A Look at Canada - The Globe and Mail

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A Look at Canada is produced for people applying for Canadian citizenship. Distribution to other users is limited. This publication may be reproduced

in whole or in part for any non-commercial purpose relating to citizenship education.

If you have any comments, please write to:

Operational Management and Coordination Branch Citizenship & Immigration Program Delivery

Citizenship and Immigration CanadaOttawa, Ontario

K1A 1L1

A Look at Canada can also be found and downloaded from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Web site at www.cic.gc.ca.

© Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2005Cat. No. Ci51-61/2005EISBN 0-662-3946-3

Message to Our Readers

A L o o k a t C a n a d a

Congratulations! It took courage to decide to move to a newcountry. Your decision to become a Canadian citizen is anotherbig step.

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To become a Canadian citizen,you must be able to speakEnglish or French. You must alsolearn about voting proceduresand Canada’s history andgeography, and know the rightsand responsibilities ofcitizenship. Canadian citizens enjoymany rights, including equality rights,language rights and religious rights,just to name a few. But Canadiansalso have responsibilities. They mustrespect Canadian laws, and respectthe rights and freedoms of others.Canadian citizens must also be willingto get involved in their communitiesto help make Canada a better place.

Canada has a long tradition ofwelcoming newcomers because theyincrease the diversity and richness ofCanadian society. Canadians areproud of the peaceful and tolerantsociety they have built.

This booklet will help you prepare to become a Canadian citizen.Good luck!

For informationabout Citizenshipand ImmigrationCanada, visit ourWeb site atwww.cic.gc.ca

Table of Contents


Applying for Citizenship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

What Does Canadian Citizenship Mean? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Introducing Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Protecting the Environment—Sustainable Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Canada’s History and Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Aboriginal Peoples of Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Map of Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

The Atlantic Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Central Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

The Prairie Provinces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

The West Coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

The North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Government in Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Other Levels of Government in Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Do You Know Your Elected Representatives? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Federal Elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Voting Procedures During an Election Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

The Canadian Justice System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

For More Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Citizenship Test: Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

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Applying for Citizenship


When you apply for citizenship, officials will check yourdocuments. They will confirm your immigration status andmake sure you don’t have a criminal record that will affectyour application for citizenship. They will also make sure youmeet the requirements of citizenship.

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To become a Canadian citizen, you must

• be 18 years old or older;

• be a permanent resident ofCanada;

• have lived in Canada for atleast three of the four yearsbefore applying forcitizenship;

• speak either English orFrench;

• know Canada’s history andgeography; and

• know about Canada’s systemof government and the rightsand responsibilities ofcitizenship.

Your application may take severalmonths. Make sure that the CallCentre (see page 41 for telephonenumbers) always has your correctaddress during this time. Thecitizenship office will send you a“Notice to Appear” telling you whereand when to go for your citizenshiptest or your interview with acitizenship official.

How to use this booklet to prepare for thecitizenship test

This booklet will help you prepare forthe citizenship test. You should

• study this booklet;

• ask a friend or family member tohelp you practise answeringquestions about Canada;

• call a local school or school board,a college, a community centre or alocal organization that providesservices to immigrants and ask forinformation on citizenship classes;

• take language classes if you needto learn to speak English or French;

• use the questions at the back ofthe booklet to prepare for the test;and

• find the answers to the questionsabout the region where you live.

About the citizenship test

The citizenship test is usually a writtentest, but it could be an interview. Thetest helps government officials decideif you can speak English or Frenchwell enough to become a Canadiancitizen. It is also used to test yourknowledge of Canada and of theresponsibilities and privileges ofcitizenship. To pass the test, youmust correctly answer allquestions about the followingtopics

• the right to vote in electionsin Canada;

• the right to run for electedoffice in Canada; and

• voting procedures and how toregister yourself as a voter.

You must correctly answer enoughquestions to achieve a passing markchosen from the following topics

• Canada’s history;

• Canada’s geography; and

• the rights and responsibilities of a citizen.

After the test

The Citizenship office will tell youabout the results of your test. If youpass the test and meet all the otherrequirements, you will receive a“Notice to Appear to Take the Oathof Citizenship.” This document tellsyou the date, time and place of yourcitizenship ceremony. This is the finalstep in becoming a Canadian citizen.At the ceremony, you will take theoath of citizenship, sign the oath formand receive your Canadian CitizenshipCertificate. Many people bring theirfamily and friends to share thisoccasion.

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What Does CanadianCitizenship Mean?


