From ESPN.com:

North America will be absent from next year's Formula One world championship after the Canadian Grand Prix was dropped from a revised calendar issued by the sport's governing body on Tuesday.

2009 F1 schedule
? March 29: Australia (Melbourne)
? April 5: Malaysia (Sepang)
? April 19: Bahrain
? May 10: Spain (Barcelona)
? May 24: Monaco
? June 7: Turkey (Istanbul)
? June 21: Britain (Silverstone)
? June 28: France (Magny-Cours)
? July 12: Germany
? July 26: Hungary (Budapest)
? Aug. 23: Europe (Valencia)
? Aug. 30: Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
? Sept. 13: Italy (Monza)
? Sept. 27: Singapore
? Oct. 11: Japan
? Oct. 18: China
? Nov. 1: Brazil
? Nov. 15: Abu Dhabi

No reason was given by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) but the race at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a favorite with teams and sponsors, had previously been paired with the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis that was axed this year.

It's the first time since 1987 that the Canadian GP won't be on the F1 schedule. Contractual problems between Circuit Gilles Villeneuve officials and commercial rights holder F1 management are believed to have contributed to the decision.

The Canadian race was left off the calendar 21 years ago because of a dispute between local organizers and the F1 over sponsorship.

Canadian GP officials said in a statement that they had only learned of the news via the media.