Discover Canada

discover-canada-simple.md

Discover Canada - Simple

The Oath of Citizenship

I swear (or affirm)
That I will be faithful
And bear true allegiance
To His Majesty
King Charles the Third
King of Canada
His Heirs and Successors
And that I will faithfully observe
The laws of Canada
Including the Constitution
Which recognizes and affirms
The Aboriginal and treaty rights of
First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples
And fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.

Je jure (ou j'affirme solennellement)
Que je serai fidèle
Et porterai sincère allégeance
À Sa Majesté
Le roi Charles Trois
Roi du Canada
À ses héritiers et successeurs
Que j'observerai fidèlement
Les lois du Canada
Y compris la Constitution
Qui reconnaît et confirme les droits
Ancestraux ou issus de traités
Des Premières Nations, des Inuits et des Métis
Et que je remplirai loyalement
Mes obligations
De citoyen canadien.

Understanding the Oath

✅ What you swear loyalty to

• 👍 Loyalty is sworn to the Sovereign (the King or Queen), not to:
  • A document (like the Constitution)
  • A symbol (like the flag)
  • A geographic country

✅ Canada’s system

• 👍 Canada is a constitutional monarchy
• 👍 The Sovereign represents Canada and all Canadians
• The idea is that:
  • Canada is represented by the Sovereign
  • The Sovereign represents Canada

✅ Key principle

• 👍 Loyalty to the Sovereign = loyalty to Canada

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

• 👍 Canadian citizens have rights and responsibilities

• 👍 These rights come from:

  • Canadian history
  • Canadian law
  • Shared traditions, identity, and values

• ✅ Sources of Canadian law:

  • Laws passed by Parliament
  • Laws passed by provincial legislatures
  • English common law
  • Civil Code of France
  • Unwritten constitution inherited from Great Britain

• ✅ Canada has an 800-year tradition of ordered liberty

  • Dates back to Magna Carta (1215, England)
  • Also called the Great Charter of Freedoms

• ✅ Fundamental freedoms include:

  • Freedom of conscience and religion
  • Freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression
    • Includes freedom of speech and press
  • Freedom of peaceful assembly
  • Freedom of association

• ✅ Habeas corpus

  • Right to challenge unlawful detention
  • Comes from English common law

• ✅ In 1982, the Constitution was amended to include the:

  • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

• 👍 The Charter begins with:

  • “The supremacy of God and the rule of law”
  • Emphasizes:
    • Importance of religious traditions
    • Dignity and worth of every person

• ✅ Key rights in the Charter:

  • Mobility Rights
    • Live and work anywhere in Canada
    • Enter and leave Canada freely
    • Apply for a Canadian passport
  • Aboriginal Peoples’ Rights
    • Charter does not reduce treaty or Aboriginal rights
  • Official Language Rights
    • English and French have equal status in Parliament and government
  • Minority Language Education Rights
  • Multiculturalism
    • Core part of Canadian identity
    • Respect for diversity and pluralism

The Equality of Women and Men

• ✅ Men and women are equal under the law in Canada
• ✅ Canada does not tolerate barbaric cultural practices, including:
  • Spousal abuse
  • “Honour killings”
  • Female genital mutilation
  • Forced marriage
  • Other gender-based violence
• ✅ These crimes are severely punished under Canadian criminal law

Citizenship Responsibilities

• ✅ Rights come with responsibilities

• ✅ Obeying the law

  • Canada is based on the rule of law
  • No person or group is above the law

• ✅ Taking responsibility for oneself and family

  • Working and caring for family are important values
  • Work supports dignity and Canada’s prosperity

• ✅ Serving on a jury

  • Legal duty when called
  • Juries must be impartial and made up of citizens

• ✅ Voting in elections

  • Responsibility to vote in:
    • Federal
    • Provincial or territorial
    • Local elections

• ✅ Helping others in the community

  • Volunteering helps people in need
  • Examples:
    • Schools
    • Food banks
    • Charities
    • Helping newcomers integrate

• ✅ Protecting Canada’s heritage and environment

  • Avoid waste and pollution
  • Protect natural, cultural, and architectural heritage

Defending Canada

• ✅ Canada has no compulsory military service

• ✅ Canadians may serve in the Canadian Forces

  • Navy
  • Army
  • Air Force
  • Includes full-time and reserve service

• ✅ Young people can join the cadets

  • Learn discipline, responsibility, and skills

• ✅ Other ways to serve Canada:

  • Coast Guard
  • Police services
  • Fire departments
  • Emergency services

• 👍 Serving your community continues the tradition of Canadians who made sacrifices for the country

Who We Are

✅ Canada is known as a strong and free country
👍 Canadians are proud of a unique national identity

• ✅ Canada has the oldest continuous constitutional tradition in the world
• ✅ Canada is the only constitutional monarchy in North America
• 👍 Canada’s system is based on Peace, Order, and Good Government
  • From the British North America Act (1867)
• 👍 Values that shaped Canada:
  • Ordered liberty
  • Enterprise
  • Hard work
  • Fair play
• 👍 Canada was built from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean to the Arctic Circle
• ✅ Canada has been called the “Great Dominion”

✅ To understand Canada, know the three founding peoples:

• Aboriginal
• French
• British

Aboriginal Peoples

✅ Aboriginal peoples lived in Canada long before Europeans arrived
👍 Their ancestors migrated from Asia thousands of years ago

• ✅ First Nations cultures were based on:
  • Spiritual beliefs
  • Relationship with the Creator
  • Respect for nature and community
• ✅ Aboriginal and treaty rights are protected in the Canadian Constitution
• 👍 Royal Proclamation of 1763
  • Issued by King George III
  • First guaranteed Aboriginal territorial rights
  • Basis for treaty-making (often not fully respected)

✅ Residential schools:

• Operated from the 1800s to the 1980s
• Run by the federal government
• Goal: Assimilation
• Aboriginal languages and cultures were prohibited
• Many children suffered abuse
• ✅ Formal apology in 2008 by the Government of Canada

✅ Today:

• Aboriginal peoples have renewed pride
• Contributions in:
  • Agriculture
  • Environment
  • Business
  • Arts

👍 Aboriginal peoples = three groups:

• ✅ First Nations
  • Formerly called “Indian”
  • About 600 reserve communities
  • About half live on reserves, half off-reserve (mainly cities)
• ✅ Inuit
  • Live across the Arctic
  • “Inuit” means “the people”
  • Known for survival skills in harsh environments
• ✅ Métis
  • Mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry
  • Mostly in the Prairie provinces
  • Speak Michif
  • French and English roots

👍 Population breakdown:

• 65% First Nations
• 30% Métis
• 4% Inuit

English and French

✅ Canada developed from English-speaking and French-speaking Christian civilizations

👍 Official languages:

• English
• French
• ✅ Federal government must provide services in both languages

✅ Language groups today:

• 👍 18 million Anglophones (English first language)
• 👍 7 million Francophones (French first language)

✅ Francophones:

• Mostly in Quebec
• About 1 million live in:
  • Ontario
  • New Brunswick
  • Manitoba
• ✅ New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province

