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Political Data
Head Of State:	Governor General Romeo Leblanc (appointed by the Prime Minister)
Prime Minister:	Jean Chrétien
Finance Minister:	Paul Martin
Foreign Affairs Minister:	Lloyd Axworthy
Trade Minister:	Sergio Marchi
Central Bank Governor (Bank Of Canada):	Gordon Theissen
Environment Minister:	Christine Stewart
Justice Minister And Attorney General:	Anne Mclellan
Employment Minister:	Claudette Bradshaw (Minister of Labour) Pierre Pettigrew (Minister of Human Resources Development)
Sherpa:	Donald Campbell (Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs)
Sous-Sherpa:	TBA
Political Director:	TBA

Structure Of Government
		Seats in House of Commons (March 30, 1999)
Governing Party -	Liberal Party	156
Opposition Parties -	Reform Party	59
	Bloc Quebecois	44
	New Democratic Party	21
	Progressive Conservatives	19
	Independents	2
	Total	301

Date of Last Election - June 1997
Date of Next Election - June 2002 (at the latest)

Public Opinion / Approval Rating - As of February 1, 1999, the governing Liberal Party had 47% popular support, compared with 14% for the Progressive Conservatives, 14% for the Reform Party, 12% for the NDP, and 11% for the Bloc Québécois. The latest poll conducted between April 28 and May 13 showed the Liberals to be enjoying "overwhelming support in every region except Alberta - and even there they've tied for first place . . ." In Alberta Reform and the Liberals are tied with 37% support each. Nationally, the Liberals have 57% of the popular vote.

Economic Data
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (1998):	C$888.4 billion
GDP per Capita (4th Quarter 1998):	C$27,657 (constant 1992 C$) C$29,529 (current C$)
Economic Growth Rate (1998):	3.0%
Inflation (1998):	0.9%
Unemployment rate (April 1998):	8.3%
Bank rate:	4.75%
Exchange rate (1998 average):	US$0.67
Current Account (3rd Quarter 1998):	C$ -4.4 billion
Foreign Direct Investment (Position - 1998):
Into Canada:     By Canada:	C$217.1 billion C$239.8 billion
Creditor / Borrower:	N/A
Foreign Aid as a % GNP (1997/98):	0.30%
World ranking:	N/A

Major Trading Partners:
Exports to (C$billion)		Imports from (C$billion)
United States	$252.4	United States	$203.3
Japan	$8.2	Japan	$14.0
United Kingdom	$4.1	China	$7.7
Germany	$2.5	Mexico	$7.6
Netherlands	$1.8	United Kingdom	$6.2
Major Trade Products (1997)
Exports (C$billion)		Imports (C$billion)
Automotive Products	$76.3	Machinery / Equip.	$101.6
Machinery / Equip.	$66.4	Automotive Products	$66.7
ndustrial goods	$53.4	ndustrial goods	$59.7

Prepared by Jason Krausert, Eleni Maniatis and Mike Youash, May 1999.

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