Official Name of Nation: Canada
Population estimate: 35,158,300 (2013)
Head of State:David Jonston
Head of Government: Stephen Harper
Capital City:Ottawa
A brief rundown of the militaryMilitary age
17–60 years old[N 1]
Conscription
No
Available for
military service
8,072,010 males, age 17–60[3],
7,813,462 females, age 17–60[3]
Fit for
military service
6,646,281 males, age 17–60[3],
6,417,924 females, age 17–60[3]
Active personnel
68,250 (31 March 11)[2] (ranked 56th)
Reserve personnel
27,000 (paid primary)
5000 (Rangers)
19,000 (supplementary) (31 March 11)[2]
Total Personnel = 119,000
Deployed personnel
1200+
Army:50 600 total personnel-Canada is an industrial nation with a highly developed science and technology sector. Since the First World War, Canada has produced its own infantry fighting vehicle, anti-tank guided missile and small arms for the Army. Regular and reserve units operate state-of-the-art equipment able to handle modern threats through 2030–2035. Despite extensive financial cuts to the defence budget between 1960s–2000s, the Army is relatively well equipped.[18] The Army currently operates approximately 10,500 utility vehicles including G-wagon and 7000-MV and also operates approximately 2,700 armoured fighting vehicles including the LAV-III and the Leopard 2.[19] The Army also operates approximately 150 field artillery pieces including the M777 howitzer and the LG1 Mark II.[20]
In the near future, between 2011 to 2017, (see also the list of Future Canadian Forces projects), the Army will receive a new family of tactical armoured patrol vehicles which will eventually replace the RG-31 Nyala and Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle, known as the Textron Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle.[21] The dismounted soldiers will be equipped with the long-awaited Integrated Soldier System designed to improve command execution, target acquisition and situational awareness. The Army will receive a new family of engineering vehicles especially designed to clear pathways for troops and other vehicles through minefields and along roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices. This new family of vehicles will eventually replace the aging fleet of AEV Badger, ARV Taurus and AVLB Beaver.
The Army infantry uses the C7 Rifle or C8 Carbine as the basic assault rifle, with grenadiers using the C7 with an attached M203 grenade launcher, and the C9 squad automatic weapon.[22]
Newer variants of the C7/C8 family have since been integrated into common use throughout the Canadian Armed Forces. The C7 has most recently been updated in the form the C7A2. The major internal components remain the same, however, several changes have been made to increase versatility of the rifle. Changes include adding a TRI-Ad rail mount system to the front iron sight which allows accessories such as laser designators and tac lights to be added. Also, the fire control selector lever has been made ambidextrous in addition to the cocking lever. A much needed 4-position telescopic butt-stock has been added to better accommodate different sized shooters. But, perhaps most obviously the rifle has undergone some aesthetic changes, moving away from the traditional all black rifle to one with olive green in the hand guards, pistol grip and sight cover.[23]
Air Force:Regular Force personnel: 14,500
Reserve Force: 2,600
Civilians: 2,500[1]-Aircraft
List of aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force
CF-18 and CC-150 Polaris
CC-177 Globemaster III
The Royal Canadian Air Force has approximately 391 aircraft in service, which is the sixth largest air force in the Americas, after the United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Army, United States Marine Corps and Brazilian Air Force.
Fixed-wing
Airbus CC-150 PolarisSecond-hand Airbus A310 transports purchased in 1992 for use as a strategic transports and air-to-air tankers to replace the Boeing CC-137. Two have been converted to tankers and are designated the CC-150T. One is permanently configured for VIP transport; operated by 437 Squadron based at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario.BAe CT-155 HawkSingle-engined lead-in fighter trainer introduced in 2000.Boeing CC-177 Globemaster IIIFour strategic airlifters delivered between 2007 and 2008, operated by 429 (T) Squadron based at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario.Bombardier CC-144 ChallengerCanadian business jet first delivered in 1982 as utility and VIP transport. Early Challenger 600 and 601 models were supplemented by 604 models in 2002. Six based operated by 412(T) Sqn and based in Ottawa, but belong to 8 Wing Trenton.Canadair CT-114 TutorEntered service in 1962 as a basic and advanced jet trainer with 190 originally ordered, replaced by the CT-156 Harvard II and CT-155 Hawk in 2000. A total of 24 remain in service used by 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, "The Snowbirds".DHC CC-115 BuffaloA Twin-engined utility/cargo transport now used for search and rescue. Six used by 442 Transport and Rescue Sqn. at 19 Wing Comox, BC.