✅ Acadians:

• Descendants of French settlers (from 1604)
• Lived in the Maritime provinces
• ✅ Deported 1755–1763 during war between Britain and France
• Event called the “Great Upheaval”
• Acadian culture survives and thrives today

✅ Quebecers:

• People of Quebec
• Mostly French-speaking
• Descendants of 8,500 French settlers (1600s–1700s)
• ✅ In 2006, Parliament recognized the Québécois as a nation within a united Canada
• 👍 1 million Anglo-Quebecers
  • 250 years of history
  • Important part of Quebec society

✅ English Canadians:

• Descendants of English, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish settlers
• Arrived from the 1600s to the 20th century
• Built foundations of English-speaking Canada

Diversity in Canada

✅ Canada is often called a land of immigrants

• Majority of Canadians are Canadian-born
• Immigration has shaped Canada for over 200 years

✅ Major ethnic groups include:

• English
• French
• Scottish
• Irish
• German
• Italian
• Chinese
• Aboriginal
• Ukrainian
• Dutch
• South Asian
• Scandinavian

✅ Immigration trends:

• 👍 Since the 1970s, most immigrants come from Asia

✅ Languages spoken at home:

• Many non-official languages
• 👍 Chinese languages:
  • 13% of Vancouver residents
  • 7% of Toronto residents

✅ Religion in Canada:

• Majority identify as Christian
• 👍 Largest group: Catholic
• Followed by Protestant churches
• Growing populations of:
  • Muslims
  • Jews
  • Hindus
  • Sikhs
  • Other religions
  • People with no religion

✅ Role of religion and the state:

• Partnerships to support:
  • Social welfare
  • Education
  • Health care
  • Refugee resettlement
  • Religious freedom

✅ Equality:

• 👍 Gay and lesbian Canadians have:
  • Full legal protection
  • Equal treatment
  • Access to civil marriage

✅ Canada today:

• A multicultural society
• United by a shared Canadian identity

👍 Example of diversity:

• Black Loyalists and descendants
  • Fled to Canada in the 1780s
  • From the United States where slavery lasted until 1863

Canada’s History

Aboriginal Peoples

• 👍 When Europeans arrived, all regions of Canada were already inhabited
• ✅ Europeans called Indigenous peoples “Indians” (mistaken belief they reached East Indies)
• 👍 Lifestyles depended on geography:
  • Huron-Wendat & Iroquois: farming and hunting (Great Lakes)
  • Cree & Dene: hunter-gatherers (Northwest)
  • Sioux: nomadic, followed bison
  • Inuit: Arctic wildlife
  • West Coast peoples: fishing, drying and smoking fish
• ✅ Warfare occurred between groups over land and resources
• ✅ Europeans brought diseases → many Indigenous deaths
• 👍 Early economic, religious, and military alliances helped shape Canada

The First Europeans

• ✅ Vikings from Iceland reached Labrador and Newfoundland ~1,000 years ago

• 👍 Viking site: L’Anse aux Meadows (World Heritage Site)

• ✅ 1497: John Cabot explored and mapped Canada’s east coast

• 👍 John Cabot:

  • Italian immigrant to England
  • Landed in 1497
  • Claimed land for England
  • Likely landed in Newfoundland or Cape Breton

• ✅ English settlement began later in 1610

Exploring a River, Naming Canada

• ✅ 1534–1542: Jacques Cartier made three voyages
• 👍 Claimed land for King Francis I of France
• 👍 Word kanata (Iroquoian) = “village”
• ✅ Name Canada appeared on maps by the 1550s

Royal New France

• ✅ 1604: First European settlement north of Florida

  • Pierre de Monts & Samuel de Champlain
  • St. Croix Island → Port-Royal (Acadia / Nova Scotia)

• ✅ 1608: Champlain founded Québec City

• ✅ French allied with:

  • Algonquin
  • Montagnais
  • Huron

• ✅ Long conflict with Iroquois; peace in 1701

• 👍 Fur trade was central to New France

• ✅ Important leaders:

  • Jean Talon
  • Bishop Laval
  • Count Frontenac

• 👍 French Empire stretched from Hudson Bay to Gulf of Mexico

• ✅ 1690: Count Frontenac refused to surrender Quebec

• ✅ Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville: major French military hero

• ✅ Sir Guy Carleton (Lord Dorchester):

  • Defended Canadiens’ rights
  • Defeated U.S. invasion (1775)
  • Managed Loyalist settlement (1782–83)

Struggle for a Continent

• ✅ 1670: Hudson’s Bay Company granted exclusive trading rights
• 👍 Fur traders:
  • Voyageurs
  • Coureurs des bois
• ✅ British colonies grew richer than New France
• ✅ 1759: Battle of the Plains of Abraham
  • British defeated French
  • End of French rule in North America
• 👍 Commanders killed:
  • James Wolfe (British)
  • Marquis de Montcalm (French)

The Province of Quebec

• ✅ Britain renamed colony Province of Quebec
• 👍 French Catholics called:
  • Habitants
  • Canadiens
• ✅ Sought to preserve language, religion, and culture

A Tradition of Accommodation

• ✅ Quebec Act (1774):
  • Religious freedom for Catholics
  • Catholics allowed to hold public office
  • Restored French civil law
  • Kept British criminal law
• 👍 Major constitutional foundation of Canada

United Empire Loyalists

• ✅ 1776: American Revolution
• ✅ Over 40,000 Loyalists moved to Canada
• ✅ Settled in Nova Scotia and Quebec
• ✅ Joseph Brant led Loyalist Mohawk into Canada
• ✅ Loyalists came from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds
• ✅ About 3,000 Black Loyalists arrived
• ✅ 1792: Some moved to Sierra Leone

The Beginnings of Democracy

• ✅ 1758: First elected assembly in Nova Scotia
• ✅ PEI (1773), New Brunswick (1785)
• ✅ Constitutional Act (1791):
  • Upper Canada (Ontario): English, Protestant
  • Lower Canada (Quebec): French, Catholic
• ✅ First elected legislatures
• 👍 Name Canada became official
• 👍 Region known as British North America

Abolition of Slavery

• ✅ 1793: Upper Canada moved toward abolition
  • Led by John Graves Simcoe
• ✅ 1807: Slave trade banned
• ✅ 1833: Slavery abolished across British Empire
• 👍 Underground Railroad brought escaped slaves to Canada

A Growing Economy

• ✅ Fur trade dominated early economy
• ✅ Hudson’s Bay Company key employer
• ✅ Trading posts became major cities
• ✅ 1832: Montreal Stock Exchange opened
• 👍 Economy based on:
  • Farming
  • Fur, fish, timber exports

The War of 1812: The Fight for Canada

• ✅ 1812–1814: U.S. invaded Canada
• ✅ Defended by:
  • British troops
  • Canadian volunteers
  • First Nations (Chief Tecumseh)
• ✅ Key figures:
  • Sir Isaac Brock (died at Queenston Heights)
  • Charles de Salaberry (Châteauguay, 1813)
• ✅ Americans burned York (Toronto) in 1813
• ✅ British burned Washington, D.C. in 1814
• 👍 War ensured Canada remained independent of the U.S.
• ✅ Border largely established after war

