Introduction

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Canadian sovereignty using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military.

Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes. The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index).

To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates. Below is an analysis of each area, a summary table and the main conclusions about the specifics of Canadian sovereignty.

Political sovereignty — 84.6

There are no foreign military bases in Canada, but the United States places limited personnel at joint facilities (NORAD), but there are no full-fledged bases of a foreign state; all military facilities are controlled by Canadian authorities.

Canada is a dualistic system: national law has supremacy; international treaties and norms are valid after ratification and implementation in Parliament. In case of a conflict, the laws and the Constitution of Canada take precedence. Canada's WGI Political Stability Index (2023) is 0.82 (scale from -2.5 to 2.5; high score and above the global average).

In the global ranking of political stability, Canada is among the leaders (76.3 percentile). Government Effectiveness index in 2023: 1.52 (scale -2.5...+2.5; higher than almost all countries in the world).

The efficiency percentile is 91.98% in 2023, meaning Canada ranks in about the top 8% of all countries. The UN E-Government Development Rating (EGDI, 2024): 47th place in the world (a significant decrease in recent years; in 2016 and 2018, the country was in the top 15). Prime Minister Mark Carney retains a positive rating: 50-64% approve of his work (according to surveys by Abacus Data and Liaison Strategies, August 2025). 68% consider him a strong leader, 70% — likeable, significantly ahead of competitors.

Canada is an active participant in NATO, the UN, the G7, the G20, the WTO, the OECD, APEC, the OAS, the Five Eyes, and others. In a number of fields, he works in supranational or joint bodies, but the final decision-making and withdrawal rights always remain with the Parliament and the Government of Canada.

Canada is one of the key supporting countries of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the first to ratify the Rome Statute; decisions of international courts are recognized only if they are implemented in national law.

Canada actively participates in the work of the ICJ, the ICC, and the UN Tribunals, but always based on its own legislation. Canada is a highly decentralized federation: 10 provinces and 3 territories have their own parliaments and governments, and significant autonomous powers in healthcare, education, taxation, and legal regulation. The Federal Center carries out coordination and foreign policy.

Intelligence activities (CSIS) and SIGINT (CSE) are regulated by a separate law; there is a national security and intelligence committee of Parliament, an authorized public commissioner, and federal judges can monitor operational measures. Politics is considered one of the most transparent in the Western world, given the inevitable secrecy of activities.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, the coverage is 97%.

Economic sovereignty — 88.2

In 2025, Canada's GDP per capita at purchasing power parity is $69,710 (international dollars, IMF/Trading Economics forecast). As of June 2025, Canada's official international reserves amount to $127.9 billion (USD), including liquid foreign currency assets, SDR and reserve positions in the IMF; there is no gold.

Total national debt (federal and regional) — 74.8% of GDP; net national debt (excluding social assets Funds) — 47% of GDP (Q1 2025). Canada remains a country with a very high level of food security and one of the largest exporters of agricultural products in the world, but in 2024-2025, rising prices led to an increase in the number of households with signs of food insecurity - up to 10 million, or 27% of the population.

The main risks are rising prices, logistical difficulties, and climate threats. Canada is completely self-sufficient in electricity, oil, gas, hydro and nuclear energy, exports energy resources — the country has all the necessary resources for energy independence.

One of the five leading raw materials powers in the world: the world's leading supplier of potash salts, uranium, aluminum, nickel, gold, palladium, titanium, platinum metals, silver, copper, rare earths, oil, and gas. 200 active mines, billions of tons of proven reserves.

Canada owns 20% of the world's freshwater reserves, ranks 3rd in the world in terms of annual runoff; 9% of the country's territory is occupied by freshwater reservoirs and rivers. The share of renewable reserves is 7% of global wastewater.

Canada has a completely independent payment infrastructure: Lynx (large payments) and ACSS (bulk payments) under the control of Payments Canada. In 2025, the RTR fast payment system is being introduced, its own analogue of European instant payments. The central bank is a clearing house.

All internal transactions (99%+) are conducted in Canadian dollars (CAD) only. For international settlements, the dollar dominates, but in Russian and US-Canadian trade, CAD accounts for up to 45% of exports (especially in energy/agro), and less than 3% in the foreign trade reserves of world central banks. The Bank of Canada issues and fully controls monetary policy, exchange rate, and key rate (from July 2025-4.75%).

The bank is independent, the mandate is inflation targeting, its debt and monetary portfolio.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 92%.