Canadian values include freedom, respect for culturaldifferences and a commitment to social justice. We are proud ofthe fact that we are a peaceful nation. In fact, Canadians actas peacekeepers in many countries around the world.

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Canada is a large country with a smallpopulation. We have developed aunique federal style of governmentthat is based on compromise and co-existence. We value our democracy,and every citizen is encouraged to dohis or her share. Our laws are basedon our democratic values.Canadian values include:

Equality—We respect everyone’srights. Everyone has the right tospeak out and express ideas thatothers might disagree with.Governments must treat everyonewith equal dignity and respect—two other fundamental Canadianvalues.

Respect for culturaldifferences—We try tounderstand and appreciate thecultures, customs and traditions ofall Canadians, whether they wereborn in Canada or came here fromanother country.

Freedom—As Canadians, weenjoy basic freedoms, such asfreedom of thought, freedom ofspeech, freedom of religion andfreedom of peaceful assembly.

Peace—We are proud of our non-violent society and ourinternational role as peacekeepers.

Law and order—We respectdemocratic decision making andthe “rule of law.” We promote dueprocess so that the courts and thepolice treat everyone fairly andreasonably. We ensure that ourelected governments remainaccountable to Canadians.

As you reflect on these values, askyourself which responsibilities youwill take on when you become aCanadian citizen.

Introducing Canada


Key Words

Official languages

Multiculturalism

Volunteerism

Throughout Canada’s history, millions of immigrants havehelped build our country. We welcome people from more than150 countries each year.

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As Canadians, we are proud thatmany different cultural and ethnicgroups live and work here in harmony.The Canadian Multiculturalism Actrecognizes our cultural diversity. Itstates that we are all free to maintainand share our cultural heritage and toparticipate fully and equally in ournational life.

The only people originally fromCanada are the Aboriginal peoples.They lived in Canada for thousands ofyears before the first immigrantscame here. The Aboriginal peoplesare an important part of Canada’spopulation. They are working toprotect and promote their languages,cultures and traditions, and to set uptheir own governments.

In a country as large and diverse asCanada, equality is very important. Itis so important that the CanadianCharter of Rights and Freedoms is partof our Constitution.

In Canada, we also believe in theimportance of working together andhelping one another. People who helpothers without being paid are calledvolunteers. There are millions ofvolunteers across Canada. Somepeople join community groups andhelp with local projects. Others help

friends and neighbours in need. Thereare many different ways you can helpothers in your community.

Canada’s official languages

English and French are Canada’s twoofficial languages. English- andFrench-speaking people have livedtogether in Canada for more than300 years. This is an important part ofour Canadian identity—more than98 percent of Canadians speak eitherEnglish or French or both. You mustbe able to speak English orFrench to become a Canadiancitizen.

Legal documents like the CanadianConstitution and the OfficialLanguages Act protect the rights ofindividual Canadians with regard toofficial languages. For example,

• English and French have equalstatus in the Parliament of Canada,in federal courts and in all federalinstitutions;

• everyone has the right to acriminal trial in either Englishor French;

A L o o k a t C a n a d a 9

• the public has the right, wherethere is sufficient demand, toreceive federal governmentservices in either English orFrench; and

• official language minority groupsin most provinces and territorieshave the right to be educated intheir language.

Canada’s economy

Canada’s economy is made up ofmany different industries. There arethree main types of industries inCanada: natural resources,manufacturing and services.

Natural resource industriesinclude forestry, fishing, agriculture,mining and energy. These industrieshave played an important part in thecountry’s history and development.Today, the economy of many areas ofthe country still depends ondeveloping natural resources, and alarge percentage of Canada’s exportsare natural resource commodities.

Manufacturing industries makeproducts to sell in Canada andaround the world. Manufacturedproducts include paper, technologicalequipment, automobiles, food,clothing and many other goods. Ourlargest international trading partner isthe United States.

Service industries providethousands of different jobs in areaslike trans portation, education, healthcare, construction, banking,communica tions, retail services andgovernment. More than 70 percent ofworking Canadians now have jobs inservice industries.

Canada from coast to coast

Canada is a very large country withan area of 10 million squarekilometres, but it has a fairly smallpopulation. About 33 million peoplelive here. Most Canadians live in thesouthern parts of Canada.

Provinces and territories

Canada has 10 provinces and threeterritories. Each province and territoryhas its own capital city. You shouldknow the capital of Canada, as well asthe capital of your province orterritory. (See map of Canada onpages 16 and 17.)


