WASHINGTON, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Canada's economic outlook is improving, but there are "risks on the horizon" and support must be kept in place until recovery is firmly established, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday.

In a statement following a staff mission to Canada, the IMF said Canada's economy was relatively well positioned to resume economic expansion.

"Nevertheless, it will be essential to maintain a highly accommodative macroeconomic policy stance as intended until the economic recovery is firmly established, in light of risks on the horizon," the IMF said. "These risks include weaker-than-expected global growth and a further strengthening of the Canadian dollar." (Reporting by Emily Kaiser, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama )