Changes in certain crops can affect imports and exports.

Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.

Even with the Canadian dollar appreciating some 6 U.S. cents through the year, both exports and imports in 2005 surged to record high levels.

Exports and imports will be the main growth drivers next year.

This may mark the start of an upturn in exports, but it's too soon to be sure.

Core exports are trending up at about 10 percent year over year, not enough to prevent a widening of the deficit.