Our two countries share a deep and longstanding defence and national security partnership, providing both countries with greater security than could be achieved individually. Trade and investment between Canada and the U.S. supports millions of jobs.
Our Defence Partnership
Canada has fought alongside the U.S. in defence of our common values through World Wars I and II, the Cold War, Korea, Balkans, the Middle East, and Afghanistan.
In 1867, the country gained partial independence from the British crown, and full sovereignty in 1982. Canada still maintains strong ties with the UK as part of the commonwealth. Canada's largest trading partner and ally is the United States. Today, its government is a parliamentary democracy.
The United States GDP was $24.8 trillion in 2021. The United States has the largest economy globally and Canada ranks 9th at US$2.015 trillion.
Defence Scheme No. 1's US counterpart was War Plan Red, a plan to invade Canada as part of a war with Britain that was created in 1930. The purpose of invading the US was to allow time for Canada to prepare its war effort and to receive aid from Britain.
Frontier inhabitants were eager to strike at the British in Canada because they suspected them of arming Native American tribes that were standing in the way of America's westward expansion.
The Battle of Queenston Heights on 13 October 1812 was both a victory and a tragedy for the British and Canadian forces against the invading American army, and resulted in the death of Isaac Brock (foreground).
GDP per capita in Canada was US$48,720 in 2022 compared with Australia's US$52,680.
Australians are the richest people in the world, with a median wealth three times that of the average American, a new report has shown.
In 2021, Canada ranked as the 4th safest country in the world by U.S. News. Canada's high position on the index sits alongside Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway. Canada's ranking is 14 spots before the United Kingdom, and 34 spots ahead of the United States.
The United States and Canada have been friends, partners, and allies for more than 150 years, and our bilateral relationship is one of the closest and most comprehensive in the world.
Canada's defence relationship with Australia is its largest in the Indo-Pacific region. Official relations between Canada and Australia are conducted through respective foreign ministries and the diplomatic missions in each other's country.
Canada and the United States are key allies and defence partners, and we collaborate closely to address foreign policy crises and to defend shared values abroad.
Canada in NATO
Membership in the Alliance affords Canada an effective military instrument that helps Canada meet its three strategic defence and security objectives: to defend Canada and North America, and to project leadership abroad.
Canada is ranked 27 of 145 out of the countries considered for the annual Global Firepower review. The nation holds a Power Index score of 0.3956 with a score of 0.0000 being considered exceptional in the GFP assessment.
Australia has plentiful supplies of natural resources, including the second largest accessible reserves of iron ore in the world, the fifth largest reserves of coal and significant gas resources. For a long time, commodities have made up a sizeable share of our exports.
On a mean wealth basis, Australia was the fourth-richest country in 2021 behind Switzerland, the US and Hong Kong. The average Australian adult was worth $US550,110 at the end of last year, after enjoying a $US66,350 annual increase in wealth.
When measured by average wealth, Australia is fourth behind Switzerland, the United States and Hong Kong, indicating wealth is more evenly distributed in Australia. Australia's exalted position is a luxury that can only make its population grateful for their position in an often-troubled world.
Canada is often considered to be a more affordable country to live in, with some comparing it to places like the United Kingdom and Sweden. This is because of the lower cost of living compared to Australia. For example, the cost of groceries is typically lower in Canada, while housing is also less expensive on average.
Is Canada Safer Than Australia? Canada and Australia are considered safe countries with low crime rates. However, Canada has a lower crime index and a higher rate of safety for walking alone at night, according to numbeo.com.
Australia is a highly developed country with a mixed economy. As of 2023, Australia was the 13th-largest national economy by nominal GDP (gross domestic product), the 19th-largest by PPP-adjusted GDP, and was the 20th-largest goods exporter and 24th-largest goods importer.
Great Britain began acquiring territory in what is now Canada in the 1600s. In 1867, four British colonies (Quebec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, & New Brunswick) joined together as the "Dominion of Canada" and became a self-governing state within the British Empire.
American armies invaded Canada in 1812 at three points, but all three campaigns ended in failure. One army surrendered at Detroit at the western end of Lake Erie, a second army surrendered at Queenston Heights at the other end of the lake, and a third army withdrew after little more than a skirmish north of New York.
4. What prevented the British from invading America from Canada? The Americans defeated the British at Lake Erie and Lake Champlain in the north, keeping the British from invading America from Canada.