Rebellions of 1837–38

• ✅ Reformers wanted faster democracy

• ✅ Rebellions failed due to lack of support

• ✅ Rebels defeated; some executed or exiled

• ✅ Lord Durham Report:

  • Recommended union of Canadas
  • Introduced responsible government
  • Proposed assimilation of French Canadians (rejected)

• ✅ Future Fathers of Confederation:

  • John A. Macdonald
  • George-Étienne Cartier
  • Étienne-Paschal Taché

Responsible Government

• ✅ 1840: Province of Canada formed
• ✅ 1847–48: Nova Scotia first to achieve responsible government
• ✅ 1848–49: Province of Canada followed
• 👍 Government must resign if it loses confidence vote
• ✅ First leader: Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine

Confederation

• ✅ 1864–1867: Confederation talks
• ✅ Fathers of Confederation created:
  • Federal government
  • Provincial governments
• ✅ 1867:
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • Nova Scotia
  • New Brunswick
• ✅ British North America Act (1867)
• 👍 July 1, 1867: Canada founded
• ✅ Dominion Day → Canada Day

Dominion from Sea to Sea

• ✅ Term Dominion of Canada suggested by Sir Leonard Tilley
• ✅ Inspired by Psalm 72
• ✅ Official term for ~100 years

Expansion of the Dominion

• ✅ 1867 — ON, QC, NS, NB
• ✅ 1870 — Manitoba, N.W.T.
• ✅ 1871 — British Columbia
• ✅ 1873 — Prince Edward Island
• ✅ 1880 — Arctic Islands
• ✅ 1898 — Yukon
• ✅ 1905 — Alberta, Saskatchewan
• ✅ 1949 — Newfoundland and Labrador
• ✅ 1999 — Nunavut

Canada’s First Prime Minister

• ✅ Sir John A. Macdonald
  • Born: January 11, 1815
  • First PM in 1867
  • Portrait on $10 bill
• ✅ Sir George-Étienne Cartier
  • Key Quebec leader
  • Helped expand Canada westward

Challenge in the West

• ✅ 1869–70: Red River Resistance
• ✅ Louis Riel led Métis uprising
• ✅ Manitoba created in 1870
• ✅ 1885: Second Métis rebellion
• ✅ Riel executed for treason
• ✅ 1873: NWMP formed
• ✅ NWMP → RCMP
• 👍 RCMP is a national symbol

A Railway from Sea to Sea

• ✅ 1871: BC joined Confederation (railway promise)
• ✅ Nov 7, 1885: Last spike driven
• ✅ Donald Smith (Lord Strathcona)
• ✅ Built by European and Chinese workers
• ✅ 2006: Apology for Chinese Head Tax

Moving Westward

• ✅ Economic boom (1890s–early 1900s)
• ✅ Immigration:
  • 1 million British
  • 1 million Americans
• ✅ PM Sir Wilfrid Laurier
  • Portrait on $5 bill
• ✅ Large Eastern European settlement

The First World War

• ✅ 1914–1918
• ✅ Over 600,000 served
• ✅ Vimy Ridge (April 1917)
• ✅ April 9 = Vimy Day
• ✅ 60,000 dead, 170,000 wounded
• ✅ Nov 11, 1918: Armistice

Women Get the Vote

• ✅ Founder: Dr. Emily Stowe
• ✅ 1916: Manitoba first province
• ✅ 1917: Federal vote for some women
• ✅ 1918: Most women gained vote
• ✅ 1921: Agnes Macphail first woman MP
• ✅ 1940: Quebec women gained vote

Between the Wars

• ✅ Canada part of Commonwealth
• ✅ Great Depression (1929–1939)
• ✅ 1934: Bank of Canada created
• ✅ Immigration declined

The Second World War

• ✅ 1939–1945
• ✅ Over 1 million served
• ✅ 44,000 killed
• ✅ Key events:
  • Hong Kong (1941)
  • Dieppe (1942)
  • D-Day / Juno Beach (June 6, 1944)
• ✅ Canada liberated the Netherlands
• ✅ May 8, 1945: Victory in Europe
• ✅ Aug 14, 1945: Japan surrendered
• ✅ Internment of Japanese Canadians
• ✅ 1988: Official apology and compensation

Modern Canada

Trade and Economic Growth

✅ Post–Second World War prosperity

• 👍 Canada had record economic growth after 1945
• Trade barriers from the Great Depression were reduced

✅ International trade

• 👍 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
  • Opened global trade after the Depression
  • Later became the World Trade Organization (WTO)

✅ Energy

• 👍 Oil discovered in Alberta in 1947
• Start of Canada’s modern energy industry

✅ Living standards

• 👍 By 1951, most Canadians could afford:
  • Adequate food
  • Shelter
  • Clothing
• 👍 Between 1945–1970, Canada had one of the strongest economies among industrialized nations
• Today, Canada has one of the highest standards of living in the world
• Trade with the United States is especially important

✅ Social programs

• 👍 Unemployment Insurance introduced in 1940
  • Now called Employment Insurance
• 👍 Old Age Security created in 1927
• 👍 Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) started in 1965
• 👍 Canada Health Act
  • Ensures common standards for health care across Canada
• 👍 Public education is funded by provinces and territories

International Engagement

✅ Growing independence

• Canada gradually gained autonomy from Britain
• Became active in international affairs

✅ Cold War

• Eastern Europe controlled by the Soviet Union
• Led by dictator Josef Stalin

✅ Military alliances

• 👍 NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
• 👍 NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) with the United States

✅ United Nations

• 👍 Canada is a member of the United Nations (UN)

✅ Korean War

• 👍 Canada fought in the Korean War (1950–1953)
• Casualties:
  • About 500 dead
  • About 1,000 wounded

✅ Peacekeeping and security

• Canada participated in UN peacekeeping missions in:
  • Egypt
  • Cyprus
  • Haiti
• Other missions:
  • Former Yugoslavia
  • Afghanistan

Canada and Quebec

✅ Postwar Quebec

• French-Canadian culture grew strongly
• Major changes in the 1960s called the Quiet Revolution

✅ Quebec sovereignty

• Some Quebecers wanted to separate from Canada

✅ Bilingualism

• 👍 Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism created in 1963
• 👍 Led to the Official Languages Act (1969)
  • Guarantees French and English services in the federal government

✅ Francophone cooperation

• 👍 Canada helped found La Francophonie in 1970
  • Organization of French-speaking countries

✅ Referendums

• 👍 1980 referendum: sovereignty defeated
• 👍 1995 referendum: sovereignty defeated again

✅ Constitution

• 👍 Constitution amended in 1982
• Quebec did not agree to the amendment
• Quebec’s autonomy remains an ongoing issue

A Changing Society

✅ Social change

• Canada became more open and flexible
• More access to:
  • Secondary education
  • Post-secondary education
• More women entered professional work

✅ Voting rights

• 👍 Japanese Canadians gained the vote in 1948
• 👍 Aboriginal people gained the vote in 1960
• 👍 Today, all citizens 18 years or older may vote

