A Dynamic Business Environment
As a business-friendly environment, Canada compares favourably with the best in the world, based on the
following fundamentals:
- Positive Business Climate
- Canada is ranked 3rd in the 2005 Economist Intelligence Unit global ratings of the business environment for the next 5 years.
- Strong Economic Growth
- Between 2002 and 2005, the Canadian economy grew at an average rate of 2.7%, and is forecast to grow at 3.2% over the period 2006-2007. Among the G7 nations, this performance is second only to
the USA.
- Low Inflation and Low Interest Rates
- Over the past five years, Canada´s inflation rate averaged 2.3%.
- Canada´s prime lending rate is presently 6%, and has not been above 7.5% during the last 6 years.
- A Strong Fiscal framework
- Canada has been running budget surpluses since the 1997-1998 year and is expected to continue doing so for at least the next two fiscal years. It is the only G7 country in this healthy position.