Protecting the Environment—Sustainable Development

Key Words

Compost

Recycle

Plant trees

Environmentallyfriendly

Economic growth is crucial for the future prosperity of Canada,but growth must be managed carefully so that it does notharm the environment. The Canadian government is committedto the goal of sustainable development, which means economicgrowth that is environmentally sound.

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A healthy environment is important toquality of life. All citizens should act ina responsible manner toward theenvironment so that our childrenhave the opportunity to live in acountry that is clean and prosperous.

All Canadian citizens have aresponsibility to contribute to thesocial, economic and environmentalwell-being of our country. Bothindividual and collective action willhelp achieve progress toward the goalof sustainable development.

It takes time to learn about theenvironment and how to protect it.However, if we don’t pay attention toenvironmental issues, ourenvironment will suffer.

Achieving sustainable development isa long-term goal. Reaching it willrequire many changes in the waypeople act. Individuals can do manythings in their daily lives to helpprotect the environment and movetoward sustainable development.Here are some examples:

• Throw waste paper or othergarbage in designated publicgarbage containers.

• Compost, recycle or re-use asmany products as possible, such as paper, glass and cans.

• Conserve energy and water byturning off lights and taps whenthey are not being used.

• Walk, join a car pool, or use a bicycle or public transitwhenever possible.


• Use products that areenvironmentally friendly.

• Plant trees and grow a garden.Avoid using environmentallyharmful chemicals.

• Get involved with a local group to protect our natural andcultural heritage.

Good environmental citizenshipmeans making sure that groups andindividuals have the information theyneed and understand how to use it to take responsible environmentalaction. We are accountable for ourenvironment. We must protect it. Thisway, we take responsibility for thequality of our lives and the lives offuture generations.

Confederation

On July 1, 1867, the provinces wenow know as Ontario, Quebec,New Brunswick and Nova Scotiajoined together to create the newcountry of Canada. This is known asConfederation. Confederation wasmade official by the British NorthAmerica Act of 1867.

As time passed, other provinces andterritories joined Confederation andbecame part of Canada.

Dates when provinces andterritories joinedConfederation

When did your province or territoryjoin Confederation?

The maple leaf

The maple leaf is apopular symbol of Canada.It was used as a symbol of Canada asearly as 1700. It is on the penny, ourone-cent coin, where its design hashardly changed since 1937.

Since February 15, 1965, a red mapleleaf has been on the national flag ofCanada. It has become our mostprominent symbol.

The Parliament buildings

The Parliament buildings arein Ottawa, Ontario, thecapital of Canada. Thetower in the centre of thebuildings is called thePeace Tower.

Canada’s first Prime Minister

In 1867, Sir John A. Macdonaldbecame the first Prime Minister ofCanada. His picture is on the ten-dollar bill.

Canada’s History and Symbols


Key Words

Confederation

CanadianCharter ofRights andFreedoms

British NorthAmerica Act

GovernorGeneral

Constitution

Head of State

The beaver is oneof the symbols ofCanada. Itappears on thefive-cent coin.

1867 Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick

1870 Manitoba, NorthwestTerritories

1871 British Columbia

1873 Prince Edward Island

1898 Yukon Territory

1905 Alberta, Saskatchewan

1949 Newfoundland

1999 Nunavut

Canada’s Constitution

Canada’s Constitution is the system oflaws and conventions that weCanadians use to govern ourselves.Until 1982, changes to theConstitution had to be approved bythe British Parliament. TheConstitution Act, 1982 gave theParliament of Canada the power tochange our Constitution. TheCanadian Charter of Rights andFreedoms also became part of theCanadian Constitution in 1982.

Canada Day

Each year on July 1, we celebrateCanada Day, the anniversary ofConfederation.

The Queen

Her Majesty QueenElizabeth II is theQueen of Canada andCanada’s Head ofState. This means thatthe Queen is the

formal head of Canada.

The Governor General is theQueen’s representative inCanada. The provinces also haverepresentatives of the Queen, knownas lieutenant governors.


In 1965, Canadaadopted its official redand white flag with themaple leaf. All federalgovernment buildingsfly the Canadian flag.

O Canada

O Canada! Our homeand native land!

True patriot love in allthy sons command

With glowing hearts wesee thee rise

The true North strongand free!

From far and wide, O Canada

We stand on guard for thee

God keep our landglorious and free!

O Canada, we stand onguard for thee

O Canada, we stand onguard for thee

Canada’snational anthem

Where does the nameCanada come from?

