Canada is a constitutional monarchy. The prime minister is the head of government. The legislative branch comprises an elected House of Commons and an appointed Senate.

There are 10 provinces and three territories, with the provinces having wide jurisdiction in many areas, such as resources, education, healthcare, direct taxation, civil law provincially incorporated companies. The two levels of government (federal and provincial) share power in some areas, as agriculture, immigration and old-age pensions. Municipal governments operate under provincial jurisdiction.

The legal system in Quebec is different from the rest of Canada, following a French-style civil code rather than British common law.

Canada has no significant restrictions on transfers of technology. Regulatory agencies become involved if an industry or product is subject to broad regulation, such as food, drugs and textiles, in order to ensure they comply with national standards of quality and safety. Some goods are restricted or prohibited such as firearms and other weapons.

Canada’s level of protection for patents and trademarks conforms to general standards in Europe and the United States. Canada is a signatory to the Paris Convention on Intellectual Property, the International Patent Co-operation Treaty and the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s treaties on copyright. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is the main agency responsible for processing and registering intellectual property claims, however it is not an enforcement agency. As of July 2004, CIPO has operated as an International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority under the Patent Co-operation Treaty.

he Bank of Canada is the central bank. According to Moody’s Financial Strength Ratings, Canadian banks stand first among G7 countries in credit worthiness. The financial services sector is dominated by six large domestic banks: Bank of Montreal, National Bank of Canada, Royal Bank, ScotiaBank, TD Bank, CIBC. All of these have offshore branches or affiliates. In addition to domestic banks, 70 foreign banks operate in Canada.

Canada encourages foreign investment and immigration. Non-Canadians who acquire control of an existing Canadian business or who wish to establish a new unrelated Canadian business are subject to the Investment Canada Act, and they must submit either a Notification or an Application for Review. Invest in Canada provides foreign investors with the services and expertise to secure a successful Canadian investment.

Canada Business Service Centres provide businesses with information on government services and programs

Real Estate investment information for the global real estate investor is provided by Bruce Woodworth. It is highly recommended that you seek the advice of licensed professionals when considering the many aspects of a foreign real estate investment.