✅ Refugees

• 👍 About 37,000 Hungarian refugees came to Canada in 1956
• 👍 Over 50,000 Vietnamese refugees came after 1975

✅ Multiculturalism

• By the 1960s, one-third of Canadians were neither British nor French in origin
• Cultural diversity is especially strong in Canadian cities
• Diversity is seen as enriching Canadian society

✅ Arts and literature

• Canadian artists are recognized at home and internationally
• Notable writers include:
  • Stephen Leacock
  • Louis Hémon
  • Pauline Johnson
  • Émile Nelligan
  • Robertson Davies
  • Margaret Laurence
  • Mordecai Richler
  • Joy Kogawa
  • Michael Ondaatje
  • Rohinton Mistry
• Notable musicians:
  • Sir Ernest MacMillan
  • Healey Willan

Arts and Culture in Canada

✅ Visual arts

• 👍 Group of Seven (founded 1920)
  • Famous for paintings of Canada’s wilderness
• 👍 Emily Carr
  • Painted West Coast forests and Indigenous art
• 👍 Les Automatistes (Quebec, 1950s)
  • Abstract modern art
  • Jean‑Paul Riopelle
• 👍 Louis‑Philippe Hébert
  • Sculptor of historical figures
• 👍 Kenojuak Ashevak
  • Pioneer of modern Inuit art

✅ Performing arts

• Canada has many regional theatres
• Internationally respected performing arts companies

✅ Film and television

• 👍 Denys Arcand – award‑winning filmmaker
• Other notable filmmakers:
  • Norman Jewison
  • Atom Egoyan
• Canadian television is widely popular

✅ Sports

• 👍 Basketball invented by James Naismith in 1891
• 👍 Ice hockey is Canada’s national sport
• 👍 Donovan Bailey
  • Double Olympic gold medalist (1996)
• 👍 Chantal Petitclerc
  • Paralympic gold medalist
• 👍 Wayne Gretzky
  • Played for the Edmonton Oilers (1979–1988)

✅ Canadian heroes

• 👍 Terry Fox
  • Began the Marathon of Hope in 1980
  • Raised money for cancer research
• 👍 Rick Hansen
  • Circled the world in a wheelchair in 1985
  • Raised funds for spinal cord research

✅ Science and technology

• Important thinkers:
  • Marshall McLuhan
  • Harold Innis
• 👍 Canadian Space Agency founded in 1989
• 👍 Canadarm used in space missions
• 👍 Nobel Prize–winning scientists:
  • Gerhard Herzberg
  • John Polanyi
  • Sidney Altman
  • Richard E. Taylor
  • Michael Smith
  • Bertram Brockhouse

✅ Canadian football

• Canadian Football League (CFL)
• Championship trophy: Grey Cup
• 👍 Donated in 1909 by Lord Grey, Governor General

Great Canadian Discoveries and Inventions

✅ Key inventors and inventions

• 👍 Alexander Graham Bell — telephone
• 👍 Joseph‑Armand Bombardier — snowmobile
• 👍 Sir Sandford Fleming — standard time zones
• 👍 Mathew Evans & Henry Woodward — electric light bulb
• 👍 Reginald Fessenden — wireless voice radio
• 👍 Dr. Wilder Penfield — pioneering brain surgeon
• 👍 Dr. John A. Hopps — cardiac pacemaker
• 👍 SPAR Aerospace / NRC — Canadarm
• 👍 Mike Lazaridis & Jim Balsillie (RIM) — BlackBerry

✅ Museums and historic sites

• Museums and national historic sites exist across Canada
• Run by organizations such as:
  • Virtual Museum of Canada
  • Parks Canada

How Canadians Govern Themselves

👍 Canada’s system of government has three key features:

• 👍 Federal state
• 👍 Parliamentary democracy
• 👍 Constitutional monarchy

Federal State

✅ Canada has four levels of government:

• Federal
• Provincial
• Territorial
• Municipal

✅ Division of powers (set in 1867):

• Defined in the British North America Act, now called the Constitution Act, 1867

✅ Federal government responsibilities:

• Defence
• Foreign policy
• Interprovincial trade and communications
• Currency (money)
• Navigation
• Criminal law
• Citizenship

✅ Provincial government responsibilities:

• Municipal government
• Education
• Health care
• Natural resources
• Property and civil rights
• Highways

✅ Shared responsibilities (federal + provinces):

• Agriculture
• Immigration

👍 Key structure facts:

• Each province has an elected Legislative Assembly
• Similar in role to the House of Commons
• The three territories are not provinces but have elected governments with similar functions

Parliamentary Democracy

✅ How democracy works in Canada:

• Citizens elect representatives to:
  • The House of Commons (federal)
  • Provincial and territorial legislatures

✅ Responsibilities of elected representatives:

• Pass laws
• Approve government spending
• Monitor government actions
• Hold the government accountable

✅ Confidence of the House:

• Cabinet must keep the support (“confidence”) of the House of Commons
• Government must resign if it loses a non-confidence vote

👍 Parliament has three parts:

• 👍 The Sovereign (Queen or King)
• 👍 The Senate
• 👍 The House of Commons

👍 Federal government roles:

• Prime Minister
  • Chooses Cabinet ministers
  • Directs government operations and policy
• House of Commons
  • Elected Members of Parliament (MPs)
  • Elections traditionally every four years
• Senate
  • Senators appointed by the Governor General
  • Appointment based on advice of the Prime Minister
  • Senators serve until age 75

✅ Bills (proposed laws):

• Must be approved by:
  • House of Commons
  • Senate
• Must receive Royal Assent
  • Given by the Governor General on behalf of the Sovereign

Making laws

How a bill becomes law — The Legislative Process

👍 Steps for a bill to become law:

1. ✅ First Reading – Bill is introduced and printed
2. ✅ Second Reading – Debate on the principle of the bill
3. ✅ Committee Stage – Detailed clause-by-clause study
4. ✅ Report Stage – Further amendments may be made
5. ✅ Third Reading – Final debate and vote
6. ✅ Senate – Similar process in the Senate
7. ✅ Royal Assent – Final approval after both Houses pass the bill

✅ Citizen responsibility:

• Canadians 18 years or older should vote in:
  • Federal elections
  • Provincial or territorial elections
  • Municipal elections

Constitutional Monarchy

✅ Canada’s Head of State:

• The Sovereign (Queen or King)
• Position is hereditary
• Must act according to the Constitution and the rule of law

👍 Role of the Sovereign:

• Part of Parliament
• Non-partisan role
• Symbol of:
  • Canadian sovereignty
  • Constitutional freedoms
  • National history

✅ Head of the Commonwealth:

• Links Canada with 53 other countries
• Commonwealth countries cooperate socially, economically, and culturally

👍 Other constitutional monarchies include:

• Denmark, Norway, Sweden
• Australia, New Zealand
• The Netherlands, Spain
• Thailand, Japan
• Jordan, Morocco

✅ Important distinction:

• Head of State: the Sovereign
• Head of Government: the Prime Minister

👍 Representatives of the Sovereign:

• Governor General
  • Represents the Sovereign in Canada
  • Appointed on advice of the Prime Minister
  • Term usually five years
• Lieutenant Governor
  • Represents the Sovereign in each province
  • Appointed by the Governor General on advice of the Prime Minister
  • Term usually five years

✅ Three branches of government:

• Executive
• Legislative
• Judicial
• Work together to protect rights and freedoms

✅ Provincial and territorial legislatures:

• Pass provincial and territorial laws
• Members are called:
  • MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly)
  • MNAs (Members of the National Assembly)
  • MPPs (Members of Provincial Parliament)
  • MHAs (Members of the House of Assembly)

✅ Provincial leadership:

• Premier
  • Role similar to the Prime Minister
• Lieutenant Governor
  • Role similar to the Governor General

✅ Territories:

• Represented by a Commissioner
• Commissioner represents the federal government
• Mainly a ceremonial role

Canada’s System of Government

Federal Elections

• 👍 Canadians vote to choose people to represent them in the House of Commons

• ✅ Representatives are called Members of Parliament (MPs)

• ✅ Federal elections:

  • Held on the third Monday in October
  • Occur every four years after the last general election
  • 👍 The Prime Minister can ask the Governor General to call an earlier election

• 👍 Canada is divided into 308 electoral districts

  • Also called ridings or constituencies
  • Each district elects one MP

• ✅ Who can run in a federal election:

  • Canadian citizen
  • 18 years old or older
  • Candidates may belong to a political party or run independently

• ✅ How MPs are chosen:

  • Voters choose a candidate and party
  • The candidate with the most votes wins
  • This MP represents the district and all Canadians

Voting

• ✅ Voting is a right of Canadian citizenship

• ✅ You can vote in a federal election or referendum if you are:

  • A Canadian citizen
  • 18 years or older on voting day
  • On the voters’ list

• 👍 Elections Canada:

  • A neutral agency of Parliament
  • Manages federal elections and referendums
  • Maintains the National Register of Electors

• ✅ National Register of Electors:

  • Permanent list of eligible voters
  • Includes Canadian citizens 18+

• ✅ Voter Information Card:

  • Sent by mail after an election is called
  • Shows:
    • When and where you vote
    • Contact number for interpreter or special services

• ✅ If you are not registered or did not get a card:

  • You can still be added to the voters’ list
  • Even on election day

Secret Ballot

• 👍 Canadian law guarantees a secret ballot

  • No one can watch you vote
  • No one can force you to reveal your vote
  • Includes family, employers, and unions

• ✅ After polls close:

  • Ballots are counted
  • Results announced on TV, radio, and newspapers

After an Election

• ✅ Forming the government:

  • The party with the most seats is invited by the Governor General to form government
  • Its leader becomes the Prime Minister

• ✅ Types of government:

  • 👍 Majority government: party has at least half the seats
  • 👍 Minority government: party has less than half the seats

• ✅ Confidence of the House:

  • Government must keep support of a majority of MPs
  • Important votes (like the budget) are confidence votes
  • If government loses confidence:
    • Prime Minister usually asks Governor General to call an election

• ✅ Cabinet:

  • Chosen by the Prime Minister
  • Mostly MPs
  • Run government departments
  • Prepare the budget
  • Propose most new laws

• ✅ Opposition parties:

  • Parties not in power
  • Largest opposition party is the Official Opposition
  • Also called Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition
  • Role: question and improve government proposals

• 👍 Major parties in the House of Commons:

  • Conservative Party
  • Liberal Party
  • New Democratic Party (NDP)

Voting Procedures During an Election Period

• ✅ 1. Voter information card

  • Confirms you are on the voters’ list
  • Shows where and when to vote

• ✅ 2. I did not get a card

  • Contact local elections office
  • Or call Elections Canada: 1-800-463-6868

• ✅ 3. Advance poll and special ballot

  • Vote before election day if needed
  • Dates and locations are on the voter card

• ✅ 4. On election day

  • Go to your polling station
  • Bring:
    • Voter information card
    • Proof of identity and address

• ✅ 5. Marking the ballot

  • Mark an “X” beside your chosen candidate

• ✅ 6. Voting is secret

  • Vote behind a screen
  • Fold ballot before handing it in

• ✅ 7. The ballot box

  • Poll official removes ballot number
  • You place ballot in the ballot box

• ✅ 8. The election results

  • Ballots counted after polls close
  • Results published on TV and at www.elections.ca

Other Levels of Government in Canada

• 👍 Municipal (local) government:

  • Led by a mayor or reeve
  • Includes councillors or aldermen
  • Pass local laws called by-laws

• ✅ Municipal responsibilities include:

  • Roads and streets
  • Garbage and recycling
  • Snow removal
  • Firefighting and emergency services
  • Public transit
  • Recreation facilities
  • Some health and social services
  • Local police (in most large cities)

• ✅ Provincial, territorial, and municipal elections:

  • Use secret ballots
  • Rules differ from federal elections

• 👍 Levels of government and responsibilities:

  Federal

  • ✅ Elected officials: MPs
  • ✅ Responsibilities:
    • National Defence
    • Foreign Policy
    • Citizenship
    • Criminal Justice
    • International Trade
    • Aboriginal Affairs
    • Policing
    • Immigration (shared)
    • Agriculture (shared)
    • Environment (shared)

  Provincial and Territorial

  • ✅ Elected officials:
    • MLAs, MNAs, MPPs, or MHAs
  • ✅ Responsibilities:
    • Education
    • Health Care
    • Natural Resources
    • Highways
    • Property and Civil Rights
    • Policing (Ontario and Quebec)
    • Immigration (shared)
    • Agriculture (shared)
    • Environment (shared)

  Municipal

  • ✅ Elected officials:
    • Mayor or Reeve
    • Councillors or Aldermen
  • ✅ Responsibilities:
    • Community health
    • Transportation and utilities
    • Snow removal
    • Policing
    • Firefighting
    • Emergency services

• ✅ First Nations governance:

  • Led by band chiefs and councillors
  • Responsible for:
    • Housing
    • Schools
    • Local services on reserves
  • Aboriginal organizations represent First Nations, Métis, and Inuit

How Much Do You Know About Your Government?