In 1535, two Aboriginal youths usedthe Huron-Iroquois word “kanata,”which means “village” or “settle -ment,” to tell Jacques Cartier theway to Stadacona (site of present-day Québec City). Cartier used“Canada” to refer not only toStadacona, but also to the entirearea subject to Donnacona, Chief atStadacona.

By 1547, the first world map toshow the discoveries made onCartier’s second voyage applied theword “Canada” to the area north ofthe St. Lawrence gulf and river. By1550, maps were also placing thename south of the river. The first useof “Canada” as an official namecame in 1791 when theConstitutional Act (or Canada Act)divided Quebec, then considerablylarger, into the provinces of UpperCanada and Lower Canada. In 1841,they were united to become theProvince of Canada. At the time ofConfederation, the new countrytook the name of Canada.

Aboriginal peoples developed aspecial relationship with nature, sincethey depended on it for survival.Those who lived on Canada’s coastsdepended on fishing and hunting.Those who lived in central andeastern Canada hunted and grewvegetable crops.

The Constitution Act of 1982recognizes three main groups ofAboriginal peoples in Canada: theFirst Nations, the Inuit and the Métis.Today, there are more than50 different languages spoken byAboriginal peoples, most of which arespoken only in Canada.

The Aboriginal population is growingalmost twice as fast as the rest of thepopulation in Canada. Aboriginalpeoples make up about three percentof all Canadians, or roughly 790,000people. About 69 percent are FirstNations, 26 percent are Métis and fivepercent are Inuit.

First Nations

The term “First Nations” has beenused since the 1970s instead of“Indian.” First Nations describes allAboriginal people in Canada who arenot Inuit or Métis. Different FirstNations communities have differentlanguages, cultures and traditions,depending largely on where they arelocated.

First Nations people living in easternNorth America invented bark canoesto travel on rivers and lakes. SomeFirst Nations people lived on theplains, and moved with the buffaloherds, which they hunted for food,clothing and tools. They made

lightweight, solid homes thatwere easy to move.

These homes, called“tepees,” were madeof poles arranged ina cone shape andcovered withanimal skins.

Aboriginal Peoples of Canada

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Key Words

Inuit

Métis

First Nations

Land claimsettlements

Self-government

The Aboriginal peoples were the first people to live in Canada.They had many different spiritual beliefs and cultural traditionsthat have been passed down from generation to generation.Today, they live in every region of the country.


Inuit

Inuit are Aboriginal people who live inCanada’s North, which includesNunavut, the Northwest Territories,Northern Quebec and Labrador. Theyhave a close connection with the landand all the plants and animals thatshare it. They adjusted to the coldnorthern weather and lived byhunting seals, whales, caribou andpolar bears. Some Inuit people stillhunt for food and clothing.

Métis

Many early French fur traders andsome English traders married FirstNations women. Their descendantsare called the Métis people. TheMétis, who developed their owndistinct culture on the Prairies, playedan important role in the fur trade.

Today, the majority of Métis peoplelive in the western regions of Canada.

Treaties—past, present and future

The British and Canadian govern -ments made many agreements, ortreaties, with the Aboriginal peoplesbetween 1701 and 1923. Thesetreaties granted the Aboriginalpeoples certain rights and benefits inexchange for giving up their title tothe land. Each treaty is unique and isseen as a solemn promise.

Aboriginal groups and the Canadiangovernment are still negotiating newagreements for land and other rights.These modern agreements are knownas land claim settlements. Nunavut,Canada’s newest territory, was createdas a result of a land claim settlement.

The Canadian government continuesto negotiate with Aboriginal peoplesso that they can regain control overdecisions that affect them andmanage their own affairs. This isknown as self-government. Canada isalso working with them to improvetheir economic situation and generalquality of life.

Aboriginal peoples have uniquehistories, cultures and languages.They continue to play an active rolein Canadian society.


Map of Canada


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Northwest Territories

British Columbia

Alberta

Yukon Territory

Arctic Ocean

Beaufort Sea

Pacific Ocean

Vancouver Island

Three oceans line Canada’s borders:the Pacific Ocean on the west, theAtlantic Ocean on the east, and theArctic Ocean to the north.

The regions of Canada

Canada is a country of 10 millionsquare kilometres. It includes manydifferent geographical areas and fivedistinct regions:

• the Atlantic Region;

• Central Canada;

• the Prairie Provinces;

• the West Coast; and

• the North.

The national capital

The national capital of Canada isOttawa, Ontario. This is where thefederal government and theParliament buildings are located.