A CF-18 Hornet fires an AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile at a MQM-107E Streaker aerial target drone during a "Combat Archer" missionDHC CC-138 Twin OtterA twin-engined utility transport operated since the 1970s, Four remain based at Yellowknife, NT.DHC CT-142 Dash 8Twin-engined converted regional airliner entered service in 1987 as an aerial navigation and tactics trainer, Four are operated by 402 "City of Winnipeg" Sqn and stationed at 17 Wing, Winnipeg, MB
CC-130 Hercules at Cambridge Bay AirportLockheed CC-130E/H HerculesFour-engined tactical transport, the Hercules has been used in a number of different variants since 1960. Five are operated as air-to-air tankers. Based with 14 Wing Greenwood, NS, 8 Wing Trenton, ON and 17 Wing, Winnipeg, MB.Lockheed CP-140 AuroraFour-engined maritime patrol aircraft based on the American Lockheed P-3 Orion; entered service in 1980 and now based at 19 Wing Comox, BC and 14 Wing Greenwood, NSLockheed CP-140A ArcturusFour-engined search and rescue and fisheries & Arctic patrol aircraft based on the CP-140 Aurora. Three delivered in 1991. No longer in active service.Lockheed Martin CC-130J Super HerculesFour-engined tactical airlifter recently replaced some earlier Hercules variants.[7] A total of 17 are in service operated by 436 (T) Squadron based at 8 Wing Trenton.[8]McDonnell Douglas CF-18 HornetFighter entered service in 1982 when 98 single-seat CF-18As and 40 two-seat CF-18Bs were ordered. Seventeen have been lost since 1984.[9] Stationed at 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec and 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta; 77 CF-18s remain in active service.Raytheon CT-156 Harvard IISingle-engined trainer leased from 2000 to replace the Canadair CT-114 Tutor. Based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, SK
Rotary wing
Bell CH-139 JetRangerSingle-engined utility and training helicopter. Ordered for 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at CFB Portage la Prairie, MB; used by Regular Forces in CFB Lahr in Germany and in Canada during the 1980s; now back at 3 CFFTS; replaced by CH-146 Griffons.Bell CH-146 GriffonA utility transport tactical helicopter (UTTH) that entered service between 1995 and 1997. Based at Bagotville, Quebec (439 Squadron), St. Hubert, Quebec (438 Squadron), Cold Lake, Alberta (417 Squadron), Gagetown, New Brunswick (403 Squadron), Valcartier, Quebec (430 Squadron), Goose Bay, Newfoundland (444 Squadron), Edmonton, Alberta (408 Squadron), Petawawa, Ontario (427 Squadron) and Borden, Ontario (400 Squadron); also perform search and rescue duties at 8 Wing Trenton (424 Squadron); replaced Bell 206 JetRangers. Deployed to Afghanistan to provide escorts for the Chinooks, armed with 7.62mm Dillon Aero M134D Gatling gun on the both doors.[10][11][12]
CH-124 Sea King
A Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 Bear-H bomber being escorted by a CF-18A Hornet in 1987Sikorsky CH-124 Sea KingA ship-based transport/anti-submarine helicopter that entered service between 1963 and 1969. Based at 12 Wing Shearwater (406 & 423 Squadrons), NS and Patricia Bay (443 Squadron), BC and due to be replaced by the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone.AgustaWestland CH-149 CormorantTriple-engined search and rescue helicopter that replaced the CH-113 Labrador. Fourteen delivered between 2000 and 2002. Based at (103 Squadron) 9 Wing Gander, Newfoundland, (413 Squadron) 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia and (442 Squadron) 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia. One aircraft has been lost in a training accident.Sikorsky CH-148 CycloneShip-based transport/anti-submarine helicopter based on the Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk. Twenty-eight ordered to replace the Sea King from 2009. They have still not yet been delivered by April 2012, and the first batch will be lacking mission critical capabilities. However, Sikorsky has managed to complete two cycles of testing with the Royal Canadian Navy.Boeing CH-147F ChinookThe CH-147F Chinook is an advanced, multi-mission, medium to heavy-lift helicopter. Its primary mission is the tactical transport of equipment and personnel during domestic or deployed operations. 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, under the command of 1 Wing Kingston, Ont., and based in CFB Petawawa, Ont., was re-established as the home of Canadaʼs fleet of 15 CH-147F Chinooks. The first two airframes underwent intensive operational test and evaluation in the United States for several months before Canada received the first airframe 147303 at an official acceptance ceremony at the Ottawa International Airport on 27 June 2013.[13]
Leased and contractor aircraft[edit]
The Canadian Forces have leased aircraft from vendors to help transport troops and equipment from Canada and other locations in the past decade. Transport aircraft have been leased as required.