• 👍 Use this section to study and memorize current leaders

Federal Government

• ✅ Head of State: The King of Canada
• ✅ Representative of the King: Governor General
• ✅ Head of Government: Prime Minister
• ✅ Political party in power
• ✅ Leader of the Opposition
• ✅ Party of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition
• ✅ Other opposition parties and leaders
• ✅ Your Member of Parliament (MP)
• ✅ Your federal electoral district

Provincial Government

• ✅ Representative of the King: Lieutenant Governor
• ✅ Head of Government: Premier
• ✅ Provincial party in power
• ✅ Provincial opposition parties and leaders
• ✅ Your provincial representative

Territorial Government

• ✅ Federal representative: Commissioner
• ✅ Head of Government: Premier
• ✅ Your territorial representative

Municipal Government

• ✅ Name of your municipality
• ✅ Head of municipal government:
  • Mayor or Reeve

The Justice System

✅ Due process under the law

• Everyone in Canada is guaranteed due process
• ✅ Presumption of innocence in criminal cases
  • Everyone is innocent until proven guilty

👍 Foundations of Canada’s legal system

• Rule of law
• Freedom under the law
• Democratic principles
• Due process
• Due process means the government must respect all legal rights under the law

✅ Equality before the law

• The law applies to everyone
  • Judges
  • Politicians
  • Police
• Laws are made by elected representatives
• Courts settle disputes
• Police enforce the laws
• Laws provide:
  • Order in society
  • Peaceful ways to resolve disputes
  • Expression of Canadian values and beliefs

👍 Symbol of justice

• The blindfolded Lady Justice represents:
  • Impartial justice
  • Decisions based only on facts, not personal considerations

Courts

✅ Court system in Canada

• 👍 Supreme Court of Canada
  • Highest court in the country
• ✅ Federal Court of Canada
  • Deals with matters involving the federal government
• ✅ Provincial court systems
  • Appeal courts
  • Trial courts
    • Often called:
      • Court of Queen’s Bench
      • Supreme Court (in some provinces)
• ✅ Other courts:
  • Provincial courts (less serious offences)
  • Family courts
  • Traffic courts
  • Small claims courts (civil cases with small amounts of money)

Police

✅ Role of the police

• Keep people safe
• Enforce the law
• You can contact police for:
  • Accidents
  • Theft
  • Assault
  • Crimes in progress
  • Missing persons

👍 Types of police in Canada

• Provincial police:
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
• Municipal police:
  • In cities and towns across Canada
• ✅ Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
  • Enforce federal laws across Canada
  • Act as provincial police in:
    • All provinces and territories except Ontario and Quebec
  • Also serve some municipalities

✅ Police accountability

• You may question police service or conduct
• Almost all police forces have a formal complaint process

Getting Legal Help

✅ Legal assistance

• Lawyers:
  • Give legal advice
  • Represent people in court
• ✅ Legal aid
  • Available in most communities
  • Free or low-cost for people who cannot afford a lawyer

✅ Other justice-related facts

• Juries are part of the court system
• Prisons:
  • Punish criminals
  • Help deter crime

Canadian Symbols

• 👍 Canadian symbols are objects, events, and people with special meaning
• 👍 They explain Canadian identity and what it means to be Canadian
• ✅ Symbols appear throughout the Discover Canada guide

The Canadian Crown

• ✅ The Crown has been a symbol of the state in Canada for 400 years
• ✅ Canada has been a constitutional monarchy since Confederation in 1867
• 👍 Queen Victoria was monarch at Confederation
• 👍 Queen Elizabeth II:
  • Queen of Canada since 1952
  • Golden Jubilee: 2002
  • Diamond Jubilee (60 years): 2012
• ✅ The Crown represents government authority, including:
  • Parliament
  • Provincial legislatures
  • Courts
  • Police services
  • Canadian Forces

Flags in Canada

• ✅ The current Canadian flag was first raised in 1965
• 👍 Red–white–red design:
  • Inspired by the Royal Military College flag (founded 1876)
• ✅ Red and white:
  • Colours of France and England since the Middle Ages
  • National colours of Canada since 1921
• 👍 The Union Jack is Canada’s official Royal Flag
• ✅ The Canadian Red Ensign served as the flag for about 100 years
• ✅ Provinces and territories each have their own flags

The Maple Leaf

• 👍 Canada’s best-known symbol
• ✅ Used by French Canadians since the 1700s
• ✅ On uniforms and insignia since the 1850s
• ✅ Appears on:
  • Military insignia
  • Soldiers’ headstones in Canada and overseas

The Fleur-de-lys

• ✅ Adopted by the French king in 496
• 👍 Symbol of French royalty for over 1,000 years
• ✅ Used in New France
• ✅ Revived at Confederation
• ✅ Included in the Canadian Red Ensign
• ✅ In 1948, Quebec adopted its own flag:
  • Based on the Cross and the fleur-de-lys

Coat of Arms and Motto

• ✅ Adopted after the First World War
• 👍 National motto: A Mari Usque Ad Mare
  • Means “from sea to sea”
• ✅ Coat of arms includes symbols of:
  • England
  • France
  • Scotland
  • Ireland
  • Red maple leaves
• ✅ Seen on:
  • Dollar bills
  • Government documents
  • Public buildings

Parliament Buildings

• ✅ Located in Ottawa
• ✅ Architectural influences:
  • French
  • English
  • Aboriginal
  • Gothic Revival (Victorian era)
• ✅ Completed in the 1860s
• ✅ Centre Block:
  • Destroyed by fire in 1916
  • Rebuilt in 1922
• ✅ Library of Parliament:
  • Only part of the original building still standing
• ✅ Peace Tower:
  • Completed in 1927
  • Memorial to the First World War
• ✅ Memorial Chamber:
  • Contains Books of Remembrance
  • Names of Canadians who died in wars or on duty
• ✅ Provincial legislatures:
  • Quebec: French Second Empire style
  • Others: Baroque, Romanesque, neoclassical
  • Reflect Greco-Roman democratic heritage

Popular Sports

• ✅ Hockey:
  • Most popular spectator sport
  • National winter sport
  • Developed in Canada in the 1800s
• ✅ Stanley Cup:
  • Awarded by the NHL
  • Donated by Lord Stanley in 1892
• ✅ Clarkson Cup:
  • Women’s hockey championship
  • Established in 2005
  • By Adrienne Clarkson, 26th Governor General
• 👍 Other popular sports:
  • Canadian football (second most popular)
  • Curling (introduced by Scottish pioneers)
  • Lacrosse (official summer sport, Aboriginal origin)
  • Soccer (most registered players)

The Beaver

• ✅ Early symbol of the Hudson’s Bay Company
• ✅ Adopted in 1834 by the St. Jean Baptiste Society
• 👍 Symbol of hard work and industry
• ✅ Appears on:
  • Five-cent coin (nickel)
  • Coats of arms of Saskatchewan and Alberta
  • City arms (e.g., Montreal, Toronto)

Canada’s Official Languages

• ✅ Official languages: English and French
• 👍 Anglophones and Francophones:
  • Have lived together for 300+ years
• ✅ Citizenship requirement:
  • Adequate knowledge of English or French
  • Applicants 55+ years old are exempt
• ✅ Official Languages Act (1969):
  • Equality of English and French in Parliament and government
  • Support minority language communities
  • Promote language equality in society

National Anthem

• ✅ O Canada
• ✅ Proclaimed national anthem in 1980
• ✅ First sung in 1880 in Québec City
• ✅ English and French versions have different lyrics

O Canada (English)

• Key opening line: “O Canada! Our home and native land!”
• Ends with: “We stand on guard for thee”

Ô Canada (French)

• Key theme: protection of homes and rights
• Ends with: “Protégera nos foyers et nos droits”

Royal Anthem

• ✅ Royal Anthem: “God Save the Queen (or King)”
• ✅ Used to honour the Sovereign
• ✅ May be played or sung on official occasions