Provinces and territories

Canada has 10 provinces andthree territories. Each provinceand territory has its own capital city.You should know the capital ofCanada as well as the capital of yourprovince or territory. Population

Canada has a fairly small population.About 33 million people live here.Most Canadians live in the southernparts of Canada.

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Saskatchewan


Newfoundland

and Labrador

Nunavut

Quebec

Ontario

Prince Edward IslandManitoba

Nova ScotiaNew

Brunswick

NORTH

Atlantic Ocean

Hudson Bay

Labrador Sea

Hudson Strait

James Bay

Lake Superior

Lake Michigan Lake Erie

Lake Ontario

Lake Huron

St. L

awre

nce R

iver

Baffin Island

Region Province/Territory Capital

Atlantic Newfoundland St. John'sRegion and Labrador

Prince Edward Island CharlottetownNova Scotia HalifaxNew Brunswick Fredericton

Central Quebec QuébecCanada Ontario Toronto

Prairie Manitoba WinnipegProvinces Saskatchewan Regina

Alberta Edmonton

West Coast British Columbia Victoria

North Nunavut IqaluitNorthwest Territories YellowknifeYukon Territory Whitehorse

1 cm = 370 Km

The people

Italian explorer John Cabot reachedNewfoundland in 1497, while Frenchexplorer Jacques Cartier explored theregion in the 1500s. In the 1600s,French settlers, who became knownas Acadians, were the first Europeansto settle permanently in Canada. Overtime, they were joined by settlersfrom the British Isles and Germany.

During and after the AmericanRevolution (1775–1783), thousandsof people left the United States. Theybecame known as United EmpireLoyalists. Many of them settled in theAtlantic region. They had variousethnic backgrounds, including English,Irish, Scottish, German, Swiss, Dutch,Italian, Jewish and African-American.Today, people of many differentcultures and ethnic backgrounds livein the Atlantic region. Many aredescendants of the earliest arrivals.

New Brunswick is the only officiallybilingual province in Canada. Aboutone-third of the population lives andworks in French.

The economy

Atlantic Canada’s economy hastraditionally relied on a strongresource sector, including fishing,farming, forestry and mining. Theeconomy has grown and diversified inrecent years. This has led to thedevelopment of other sectors,including information technology,professional services, advancedmanufacturing, aqua culture, and oiland gas exploration. Trade has alsoincreased.

The Atlantic Region


Key Words

Nova Scotia

New Brunswick

Newfoundlandand Labrador

Prince EdwardIsland

Acadians

United EmpireLoyalists

Hibernia

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador,and Prince Edward Island are Canada’s Atlantic provinces.Early European explorers first came to this part of Canada tofish and trade with Aboriginal peoples. Later, settlers builtstrong communities that thrived on farming, fishing andshipbuilding. The region’s coasts and natural resources havemade the Atlantic provinces an important part of Canada’shistory and development.

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Potatoes and fruit from Prince EdwardIsland, Nova Scotia and NewBrunswick are sold across Canada andto other countries. The foodprocessing industry is anotherimportant sector of the economy.

New Brunswick and Nova Scotia haveextensive forests that allow them toproduce valuable products like pulp,paper and lumber. Forest products arethe most valuable manufacturingindustry in New Brunswick. Many ofthese products are exported to othercountries.

Newfoundland and Labrador,traditionally dependent on the fishingindustry, is developing other naturalresources such as oil, nickel, copperand cobalt. Hibernia, off the coast ofNewfoundland and Labrador, is thefifth largest oil field in Canada.Manufacturing and other industriescontinue to grow.

The service industry is also veryimportant to the Atlantic economy. Asin the rest of Canada, more peoplework in banking, government, andfinancial and personal services than intraditional resource industries.

The Gulf of the St. Lawrence Riverand the Atlantic Ocean are importanttourist attractions in the region.Thousands of tourists visit the Atlanticprovinces each year for thespectacular scenery, natural coastlines,warm beaches and world-class golfcourses. About 85,000 AtlanticCanadians work in the tourismindustry.


Population (approximate)

Newfoundland andLabrador 507,475

Nova Scotia 935,106

Prince Edward Island 139,103

New Brunswick 750,851

Atlantic Provinces 2,332,535

Lobster traps

Central Canada

Key Words

Ontario

Quebec

St. LawrenceSeaway

CanadianShield

Niagara Falls

Central Canada is made up of Ontario and Quebec. More thanhalf the people in Canada live in cities and towns in southernQuebec and Ontario, close to the Great Lakes and theSt. Lawrence River. This area is the industrial andmanufacturing heartland of Canada. Together, Ontario andQuebec produce more than three-quarters of all Canadianmanufactured goods.