Beechcraft B200 Super King AirTwo aircraft leased from Aero Support Canada Inc.. Used by the Multi-Engine Utility Flight (MEUF) out of CFB Trenton. Flown by RCAF pilots, they are used for light transport of personnel and equipment within North America.
Dornier Alpha Jet Type ATwelve civil aircraft are operated by Discovery Air Defence Services for CATS (Contracted Airborne Training Services) and are based at CFB Bagotville; ex-Luftwaffe trainers
Hawker Hunter F.58Twelve civil aircraft are operated by Lortie Aviation, formerly Northern Lights International Airlines Ltd.. Based out of CFB Cold Lake;[14] ex-Swiss Air Force jets
Mil Mi-17Medium-lift helicopters are leased from Skylink Aviation for transporting equipment and troops in the Balkans and Afghanistan.
Mil Mi-8Medium lift transport helicopters leased from SkyLink Aviation for use in Afghanistan
Navy:8,500 regular personnel
5,100 reserve personnel -The Royal Canadian Navy's Atlantic Fleet, known as Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT), is headquartered and homeported at CFB Halifax in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is supported by CFS St. John's in Newfoundland. Attached to MARLANT and CFB Halifax is the Royal Canadian Air Force's 12 Wing Shearwater, based at Shearwater Heliport, which provides shipborne air support for the Atlantic Fleet. The RCAF's 14 Wing Greenwood provides fixed-wing air support for MARLANT through 404 Maritime Patrol and Training Squadron and 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron. Other Atlantic Fleet facilities are CFAD Bedford, an ammunition depot, and two radio stations, Naval Radio Section (NRS) Newport Corner and NRS Mill Cove.
The Atlantic Fleet, with 18 warships and a number of auxiliary vessels, is responsible for Canada's Exclusive Economic Zone on the East Coast, as well as Canada's Area of Responsibility in the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Arctic Ocean.
Maritime Forces Pacific
The Royal Canadian Navy's Pacific Fleet, known as Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC), is headquartered at CFB Esquimalt in British Columbia, in the Greater Victoria region. MARPAC consists of over 4,000 naval personnel and 2,000 civilian personnel.[a 4]
Comprising 15 warships and several auxiliary vessels homeported in Esquimalt, the Pacific Fleet is responsible for Canada' Exclusive Economic Zone on the West Coast and Canada's Area of Responsibility in the Pacific Ocean and the western Arctic Ocean. Fleet Naval Facility Cape Breton provides repair and maintenance services to the Pacific Fleet. The Royal Canadian Air Force's 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, based at Patricia Bay Heliport but under the control of 12 Wing Shearwater, provides shipborne helicopter support for the Pacific Fleet, while 19 Wing Comox provides fixed wing maritime air support for MARPAC through 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron.
Reserve
The Naval Reserve Headquarters (NAVRESHQ), located at the Pointe-a-Carcy Naval Complex in Quebec City, is responsible for twenty four Naval Reserve Divisions across the country. The base is also home to Canadian Forces Fleet School Quebec and HMCS Montcalm. The Naval Reserve is composed of 4,000 reservists.[a 5]
Fleet
Fleet of the Royal Canadian Navy
HMCS Algonquin, a guided-missile destroyer
The Navy operates 15 warships, 2 support tankers, a dozen minesweepers, eight patrol-trainers and 4 submarines. The surface ships, which carry the designation Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS), consist of three Iroquois class guided-missile destroyers, twelve Halifax class multi-role patrol frigates, 12 Kingston class coastal defence vessels, and two Protecteur class replenishment vessels. In addition to the surface vessels, the RCN owns four Victoria class submarines that were acquired from the British Royal Navy in 1998. These warships carry the designation Her Majesty's Canadian Submarine. The Royal Canadian Navy also maintains and operates HMCS Oriole, a historic sailing ship commissioned in 1921 as a sail training ship. Oriole is the oldest commissioned ship in the RCN and carries the royal designation and the battle honour Dunkirk, 1940.
Auxiliary vessels[edit]
The RCN operates auxiliary vessels to support the Canadian Forces, these vessels are not warships and do not carry the HMCS designation. Among the auxiliary ships operated by the Navy are eight Orca-class patrol class training tenders, five Ville class harbour tugs, five Glen-class harbour tugs and two fireboats of the Fire class.
