This document provides an overview of pursuing international strategies in Canada. It discusses Canada's geography, major cities, culture, economy, and advantages for doing business there. Canada has a population of over 34 million people and its largest cities are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The country has a diverse culture and encourages cultural diversity and retention of immigrant traditions. The economy is stable and Canada has high levels of economic freedom and low corruption.

1. Pursuing International
Strategies In Canada
Christian Hoyos
Jose Villarreal

2. Introduction
Canada is a country located in North America that extends
from the Atlantic Ocean in the east, to the Pacific Ocean on
the west, and the Artic Ocean to the North. Canada’s only
neighboring country is The United States of America.

3. Overview of Canada
 Capital City: Ottawa (-5 GMT)
 Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
 The government system is a parliamentary
democracy, a federation and constitutional
monarchy.
 The Head of State is Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II
 The head of the government is Stephen Harper
(Prime Minister).
 The Geography of Canada its mostly plains with
mountains in the west coast.

4. Major Urban Areas
EST 2011.
 Toronto 5.377 million
 Montreal 3.75 million
 Vancouver 2.197 million

5. Culture Key Facts
 Ethnic Make-up: British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%,
other 51%
 Languages: English (official) 58.8%, French (official) 21.6%, other
19.6%
 Religions: Catholic 40.5%, Protestant 20.3%, none 23.9%, other
15.3% (2011 est.)
 Population: 34,834,841 (July 2014 est.)
 Median age: 41.7 years
 Life expectancy: 81.67 (14)

6. Culture
 Canada is culturally diverse.
 Canada is a country that encourages immigrants to retain their
cultural identities, traditions, languages and customs.
 Canadians are generally a tolerant, polite and extremely
community-oriented people.

7. Regionalism
Most Canadians have a strong allegiance to their province or
region, sometimes more so than to the country.
For example:
 Quebec: The French region, has a distinct cultural identity
compare to the rest of the country and the people are
extremely regionalistic/independent.
 Ontario: This is the business hub and the people tend to be
business-like and conservative.

8. Customs & Etiquette
 The most common greeting is the handshake. It should be firm
and accompanied by direct eye contact and a sincere smile.
 Canadians like their space and prefer to be at an arm’s length
when speaking to someone.
 Wait until invited before using someone's first name although
Canadians tend to move to a first-name basis rapidly.
 French Canadian friends may greet each other by lightly kissing
on the cheeks (once on the left cheek and once on the right).
TIP:
If using French in Quebec always use the formal pronoun "vous"
(you) when speaking to someone and do not switch to the informal
"tu" unless invited to do so.

9. Business Meetings
 Canadians begin meetings with a minimal amount of
small talk.
 Shake hands with everyone at the meeting upon arrival
and departure.
 Men may offer their hand to a woman without waiting
for her to extend hers first.
 Examine any card you receive before putting it in your
card case.
 Meetings are generally well-organized and adhere to
time schedules.
 Meetings tend to be informal and relaxed in manner.
 Canadians are essentially rational and logical and thus
they will not be convinced by emotions, passion or
feelings.

10. Doing Business With Canadians:
Extra Tips
 Canadian businesspeople often begin relationships in a
reserved manner.
 Canadians appreciate politeness.
 Canadians are reticent to discuss their personal lives with
business associates.
 Canadians can disagree openly when necessary, they prefer to
do so with diplomacy.
 In Quebec there may be more time spent on relationship-building.
 In Quebec, have one side of your business card translated into
French. Hand the card so the French side faces the recipient.

11. Product
 Sector: work clothing
 Industrial and service uniforms
 FTA No tariff
 Airlines and hospital clothing
 Canadian government is a main buyer in this sector
 Parcitipation in state purchases process
 Strategy: export with an own brand

12. Canadian Economy
 GDP of $1.518 trillion (2013 est.)
 GDP per capita: $43,100 (2013 est.)
 Standard & Poor’s Rating: AAA
 Canadian Imports: $471 billion (2013 est.)
 Canada's major banks are among the most
stable in the world.
 Canada has a market system in which the
prices of goods and services are determined in
a free price system.
 In 2008, growth slowed sharply for the first
time in a decade.

13. Important FTA & Economical
Memberships
North American Free Trade Agreement:
 Members: Canada, Mexico and the U.S.A.
 Formation: January 1, 1994
Canada is also a member of these Important memberships:
 G-7
 Asian Pacific Economic Operation (APEC)

14. 2014 Index of Economic Freedom

15. Canadian Economy: Latest News
 http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/imf-sees-growth-in-canada-
s-economy-but-also-plenty-to-worry-about-
1.1766050
 http://www.therecord.com/news-story/4454575-
customer-growth-latin-american-expansion-key-priorities-
for-scotiabank-ceo/

16. Advantages of Doing Business
with Canada
 Economic Freedom
 Freedom From Corruption.
 Logistics HUB.
 Easy Access to the US market in case of expanding.
 Gain knowledge from manufacturing industry leaders
located in Canada.

17. Economic overall Freedom

18. Logistics Hub
 Airports: 1,467 (est. 2013).
 Railways: 46,552 km
 Roadways: 1,042,300 km
 Major seaport(s): Halifax, Saint John (New Brunswick),
Vancouver
 River and Lake port(s): Montreal, Quebec City, Sept-Isles (St.
Lawrence); Fraser River Port (Fraser); Hamilton (Lake
Ontario).

19. Corruption Perceptions Index
2013

20. Doing Business 2014

21. Country Risks
 High degree of openness and strong dependence on the
United States economy. (The Canadian Dollar (CAD) has A
strong dependency to the US dollar).
 Insufficient R&D spending
 Loss of business competitiveness due to the rising power
of emerging competitors.
 High household debt level.

23. Cultural Risk
 Canadian consumers don’t risk buying newly introduced
brands/products in the market because they feel
comfortable with their living standards.
 Canadians are very patriotic and tend to buy products
made or associated with the country.

24. Latest News
 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-17/canada-said-
to-announce-business-innovation-vouchers.html
Canada unveiled a C$20 million ($18.1 million) funding
program today to help businesses create partnerships
with universities and research institutes to bolster the
country’s lagging innovation record.

26. Video
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxc8CnOYhss