The Great Lakes and theSt. Lawrence Seaway

There are five Great Lakes betweenCanada and the United States. Theyare Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, LakeHuron, Lake Michigan and LakeSuperior. Lake Superior is the largestfreshwater lake in the world. TheGreat Lakes have been an importantwaterway for thousands of years.Aboriginal peoples and fur traders firstused them to create trading networksin North America. Ships from all overthe world reach the Great Lakes fromthe Atlantic Ocean by travelling alongthe St. Lawrence Seaway. The GreatLakes also provide freshwater forpeople and industries around theirshores.

The Canadian Shield

The land in northern Quebec andOntario is part of the CanadianShield, a rock formation that ismillions of years old. Canada is one ofthe world’s leading producers ofminerals because of the rich depositsof gold, silver, nickel, zinc, copper

and iron ore found in the ancient rockof the Shield. The Shield is covered byforests, and part of Canada’s majorpulp and paper industry relies on thetrees of this region. Some of the vastfreshwater resources of the Shield areused to generate electricity.

The Province of Quebec

The people

The first people to live in Quebecwere the First Nations people and theInuit. The Aboriginal peoples wholived near the St. Lawrence River werefur traders who taught the earlysettlers how to survive. There are stillmany Aboriginal communitiesthroughout Quebec today.

Settlers from France first establishedcommunities along the St. LawrenceRiver in the early 1600s. Today,Quebec society reflects this heritage.More than three-quarters of theCanadians who live in Quebec speakFrench as their first language. Overone-third of the population in Quebecspeak both French and English,



making it the province with thehighest number of bilingualCanadians. The province preservesand promotes the historic languageand culture of its French-speakingcitizens.

About eight million people live inQuebec. It is Canada’s largestprovince.

The economy

Quebec is highly industrialized and itseconomy is quite diverse. TheMontréal region has been animportant financial, service andindustrial centre since Confederation.Workers produce fabric, clothing,food, paper, metal, and chemical andwood products. Montréal is the maincommercial centre of Quebec, andhas developed competitive industriesin space and aeronautics, energy andpharmaceuticals. It is also the centreof a vast transportation network.

The resources of the Canadian Shieldhave helped Quebec developimportant industries, includingforestry, energy and mining. Quebecis Canada’s main producer of pulpand paper and a major producer ofminerals such as asbestos, gold,copper, silver and iron ore. Theprovince’s huge supply of freshwaterhas allowed it to become Canada’slargest producer of hydroelectricity.

There are many farms around thelowland areas of the St. Lawrence,where vegetables, fruit and feed cropsare grown. Dairy farms are common.Quebec has the largest dairy farmingindustry in Canada.

Quebec’s provincial parks, theLaurentian Mountains and its manyhistoric sites play an important role inits tourism industry.

The Province of Ontario

The people

Ontario is the Canadian province withthe largest population. Over12 million people, or roughly onethird of Canada’s population, live inOntario. Most people in Ontariospeak English, but the province alsohas the largest French-speakingpopulation outside of Quebec.

The Algonquin and Iroquois FirstNations were the earliest people tolive in the area now known asOntario. By the late 1700s, thepopulation began to grow rapidly.The arrival of thousands of UnitedEmpire Loyalists was followed bywaves of other newcomers from theUnited States and Britain. Newcomersfrom all over the world continue tosettle in Ontario.

Street in the old town.Quebec City, Quebec

St. Joseph’s Oratory,Montréal, Quebec.


The economy

Throughout Canada’s history, thelarge population, rich resources andstrategic location of Ontario havehelped the province build Canada’sbiggest provincial economy. Mostpeople in Ontario work in the serviceor manufacturing industries.

More than 130,000 people work inthe province’s automobile industry,which accounts for a large percentageof Canada’s total exports. Othermanufactured goods include steel,machinery, metal, plastic andchemical products, and food.

Ontario mines are the biggestproducers of metal in Canada. Thesemetals include nickel, gold, silver,platinum, uranium, zinc and copper.Ontario’s forestry industry produces

pulp, lumber, newsprint and otherpaper products. The province’snumerous rivers are a vital source ofelectric power. In Ontario, NiagaraFalls is a well-known example ofwaterpower that generates electricity.

More than 400,000 Ontario workersdepend on tourism, the province’sthird largest industry.

Southern Ontario has rich farmland.The Niagara Peninsula is a majorproducer of peaches, apples, grapesand other fruitcrops. Ontariofarmers also raisedairy and beefcattle, poultry, andvegetable andgrain crops.

