Metrication in Canada

Common card · No. 259631

Metrication in Canada is the conversion of Canada from imperial units to the metric system. A federal program, coordinated by the Metric Commission, began in 1970 and during the following decade converted weather reporting, road signs, fuel sales and product labelling to metric units. The Commission was abolished in 1985, ending active government promotion of metrication. All units of measurement in Canada are defined on the basis of the SI, and prepackaged goods sold to consumers must declare their quantity in metric units. Imperial units nevertheless remain legally defined under the Weights and Measures Act and may be used alongside metric units. In everyday life Canadians use a mix of both systems. Temperature, fuel, speed limits and road distances are metric, while personal height and weight, cooking, construction materials, and the advertised prices of meat and produce often remain imperial. The continued use of imperial units reflects historical ties with the United Kingdom, supply...

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