Although the formal extension work in Canada has been patterned after the United States Cooperative Extension Service to a considerable degree, there are some important differences between the extension education systems in the two countries. The public, private, and voluntary sectors all play significant roles in Canada's extension and technology transfer systems. Canada's public extension systems generally have less direct federal involvement nationwide. Not only does private sector spending on extension programs in Canada exceed government spending, but it is also increasing. If one considers the fine line between information and advertisting, private sector spending to disseminate information on agriculture may be even more extensive than current data indicate. Notwithstanding the generally positive view and high regard expressed by farmers for existing Canadian extension education systems, there seem to be a number of needs and opportunities for enhancing these systems. Research and extension linkages should be enhanced, agency roles should be redefined and clarified, and coordination within and between sectors should be increased. Efforts must also be made to reduce uncertainties about the role of extension agents and to reduce the information overload that exists in many areas of agricultural extension education. Other areas in which efforts and funding must be expanded include process research and programs to upgrade professional competency. (MN)