Toronto, Canada’s largest city,is one of the most multiculturalcities in the world. It is also thecapital of Ontario.

The province’s numerousrivers are a vital source ofelectric power. InOntario, Niagara Falls isa well-known example ofwaterpower thatgenerates electricity.


Quebec 7.7 million

Ontario 12.8 million

Central Canada 20.5 million

The Prairie Provinces


Key Words

Manitoba

Saskatchewan

Alberta

Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta are called the Prairieprovinces. This region of Canada is known for its fertileagricultural land and valuable energy resources.

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The Prairies

The Prairies are flat plains that stretchacross the southern part of theregion. This area has few trees andvery fertile soil. Most of what wasopen grasslands is now used forfarming, particularly grain crops, andfor raising cattle.

The Prairie region, however, is not allflat farmland. The northern andwestern parts of the region includegently rolling hills, valleys and rivers.In southern Alberta, the open prairiesgradually rise to meet the RockyMountains along the border of BritishColumbia.

The people

The First Nations people, the earliestinhabitants of the Prairies, were skilledbuffalo hunters. Their descendantsand the Métis people becameimportant suppliers, traders, guidesand interpreters for the fur trade.

French-speaking people have lived inthe Prairie provinces since the earlydays of the fur trade. Descendants ofthese early settlers still live in thePrairie region.

During the late 1800s, the Canadiangovernment built a railway across thePrairies to the Pacific coast. This madeimmigration to western Canada mucheasier. In the early 1900s, about threemillion people came to the Prairiesfrom Europe and Britain. Many settledon land that the government offeredat cheap prices to encouragesettlement in the West.

The economy

The Prairies are rich in energyresources. About one-half of all theenergy used in Canada comes fromoil and natural gas. Alberta is thecountry’s major producer of thesefuels. Alberta also has an importantcoal mining industry. Saskatchewan isa large producer of oil, natural gas,uranium and potash. Manitoba,known as the Land of 100,000 Lakes,is the most important source ofhydroelectric power in the Prairieregion.

The majority of people in the Prairieprovinces work in service industries.This includes business and financialservices, transportation, tourism, theretail industry, and health andeducation.

Traditionally dressedAboriginal youth atCalgary Stampede.

The Prairies have some of the mostfertile farmland in the world. Prairiefarmers and ranchers produce grains(such as wheat, barley or oats), meatand other food products for marketsin Canada and other countries. InManitoba, the agricultural industrybenefits from heavy rainfall andfarmers produce a wide variety ofgrain crops and livestock.Saskatchewan, the leading wheatproducer in Canada, is one of themost productive agricultural regionsin the world. Alberta leads thecountry in beef cattle and feed grainproduction.

Manitoba’s manufacturing industriesproduce a variety of goods, includingfood, transportation equipment,metal products, electrical goods andclothing. The manufacturing, miningand forestry sectors play an importantrole in Saskatchewan’s economy. Foodand beverage processing is the largestmanufacturing industry in Alberta.



Manitoba 1.2 million

Saskatchewan 1 million

Alberta 3.4 million

Prairie Provinces 5.6 million

Stampede Morris, Manitoba

The West Coast


British Columbia, on the Pacific Ocean, is known for itsmajestic mountains. There are three major mountain ranges inthe province: the Rocky Mountains, the Columbia Mountainsand the Coast Mountains.

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The people

First Nations people lived in BritishColumbia for thousands of yearsbefore European settlers arrived. Theircultures and languages wereinfluenced by the wide range ofgeography in British Columbia, fromseashore to mountains. Theydeveloped a unique form of art, bestknown as totem poles. Their art ispopular around the world. It oftenrepresents animals, including salmon,bears, whales, ravens and eagles.

British Columbia was settled byEuropeans when the fur trade spreadto the west in the early 1800s. In thelate 1800s, thousands of Chinesecame to British Columbia to helpbuild the final section of the CanadianPacific Railway. Many of theirdescendants still live in the province.Many people come to live in BritishColumbia from Asia. Today, aboutone-third of the population of theLower British Columbia Mainland is ofChinese origin. The total populationof British Columbia is about fourmillion people.

The economy

British Columbia’s rich naturalresources have always been importantto the economy. The province has themost valuable forestry industry inCanada. About one-half of all thegoods produced in British Columbiaare forestry products, includinglumber, newsprint, and pulp andpaper products. Mining is also animportant industry.

