Population: 35 million
Area: 9.9 million km2
GDP: $1.7 trillion
GDP (per capita): $42,000
Of the seven countries that I am reviewing, Canada is the one with the most hope in its future. Canada is massive, it is the second largest country y area and has a wealth of resources. Canada has the third largest proven oil reserves (175 billion barrels) and the third largest uranium reserves (485,000 tonnes) as well as the 13th largest coal reserves (6.5 billion tonnes) and the 20th largest natural gas reserves (1.75 trillion m3). So it is easy to say that Canada is resource wealthy and considering that much of Canada is under permafrost and unexplored, it will only get wealthier.
When you combine the extreme resource wealth with a (relatively) low population of only 35 million, screwing up the Canadian economy would be an achievement. The population is expected to be 41 million in 2050. Largely I have included Canada on the list for two reasons; first is that I wrote about all the other G7 nations so I may as well do Canada. Secondly, Canada faces a very serious threat; not existing. Or at least not existing in its current form. As in the cases of Britain and Italy, Canada has a strong secessionist movement. Quebec. The Québécois have always been different to the rest of Canada, their heritage is predominantly French rather than British or Irish and most of them speak French rather than English. Two referendums have been held over the question of Quebec independence, in 1980 independence was voted down by 20%, in 1995 the referendum was much closer with 49.42% of the electorate voting for independence and 50.58% voting against.
Quebec breaking away would create problems for Canada. Quebec is 15.4% of the area, 23% of the population and produces 20% of Canadian GDP. It also contains significant proportions of Canada's natural resources. It would also have the added problem of effectively splitting Canada in two, with the four smallest provinces of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, effectively isolated from the rest of Canada.
So Canada's future as a powerful nation is largely secure, as long as it can hold itself together.
Area: 9.9 million km2
GDP: $1.7 trillion
GDP (per capita): $42,000
Of the seven countries that I am reviewing, Canada is the one with the most hope in its future. Canada is massive, it is the second largest country y area and has a wealth of resources. Canada has the third largest proven oil reserves (175 billion barrels) and the third largest uranium reserves (485,000 tonnes) as well as the 13th largest coal reserves (6.5 billion tonnes) and the 20th largest natural gas reserves (1.75 trillion m3). So it is easy to say that Canada is resource wealthy and considering that much of Canada is under permafrost and unexplored, it will only get wealthier.
When you combine the extreme resource wealth with a (relatively) low population of only 35 million, screwing up the Canadian economy would be an achievement. The population is expected to be 41 million in 2050. Largely I have included Canada on the list for two reasons; first is that I wrote about all the other G7 nations so I may as well do Canada. Secondly, Canada faces a very serious threat; not existing. Or at least not existing in its current form. As in the cases of Britain and Italy, Canada has a strong secessionist movement. Quebec. The Québécois have always been different to the rest of Canada, their heritage is predominantly French rather than British or Irish and most of them speak French rather than English. Two referendums have been held over the question of Quebec independence, in 1980 independence was voted down by 20%, in 1995 the referendum was much closer with 49.42% of the electorate voting for independence and 50.58% voting against.
Quebec breaking away would create problems for Canada. Quebec is 15.4% of the area, 23% of the population and produces 20% of Canadian GDP. It also contains significant proportions of Canada's natural resources. It would also have the added problem of effectively splitting Canada in two, with the four smallest provinces of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, effectively isolated from the rest of Canada.
So Canada's future as a powerful nation is largely secure, as long as it can hold itself together.
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