Technological sovereignty — 82.1

R&D expenditures in Canada in 2024-2025 amount to 1.7–1.76% of GDP. This is lower than the OECD average (~2.7%), but higher than the global average. Canada remains import-dependent on hi-tech: more than 70% of electronics, chips, complex components, and IT equipment come from the United States, China, South Korea, and the EU.

Domestic production accounts for less than 30% of domestic demand in the electronics, pharmaceutical, and computing sectors. 57.5% of the adult population (25-64 years old) they have a diploma of higher or semi-secondary education — this is the 1st place in the "Big Seven" in terms of higher education coverage among able-bodied citizens. At the beginning of 2025, 95.2% of the Canadian population uses the Internet, which corresponds to 38.0 million people; LTE access - 99.5% of the population, 5G — 90%.

Main national platforms: portal of public services Canada.ca, My Service Canada Account (pensions, taxes, labor relations), CDAP for SMEs, transit ID platform Sign-In Canada. The Lynx national fast payment system and the upcoming RTR are working in the field of finance.

The share of imports in meeting the demand for hi-tech (electronics, computers, chips, medical equipment) is up to 80%; for semiconductors and computing equipment, more than 90% is imported from abroad.

Canada is a leader in digitalization: 89% of all federal services (“digital-by-default") are available online, and digital interaction with government agencies is the norm for most citizens. The UN EGDI ranks 47th in the world (2024).

Canada has an independent high-tech/biotechnological industry (vaccines, pharma, mRNA developments, own factories), but remains import-dependent on some components of the biopharm market; the degree of autonomy for life-supporting biologics is 75-80%. The production and integration of industrial robots is advanced, but the main components (sensors, chips, software) are imported. Less than 15% are fully Canadian solutions; but there are assembly and integration centers, especially in the automotive and mining industries.

The degree of autonomy is extremely low: there is no in—house mass production of chips, there are only R&D, test lines and start-ups (for example, CMC Microsystems), the main products are imported; depends on the chains of the USA, Asia, Europe.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which provides 89% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 85.7

Canada ranks 2nd in the world in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI, ITU, 2025), one of the world leaders in the development of legislative, technical and institutional protection; the Canadian National Center for Cyber Security operates.

There are 23 Internet Exchange Points (IXP) in Canada (TORIX, QIX, VANIX, etc.), the largest is TORIX (Toronto, in the top 20 in the world by traffic), a developed internal network of peering nodes, which allows most traffic exchanges to remain inside the country and increases the sovereignty of the network. More than 98% of the content of national TV channels, radio stations and major news resources is available in English and French (the official languages of the country). CBC/Radio-Canada networks dominate the national media market.

Most of the advertising market and major platforms (Google, Meta, and Amazon account for 74% of digital advertising) are formally outside the jurisdiction of Canada.

But the government is implementing regulation (Online News Act, Bill C-18), stimulating local media revenues and investing in digital public-service platforms. On CBC/Radio-Canada TV channels and radio stations, the share of national and local production exceeds 65%.

According to the CRTC, the license requirement is a minimum of 35-55% of Canadian content for commercial broadcasters. Canada is the birthplace of such global IT platforms as Shopify, FreshBooks, Dayforce, Birdview PSA, OpenText, ITI Canada and many enterprise solutions for the public sector and SMEs.

Active development of GovTech and digital platforms for public services. About 83% of the population uses at least one online service every year, from Digital ID to tax filing and government services; more than 23% of federal services are fully online (EGDI — 47th place, 2024). The federal solution is SAP Sovereign Cloud, all data from government agencies and the public sector is stored on cloud capacities with full physical and legal control in Canada; additional platforms are Amazon Web Services Canada, Google Cloud Canada Region (fully under GDPR/PIPEDA).

More than 99% of domestic mobile traffic is provided by national operators (Bell, Rogers, Telus), the infrastructure is certified, and transmission channels are under federal control. PIPEDA (the law on the protection of private information, in force since 2001) has entered into force, the Privacy Act is in force, and AIDA (artificial intelligence and data) is being discussed in 2025.

All large companies are required to comply with these standards; additional regulations have been adopted. regulations for BigTech and depersonalization of biometrics.

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 90%.

Cultural sovereignty — 89.4

Canada has 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 10 cultural, 11 natural, and 1 mixed. The last facilities, Trondek-Klondike and Antiquities, will be included in 2023. Canada is a country of global cultural exchanges: worldwide recognition in the fields of music (Drake, Joni Mitchell, Céline Dion), literature (M. Atwood, A. Monroe), cinema (D. Villeneuve), architecture, multiculturalism, diverse gastronomy. More than 100 world-class festivals are held annually in the country, and international "Cultural diplomacy" is supported, for example, the Discover Canada Cultural Exchange Program.