The Order of Canada and Other Honours

• ✅ Canada recognizes outstanding citizens with honours
• 👍 Types of honours:
  • Orders
  • Decorations
  • Medals
• ✅ Canada created its own honours system in 1967
  • Centennial of Confederation
• ✅ Highest civilian order: Order of Canada
• ✅ Canadians may nominate others for honours

The Victoria Cross

• ✅ Highest military honour in Canada
• ✅ Awarded for:
  • Extreme bravery
  • Valour
  • Self-sacrifice
  • Devotion to duty in combat
• ✅ Awarded to 96 Canadians since 1854
• ✅ Notable recipients:
  • Alexander Roberts Dunn – first Canadian V.C. (Crimean War, 1854)
  • William Hall – first Black V.C. recipient (Indian Rebellion, 1857)
  • Filip Konowal – first V.C. recipient not born in British Empire (1917)
  • Billy Bishop – First World War flying ace
  • Paul Triquet – Second World War, Italy (1943)
  • Robert Hampton Gray – last Canadian V.C. recipient (1945)

National Public Holidays and Other Important Dates

• ✅ New Year’s Day — January 1
• ✅ Sir John A. Macdonald Day — January 11
• ✅ Good Friday — Friday before Easter
• ✅ Easter Monday — Monday after Easter
• ✅ Vimy Day — April 9
• ✅ Victoria Day — Monday before May 25
• ✅ Fête Nationale (Quebec) — June 24
• ✅ Canada Day — July 1
• ✅ Labour Day — First Monday in September
• ✅ Thanksgiving — Second Monday in October
• ✅ Remembrance Day — November 11
• ✅ Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day — November 20
• ✅ Christmas Day — December 25
• ✅ Boxing Day — December 26

Canada’s Economy

A Trading Nation

✅ Canada has always depended on trade for economic growth.
✅ Canada’s standard of living depends on trading with other countries.

👍 Free trade agreements

• ✅ 1988: Canada enacted free trade with the United States
• ✅ 1994: Mexico joined, creating NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
• ✅ NAFTA involved over 444 million people
• ✅ By 2008, NAFTA trade exceeded $1 trillion in merchandise trade

👍 Canada in the global economy

• ✅ Canada has one of the 10 largest economies in the world
• ✅ Canada is a member of the G8
  • Other G8 countries:
    • United States
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • Italy
    • France
    • Japan
    • Russia

Canada’s Economy Includes Three Main Types of Industries:

👍 1. Service industries

• ✅ Employ over 75% of working Canadians
• Examples:
  • Transportation
  • Education
  • Health care
  • Construction
  • Banking
  • Communications
  • Retail services
  • Tourism
  • Government

👍 2. Manufacturing industries

• ✅ Make goods for Canada and international markets
• Examples of products:
  • Paper
  • High-technology equipment
  • Aerospace technology
  • Automobiles
  • Machinery
  • Food
  • Clothing
• ✅ Canada’s largest trading partner: United States

👍 3. Natural resources industries

• ✅ Key industries:
  • Forestry
  • Fishing
  • Agriculture
  • Mining
  • Energy
• ✅ Important to Canada’s history and development
• ✅ Many regions still depend on natural resources
• ✅ A large share of exports are natural resource commodities

✅ Canada–United States economic relationship

• ✅ Canada and the U.S. are each other’s largest trading partners
• ✅ Over 75% of Canadian exports go to the United States
• ✅ This is the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world
• ✅ Canada–U.S. supply chains are integrated and competitive globally

👍 Major Canadian exports to the U.S.

• Energy products
• Industrial goods
• Machinery and equipment
• Automotive products
• Agricultural products
• Fishing and forestry products
• Consumer goods

✅ Border and relations

• ✅ Millions of Canadians and Americans cross the border every year
• ✅ The Canada–U.S. border is known as “the world’s longest undefended border”
• ✅ The Peace Arch at Blaine, Washington symbolizes close ties
  • Inscribed with:
    • “children of a common mother”
    • “brethren dwelling together in unity”

Canada’s Regions

✅ Canada facts

• ✅ Second largest country in the world
• ✅ Size: about 10 million square kilometres
• ✅ Three oceans:
  • Pacific Ocean (west)
  • Atlantic Ocean (east)
  • Arctic Ocean (north)
• ✅ Southern border: Canada–United States boundary
• ✅ Canada and the U.S.A. work together to keep the border safe and secure

The Regions of Canada

👍 Canada has five distinct regions

• Atlantic Provinces
• Central Canada
• Prairie Provinces
• West Coast
• Northern Territories

The National Capital

✅ Ottawa

• ✅ Capital of Canada
• ✅ Located on the Ottawa River
• ✅ Chosen as capital in 1857 by Queen Victoria
• ✅ Fourth largest metropolitan area in Canada
• ✅ National Capital Region:
  • Size: 4,700 square kilometres
  • Protects historic buildings and natural environment

Provinces and Territories

✅ Political structure

• ✅ 10 provinces and 3 territories
• ✅ Each has its own capital city
• ✅ You must know:
  • Capital of Canada
  • Capital of your province or territory

Population

👍 Population facts

• About 34 million people
• Majority live in cities
• Others live in towns and rural areas

Atlantic region

Provinces and capitals

• Newfoundland and Labrador — St. John’s
• Prince Edward Island — Charlottetown
• Nova Scotia — Halifax
• New Brunswick — Fredericton

Central Canada

Provinces and capitals

• Quebec — Québec City
• Ontario — Toronto

Prairie Provinces

Provinces and capitals

• Manitoba — Winnipeg
• Saskatchewan — Regina
• Alberta — Edmonton

West Coast

Province and capital

• British Columbia — Victoria

North

Territories and capitals

• Nunavut — Iqaluit
• Northwest Territories — Yellowknife
• Yukon Territory — Whitehorse

The Atlantic provinces

✅ General characteristics

• Important natural resources:
  • Fishing
  • Farming
  • Forestry
  • Mining
• Climate:
  • Cool winters
  • Cool, humid summers
• Strong role in Canada’s early history

Newfoundland and Labrador

👍 Key facts

• Most easterly point in North America
• Has its own time zone
• Oldest colony of the British Empire
• Strong fishing and sea-based heritage
• Modern economy includes:
  • Offshore oil and gas
  • Hydroelectric power in Labrador

Prince Edward Island

👍 Key facts

• Smallest province in Canada
• Known for:
  • Beaches
  • Red soil
  • Potato farming
• ✅ Birthplace of Confederation
• Connected to mainland by Confederation Bridge
• Setting of Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Nova Scotia

✅ Key facts

• Most populous Atlantic province
• Gateway to Canada
• Home to:
  • Bay of Fundy (world’s highest tides)
• Economy linked to:
  • Shipbuilding
  • Fisheries
  • Shipping
• Halifax
  • Canada’s largest east coast port
  • Largest naval base
• Celtic and Gaelic cultural traditions

New Brunswick

✅ Key facts

• Founded by United Empire Loyalists
• St. John River system:
  • Second largest river system on Atlantic coast
• Main industries:
  • Forestry
  • Agriculture
  • Fisheries
  • Mining
  • Tourism
• Cities:
  • Saint John — largest city and port
  • Moncton — Francophone Acadian centre
  • Fredericton — capital
• ✅ Only officially bilingual province
• About one-third of population is French-speaking