Aircraft[edit]
Since 1975, all aircraft supporting the RCN are operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force through 1 Canadian Air Division. Since 1995, all CH-124 Sea King helicopters have been operated by squadrons under 12 Wing (from the Shearwater Heliport and Patricia Bay Heliport). Similarly, all CP-140 Aurora and CP-140A Arcturus anti-submarine, ship surveillance and maritime patrol aircraft have been operated by squadrons under 14 Wing at CFB Greenwood and 19 Wing at CFB Comox. There are currently 27 CH-124 Sea King helicopters configured for ship-borne anti-submarine warfare, 18 CP-140 Aurora fixed wing aircraft for land-based anti-submarine warfare and area surveillance, and 1 CP-140A Arcturus for land-based maritime surveillance.
Describe the Government system:Canada has a parliamentary system within the context of a constitutional monarchy, the monarchy of Canada being the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.[95][96][97][98] The sovereign is Queen Elizabeth II, who also serves as head of state of 15 other Commonwealth countries and each of Canada's ten provinces. As such, the Queen's representative, the Governor General of Canada (at present David Lloyd Johnston), carries out most of the federal royal duties in Canada.[99][100]
The direct participation of the royal and viceroyal figures in areas of governance is limited.[97][101][102] In practice, their use of the executive powers is directed by the Cabinet, a committee of ministers of the Crown responsible to the elected House of Commons and chosen and headed by the Prime Minister of Canada (at present Stephen Harper),[103] the head of government. The governor general or monarch may, though, in certain crisis situations exercise their power without ministerial advice.[101] To ensure the stability of government, the governor general will usually appoint as prime minister the person who is the current leader of the political party that can obtain the confidence of a plurality in the House of Commons.[104] The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is thus one of the most powerful institutions in government, initiating most legislation for parliamentary approval and selecting for appointment by the Crown, besides the aforementioned, the governor general, lieutenant governors, senators, federal court judges, and heads of Crown corporations and government agencies.[101] The leader of the party with the second-most seats usually becomes the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition (presently Thomas Mulcair) and is part of an adversarial parliamentary system intended to keep the government in check.[105]
The Senate chamber within the Centre Block on Parliament Hill
Each of the 308 members of parliament in the House of Commons is elected by simple plurality in an electoral district or riding. General elections must be called by the governor general, either on the advice of the prime minister, within four years of the previous election, or if the government loses a confidence vote in the House.[106] The 105 members of the Senate, whose seats are apportioned on a regional basis, serve until age 75.[107] Five parties had representatives elected to the federal parliament in the 2011 elections: the Conservative Party of Canada (governing party), the New Democratic Party (the Official Opposition), the Liberal Party of Canada, the Bloc Québécois, and the Green Party of Canada. The list of historical parties with elected representation is substantial.
Canada's federal structure divides government responsibilities between the federal government and the ten provinces. Provincial legislatures are unicameral and operate in parliamentary fashion similar to the House of Commons.[102] Canada's three territories also have legislatures, but these are not sovereign and have fewer constitutional responsibilities than the provinces.[108] The territorial legislatures also differ structurally from their provincial counterparts.[109]
Describe the economy:The Bank of Canada is the central bank of the country and governed by Stephen Poloz. In addition, the Minister of Finance and Ministry of Industry utilize the Statistics Canada system for financial planning. The Toronto Stock Exchange is the seventh largest exchange in the world having 1,577 companies listed in 2012. Canada is the world's eleventh-largest economy, with a 2012 nominal GDP of approximately US$1.82 trillion.[6] It is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the G8, and is one of the world's top ten trading nations, with a highly globalized economy.[137][138] Canada is a mixed economy, ranking above the US and most western European nations on the Heritage Foundation's index of economic freedom,[139] and experiencing a relatively low level of income disparity.[140] In 2008, Canada's imported goods were worth over $442.9 billion, of which $280.8 billion originated from the United States, $11.7 billion from Japan, and $11.3 billion from the United Kingdom.[141] The country's 2009 trade deficit totalled C$4.8 billion, compared with a C$46.9 billion surplus in 2008.[142]
Since the early 20th century, the growth of Canada's manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy to an urbanized, industrial one. Like many other developed nations, the Canadian economy is dominated by the service industry, which employs about three-quarters of the country's workforce.[143] However, Canada is unusual among developed countries in the importance of its primary sector, in which the logging and petroleum industries are two of the most prominent components.[144]
Canada is one of the few developed nations that are net exporters of energy.[145] Atlantic Canada possesses vast offshore deposits of natural gas, and Alberta also hosts large oil and gas resources. The vastness of the Athabasca oil sands and other assets results in Canada having 13% of the global oil reserves, the world's third-largest, after Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.[146] Canada is additionally one of the world's largest suppliers of agricultural products; the Canadian Prairies are one of the most important global producers of wheat, canola, and other grains.[147] The Ministry of Natural Resources in Canada provides statistics regarding their major exports, zinc and uranium, and is a leading exporter of many other minerals, such as gold, nickel, aluminum, steel, iron ore, Coking Coal, and lead.[145][148][149] Many towns in northern Canada, where agriculture is difficult, are sustainable because of nearby mines or sources of timber. Canada also has a sizeable manufacturing sector centred in southern Ontario and Quebec, with automobiles and aeronautics representing particularly important industries.[150]
Representatives of the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States sign the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1992.