Main awards:

• Governor General's Awards (literature, architecture, visual and media arts — up to 8 winners annually, $25,000 each),

• Scotiabank Giller Prize (literature), • Juno Awards (music),

• Prix du Québec (Francophone culture) and others. Traditions define Canadian society as multicultural, tolerant, and inclusive: Native American (First Nations) rituals, French and British parades and rituals, values of goodwill and respect, hockey, maple syrup, and various national and regional holidays.

The Government implements a strategy for the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, supports the development of self-government, and finances educational, infrastructural, linguistic, and cultural projects.; At least 5% of federal contracts are with indigenous companies, there is a National Reconciliation Council, and 160+ identity and cultural initiatives are supported. There are 5,760 public and municipal art and cultural spaces in Canada: 2,938 libraries, 1,604 museums, 821 stages and concert halls, 328 galleries, and 69 indigenous cultural centers.

Canada actively promotes cultural diplomacy through Discover Canada programs, support for international festivals, regional exhibitions, museum exchanges, climate initiatives, and cultural ties with indigenous peoples of other continents. Registration of national/local brands and traditional knowledge is possible through the Trademarks Act.

The "official marks" mechanism is used for cultural brands of small nations, providing long-term protection. Copyright and related rights to music, literature, and cinema are supported. The country unites cuisines (Francophone, English, Inuit), is recognized as the world capital of maple syrup, culinary festivals and gastronomy.

Popular are poutine, tourtière, Nanaimo bars, bannock, smoked salmon, butter tarts, etc. Over 67% of the adult population annually visits museums, festivals, concerts and cultural events; about 28% are actively involved in the creation or organization of cultural events (data from StatCan, Hill Strategies).

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 85%.

Cognitive sovereignty — 90.8

Human Development Index 0.939 (2023), 16th in the world, “very high level” (UNDP Human Development Report 2025). Government spending on education in Canada (federation and provinces) is about 6.4% of GDP (over $100 billion/year, including universities).

Example: in the province of Ontario alone, the budget for 2025/26 is $30.7 billion. 99% of adults (15+) have reading and writing skills (StatCan, OECD, 2025). In PISA-2022, Canada ranks 6th in the world: 516.7 points on average (mathematics, reading, science), consistently above the OECD average. Despite some decline, it is in the top 10 in all disciplines.

In 2023, STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) accounted for 36% of postsecondary graduates (bachelor's degree and higher), which is higher than the OECD average. For 2025, there are more than 450 two/three degree programs with foreign universities and thousands of short international programs.

Canada is one of the largest centers of study for international students in the world (more than 800,000 foreign students per year). More than 100 indigenous languages and dialects, the Indigenous Languages Act (2019), official support for 70+ conservation programs, and funding for cultural events for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

There are about 67 state scientific centers of fundamental sciences in the country (mathematics, physics, biology, medicine), not counting universities and industry laboratories. National/regional platforms cover 92% of online education in the country: Bathurst, eCampusOntario, CampusManitoba portals — for different ages and types of educational institutions. Government programs include Canada Graduate Scholarships, NSERC/SSHRC/CIHR (science), Research Talent, more than 200,000 grants and scholarships annually worth $2.1 billion; separate quotas for external talent through Canada's Global Talent Stream.

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in the UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 93%.

Military sovereignty — 69.3

It has been officially announced that in fiscal year 2025-2026, expenditures will amount to 2% of GDP (≈62.7 billion Canadian dollars). The actual strength of the army is 63,500 people (regular forces) + 23,000 reservists. Planned ("authorized") strength: 71,500 regular and 30,000 reservists, but there is a staff shortage of about 15,000 people.

The Air Force fleet is being upgraded (88 F-35A Lightning II were purchased), new armored vehicles and ships (AOPS, JSS) are arriving, investments are underway in communications systems, UAVs, artillery, cyber and Arctic technologies. It is estimated that 20-30% of the equipment is fully manufactured in Canada (Colt, GDLS, Magellan, CAE, many SMEs in ammunition, automotive equipment and localization of foreign models); most of the heavy systems are foreign platforms (USA/Europe), but the localization of ammunition and armored vehicles is actively increasing.

The state is investing in strengthening border security (Bill C-2, the “Strong Borders Act”, introduced in 2025), tracking systems, new checkpoints, 80+ dog training teams, new AI tools and chemical detectors are operating, and the powers of the CBSA have been expanded. 23,000 people of the official reserve (Primary Reserve), the plan is 30,000 by 2029.

