NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) May 17, 2001--A full sovereign analysis on Canada is now available at www.standardandpoors.com under Standard&Poor's Forum-Ratings Analysis-Sovereigns, and on RatingsDirect, Standard&Poor's Web-based credit analysis system. Canada's ratings reflect: -- A diversified, export-oriented, highly developed economy, recently strengthened by improving macroeconomic balances. -- An improving fiscal performance at all levels of government. Recent strong GDP growth and budget surpluses at the federal and provincial levels have reduced Canada's general government debt to a projected 64% of GDP in 2001, compared to over 80% three years earlier. -- A stable political system, which minimizes potential uncertainties posed by the sovereignty movement in Quebec, and a strong political consensus on prudent economic policies.