Central Canada

✅ Key facts

• More than half of Canadians live here
• Located near:
  • Great Lakes
  • St. Lawrence River
• Industrial and manufacturing heartland
• Produces over 75% of Canadian manufactured goods
• Climate:
  • Cold winters
  • Warm, humid summers

Quebec

👍 Key facts

• Population: nearly 8 million
• Majority live near St. Lawrence River
• Over 75% speak French as first language
• Major industries:
  • Forestry
  • Mining
  • Energy
• ✅ Largest producer of hydro-electricity in Canada
• Montreal:
  • Second largest city in Canada
  • Second largest French-speaking city after Paris
• Strong cultural influence in La Francophonie

Ontario

👍 Key facts

• Population: over 12 million
• More than one-third of all Canadians
• Toronto
  • Largest city in Canada
  • Financial centre
• Strong manufacturing and service economy
• Niagara region:
  • Vineyards, wine, fruit
• Agriculture:
  • Dairy, beef, poultry, grains
• Founded by United Empire Loyalists
• Largest French-speaking population outside Quebec
• ✅ Five Great Lakes:
  • Ontario
  • Erie
  • Huron
  • Michigan (U.S.A.)
  • Superior (largest freshwater lake in the world)

The Prairie Provinces

✅ General characteristics

• Provinces: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta
• Fertile farmland
• Rich energy resources
• Climate:
  • Cold winters
  • Hot summers
  • Dry conditions

Manitoba

👍 Key facts

• Economy:
  • Agriculture
  • Mining
  • Hydro-electric power
• Winnipeg:
  • Largest city
  • Portage and Main intersection
• St. Boniface:
  • Largest Francophone community in Western Canada
• Largest Aboriginal population of any province

Saskatchewan

👍 Key facts

• Known as:
  • “Breadbasket of the world”
  • “Wheat province”
• Has 40% of Canada’s arable land
• Largest producer of grains and oilseeds
• Rich in:
  • Uranium
  • Potash
  • Oil and gas
• Regina:
  • Home of RCMP training academy
• Saskatoon:
  • Mining and education centre

Alberta

✅ Key facts

• Most populous Prairie province
• Named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta
• Five national parks:
  • Includes Banff National Park (1885)
• Badlands:
  • Rich dinosaur fossil sites
• ✅ Largest producer of oil and gas
• Oil sands are a major energy source
• Large cattle ranches and beef production

The West Coast

✅ General characteristics

• Province: British Columbia
• Pacific gateway to Canada
• Port of Vancouver
  • Largest and busiest port in Canada
• Mild, temperate coastal climate

British Columbia

👍 Key facts

• Westernmost province
• Population: about 4 million
• Forestry is largest industry
• Also known for:
  • Mining
  • Fishing
  • Okanagan Valley fruit and wine
• About 600 provincial parks
• Strong Asian cultural influence
• Most common languages after English:
  • Chinese
  • Punjabi
• Capital: Victoria
  • Pacific navy headquarters

The Northern Territories

✅ General characteristics

• Territories:
  • Yukon
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
• One-third of Canada’s land mass
• Population: about 100,000
• Rich in minerals and energy
• Known as the “Land of the Midnight Sun”
• Climate:
  • Long, cold winters
  • Short, cool summers
• Tundra:
  • No trees
  • Permanently frozen soil
• Inuit art is world-famous

Yukon

👍 Key facts

• Gold Rush of the 1890s
• Mining remains important
• White Pass and Yukon Railway opened in 1900
• Capital: Whitehorse
• ✅ Coldest temperature in Canada:
  • −63°C
• Mount Logan
  • Highest mountain in Canada
  • Named after Sir William Logan

Northwest Territories

✅ Key facts

• Created in 1870
• Capital: Yellowknife
• Known as “diamond capital of North America”
• Over half the population is Aboriginal
• Mackenzie River
  • 4,200 km long
  • Second-longest river system in North America

Nunavut

✅ Key facts

• Established in 1999
• Name means “our land” in Inuktitut
• Capital: Iqaluit
• Population: about 85% Inuit
• Inuktitut:
  • Official language
  • Language of instruction in schools
• Government:
  • 19-member Legislative Assembly
  • Chooses leaders by consensus

The Canadian Rangers

✅ Key facts

• Part of Canadian Forces Reserves
• Protect Canada’s Arctic sovereignty
• Use Indigenous knowledge
• Travel by:
  • Snowmobile (winter)
  • All-terrain vehicles (summer)
• Operate across the far North, including near the Magnetic North Pole

Study Questions

• What are three responsibilities of citizenship?
  • Obeying the law, taking responsibility for oneself and one’s family, serving on a jury.
• What is the meaning of the Remembrance Day poppy?
  • To remember the sacrifice of Canadians who have served or died in wars up to the present day.
• How are Members of Parliament chosen?
  • They are elected by voters in their local constituency (riding).
• Name two key documents that contain our rights and freedoms.
• Identify four (4) rights that Canadians enjoy.
• Name four (4) fundamental freedoms that Canadians enjoy.
• What is meant by the equality of women and men?
• What are some examples of taking responsibility for yourself and your family?
• Who were the founding peoples of Canada?
• Who are the Métis?
• What does the word “Inuit” mean?
• What is meant by the term “responsible government”?
• Who was Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine?
• What did the Canadian Pacific Railway symbolize?
• What does Confederation mean?
• What is the significance of the discovery of insulin by Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best?
• What does it mean to say that Canada is a constitutional monarchy?
• What are the three branches of government?
• What is the difference between the role of the Queen and that of the Prime Minister?
• What is the highest honour that Canadians can receive?
• When you go to vote on election day, what do you do?
• Who is entitled to vote in Canadian federal elections?
• In Canada, are you obliged to tell other people how you voted?
• After an election, which party forms the government?
• Who is your member of Parliament?
• What are the three levels of government?
• What is the role of the courts in Canada?
• In Canada, are you allowed to question the police about their service or conduct?
• Name two Canadian symbols.
• What provinces are referred to as the Atlantic Provinces?
• What is the capital of the province or territory that you live in?

Memorable Quotes

• 👍 Quote by Sir Wilfrid Laurier

  • 7th Prime Minister of Canada
  • Term: July 11, 1896 – October 6, 1911
  • Main idea: Canada should be built by respecting and keeping different cultures and identities, while forming one strong nation.

• 👍 Quote by John Diefenbaker

  • 13th Prime Minister of Canada
  • Term: June 21, 1957 – April 22, 1963
  • Main idea: Canadian freedom includes:
    • Freedom of speech
    • Freedom of religion
    • Freedom to stand up for what is right
    • Freedom to oppose what is wrong
    • Freedom to vote and choose the government

• These quotes do NOT need to be memorized for the citizenship test.

• ✅ Sports fact

  • Team Canada won gold in men’s hockey
  • 2010 Winter Olympics
  • Location: Vancouver, British Columbia