Canada's economic integration with the United States has increased significantly since World War II. The Automotive Products Trade Agreement of 1965 opened Canada's borders to trade in the automobile manufacturing industry. In the 1970s, concerns over energy self-sufficiency and foreign ownership in the manufacturing sectors prompted Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's Liberal government to enact the National Energy Program (NEP) and the Foreign Investment Review Agency (FIRA).[151] In the 1980s, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's Progressive Conservatives abolished the NEP and changed the name of FIRA to "Investment Canada", to encourage foreign investment.[152] The Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA) of 1988 eliminated tariffs between the two countries, while the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) expanded the free-trade zone to include Mexico in 1994.[147] In the mid-1990s, Jean Chrétien's Liberal government began to post annual budgetary surpluses, and steadily paid down the national debt.[153]
The global financial crisis of 2008 caused a major recession, which led to a significant rise in unemployment in Canada.[154] By October 2009, Canada's national unemployment rate had reached 8.6 percent, with provincial unemployment rates varying from a low of 5.8 percent in Manitoba to a high of 17 percent in Newfoundland and Labrador.[155] Between October 2008 and October 2010, the Canadian labour market lost 162,000 full-time jobs and a total of 224,000 permanent jobs.[156] Canada's federal debt was estimated to total $566.7 billion for the fiscal year 2010–11, up from $463.7 billion in 2008–09.[157] In addition, Canada's net foreign debt rose by $41 billion to $194 billion in the first quarter of 2010.[158] However, Canada's regulated banking sector (comparatively conservative among G8 nations), the federal government's pre-crisis budgetary surpluses, and its long-term policies of lowering the national debt, resulted in a less severe recession compared to other G8 nations.[159] As of 2013, the majority of the Canadian economy has stabilized, although the country remains troubled by slow growth, sensitivity to the Eurozone crisis and higher-than-normal unemployment rates.[6][160][161][162][163] The federal government and many Canadian industries have also started to expand trade with emerging Asian markets, in an attempt to diversify exports; in 2011, Asia was Canada's second-largest export market, after the United States.[164][165] Widely debated oil pipeline proposals, in particular, are hoped to increase exports of Canadian oil reserves to China.[166][167]
Science and technology
Main articles: Science and technology in Canada and Telecommunications in Canada
A shuttle in space, with Earth in the background. A mechanical arm labelled "Canada" rises from the shuttle
The Canadarm robotic manipulator in action on Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-116 mission in 2006.
In 2011, Canada spent approximately C$29.9 billion on domestic research and development.[168] As of 2012, the country has produced fourteen Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine,[169] and was ranked fourth worldwide for scientific research quality in a major 2012 survey of international scientists.[170] It is additionally home to a number of global technology firms.[171] Canada ranks seventeenth in the world for Internet users as a proportion of the population, with over 28.4 million users, equivalent to around 83 percent of its total 2012 population.[172]
The Canadian Space Agency operates a highly active space program, conducting deep-space, planetary, and aviation research, and developing rockets and satellites. Canada was the third country to launch a satellite into space after the USSR and the United States, with the 1962 Alouette 1 launch.[173] In 1984, Marc Garneau became Canada's first astronaut. As of 2013, nine Canadians have flown into space, over the course of fifteen manned missions.[174]
Canada is a participant in the International Space Station (ISS), and is a pioneer in space robotics, having constructed the Canadarm, Canadarm2 and Dextre robotic manipulators for the ISS and NASA's Space Shuttle. Since the 1960s, Canada's aerospace industry has designed and built numerous marques of satellite, including Radarsat-1 and 2, ISIS and MOST.[175] Canada has also produced a successful and widely used sounding rocket, the Black Brant; over 1,000 Black Brants have been launched since the rocket's introduction in 1961.[176]
Any additional notes:N/A
RP example:http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=263176