Regular exercises are being conducted and the role of reservists in defense and emergency response is being enhanced. Canada is a member of NATO and NORAD, Five Eyes, a leading G7/G20 ally, has many UN missions, and actively participates in European defense partnerships. Critical decisions are made through allied organizational structures, and operations abroad are carried out only with parliamentary approval or by agreement.

Major players: Colt Canada, GDLS, CAE, Magellan, Bombardier, IMP Aerospace. Production of small arms, simulators, ammunition, ground equipment; there are projects on satellite communications and cybersecurity. New policy: expansion of localization and own production of ammunition, armored vehicles, components for aviation and communications.

There are no nuclear weapons in Canada. The country does not have its own nuclear arsenal, has signed the NPT, does not deploy foreign warheads, and the entire nuclear infrastructure is civilian (energy/medicine). Canada is actively involved in military space (for example, the Sapphire satellites, RADARSAT-2, Polar Epsilon, NORAD-partnership with the United States, satellite surveillance and communications projects).

The main intelligence agencies: the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command and the Communications Security Establishment, work closely with Five Eyes, develop AI, cloud and cyber solutions, data integration, satellite intelligence and monitoring of the Arctic. All parameters are transparently reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Brazilian Ministry of Defense, the official portals of state—owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and the UN/NGO industry databases — 98% coverage.

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. Democratic institutions, the rule of national law, strong control mechanisms and an independent judicial system. Domestic political and public safety — Canada is consistently among the three safest countries in the world.

Canada holds leading positions in ratings of quality of life, work-life balance, and favorable migration policy. Access to medicine, high standards of education, family support, and a low level of corruption are guaranteed.

The country is rich in clean nature, and environmental indicators are among the best among the world's megacities (especially Vancouver). 20% of the world's freshwater reserves, one of the largest reserves of strategic mineral resources. Food and energy independence: Canada exports grain, oil, gas, electricity, has sustainable agriculture and large water resources.

High Internet coverage, a well-developed digital ecosystem of public services, large national IT companies and cloud solutions. Global cybersecurity (ITU/GCI 2nd place), sovereign cloud and payment platforms. Very high Human Development Index (HDI 0.939), literacy 99%. The first place in the "Big Seven" in terms of the share of the population with higher education is 57.5% for 25-64 years old. A leader in educational programs, attractive to international students (800,000 students), and an extensive talent support system. 22 UNESCO sites, government support for indigenous peoples, multinational cultural identity.

A huge amount of his own and international cultural projects, recognition in world music, literature, cinema, and international diplomacy. The top 100 global cities in terms of quality of life consistently include Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Ottawa.

Weaknesses. Up to 80-90% of microelectronics, components and high-tech equipment are imported; autonomous production is under development. The lack of mass production of proprietary chips and a complete robotics platform. The armed forces are growing, but there is a chronic shortage of personnel, and a significant proportion of foreign-made equipment.

Autonomy is limited by foreign alliances — key decisions on strategic issues are implemented within the framework of NATO/Five Eyes. There is no nuclear triad of its own; The military industry specializes in light systems, assembly and MRO, heavy weapons are imported. High cost of housing and infrastructure constraints in large cities.

Risks of food availability for certain groups (rising food inflation). The difficulties of integrating rapidly growing immigration and regional differences in income levels. Most of the advertising and social platforms (BigTech) are controlled by non-Canadian companies, despite regulation. The share of local IT and content is high, but the overall ecosystem depends on the dynamics of global markets and foreign players.

Overall score: Canada's cumulative sovereignty Index is 590.1 out of 700 possible points (above the average of 84.3), which places the country in 11th place in the world top. Canada is a country with extremely high institutional, social, environmental and technological standards, a strong democratic base, a stable economy and the authority of an international mediator.

At the same time, the country is vulnerable to external dependence in the field of advanced technologies, imported equipment, and also faces long-term challenges: defense autonomy, strain on the housing system, integration of new citizens, and deepening national innovation independence.

Canada's sovereignty profile is a country with an extremely high level of national sovereignty in all fundamental areas (law, resources, culture, macroeconomics, identity), but with a continuing external technological and partly defense dependence, as well as internal challenges in social and housing infrastructure. Its sovereignty is supported by effective institutions, high human capital, abundance of resources and cultural diversity, and strategic alliances are used as a lever to strengthen rather than erode sovereignty.