and fertile. It is excellent for farming and rich in energy resources. In Western Alberta, the prairies end and the Rocky Mountains begin. The Canadian Rockies includes some of the largest and most spectacular parks in North America. . Western Canada: Western Alberta (Edmonton); British Columbia (Victoria); It is famous for its mountain ranges and forests. Natural resources such as lumber, fruit and ocean life are important to the economy of this region. . The North: Northwest Territories (Yellowknife); Yukon Territory (Whitehorse) and Nunavut (as of April 1999) Together they make up over one third of Canada's landmass. Northern resources include oil, gas, gold, lead and zinc.
scroll up
 scroll down
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
