Canada+Jan+27 - Employment Relations in Canada Jan.27 2011...

Employment Relations in
Canada
Jan.27, 2011

The Canadian Employment
Relations System--Contexts
Political contexts

Form of Government?

Constitutional Monarchy

Parliamentary Democracy

Written constitution ‑ British North America Act (1867),
Constitution Act (1982)

Federal system

Political parties: liberal, conservative, new democratic,
Bloc Quebecois

Great Political Stability

The Canadian Employment
Relations System--Contexts
Economic context

High dependence on international trade and finance ‑
especially with the
US

Very high foreign ownership, esp. by US firms

Exports 33% GNP and imports 25% GNP

Mixed Economy
 Government owned crown corporations compete with
private sector

Recent economic performance

The Canadian Employment
Relations System--Contexts
Technological context

Among technologically most advanced countries in world

Level of Living ‑ Among highest in the world

Well endowed with natural resources

Principal Industries
 Heavily manufacturing and service oriented
 Reliant on exports of raw and semi‑finished products