Tourism is the second largest industryin British Columbia. The naturalbeauty of the West Coast and the

Key Words

RockyMountains

Totem poles

Forests

Shipping


Rocky Mountains bring thousands oftourists to the province to fish, hike,camp and ski in the mountains.

Steady rainfall and steep mountainslopes in the province create idealconditions for generating electricity.British Columbia is Canada’s secondlargest producer of hydroelectricpower.

Fishing is also a valuable industry onthe West Coast, but it is goingthrough a major restructuringbecause of a downturn in the salmonfishery. The Okanagan Valley, which islocated between the mountain rangesin the central area of the province, isfamous for its fruit orchards and itswine industry.

Vancouver is the third largest cityin Canada, and has NorthAmerica’s second largest Chinesecommunity. It provides importantshipping and air links betweenCanada and other countriesacross the Pacific Ocean, such asChina and Japan.

Cherries, OkanaganValley, British Columbia.


British Columbia 4.4 million

The North


Canada’s northern region is divided into the Yukon, theNorthwest Territories and Nunavut. Together, they cover morethan one-third of Canada. The Canadian government isresponsible for the territories but elected legislatures makedecisions on most issues. The people in the NorthwestTerritories voted to make the eastern region into a new,separate territory called Nunavut. It came into existence onApril 1, 1999.

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The people

Aboriginal people have lived in theNorth for thousands of years andhave developed a special relationshipwith the land. They use their skills ashunters, fishers and trappers tosurvive in the harsh northern climate.

The Yukon, the Northwest Territoriesand Nunavut make up more thanone-third of Canada’s land mass, butonly about 104,000 people live there.

Aboriginal people make up about halfthe population in the North. Theterritorial governments have alsogiven legal recognition to severalAboriginal languages.

Land claim settlements and self-government agreements have playeda major role in the development ofthe North in recent years. Throughthese agreements, First Nationspeople have gained greater controlover their land and decisions thataffect them.

The economy

Europeans first came to the North inthe late 1600s because of the furtrade. The Hudson’s Bay Companycontrolled the northern lands and furtrade for 300 years. Some northernpeople, including many Aboriginalpeoples, still earn money and obtainfood through hunting, fishing andtrapping.

Key Words

NorthwestTerritories

Nunavut

Yukon

Gold Rush

“Land of theMidnight Sun”


Mining, oil and gas are veryimportant to the northern economy.Thousands of miners first came to theYukon during the Gold Rush at theend of the 1800s. There are gold,lead, diamond and zinc mines in theterritories today. Oil and gas depositsare being developed and peoplecontinue to explore for more of thesevaluable resources.

Inuit prints and soapstone carvingsare sold throughout Canada andaround the world. In the Yukon, theNorthwest Territories and Nunavut,many Aboriginal people work incooperative businesses to produceAboriginal arts and crafts. Tourism isalso a growing industry.

Economic development in the Northis welcome, but it must be carefullymanaged so it does not threaten thefragile Arctic ecosystem and thetraditional lifestyles of the northernpeople.

The climate

The North is sometimes called the“Land of the Midnight Sun.” At theheight of summer, daylight can lastup to 24 hours. In winter, the sundisappears, and darkness sets in forthree months. Winters in the Northare long and cold. During the briefsummers, the land blossoms.

The Yukon holds the record for thecoldest temperature ever recorded inCanada (-63°C). Most of the North ismade up of tundra, the vast rockyArctic plain. Because of the cold Arcticclimate, there are no trees on thetundra, and the soil is permanentlyfrozen.


Nunavut 31,127

Northwest Territories 42,425

Yukon Territory 31,115

The North 104,667

Building a log cabin,Yukon Territory.

Government in Canada

There are federal, provincial, territorial and municipal (or local)levels of government in Canada. The responsibilities of thefederal and provincial governments were first defined in 1867in the British North America Act, now known as theConstitution Act, 1867.

In general, the federal governmenttakes major responsibility for mattersthat affect all of Canada. These includenational defence, foreign policy andcitizenship. Provincial and territorialgovernments look after such mattersas education, health care and high -ways. They share responsibilities withthe federal government in some areas.

The municipal (or local) governmentsof each city or community areresponsible for matters such asfirefighting, snow removal andrecycling programs. Canadian citizenscan vote in elections for all levels of government.

The Parliament of Canada

Canada is a democracy. It has asystem of parliamentarygovernment. Parliament has threeparts: the Queen, the House ofCommons and the Senate.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is ourHead of State. The Governor Generalof Canada is the Queen’srepresentative in Canada.

Canadians elect representatives, calledmembers of Parliament (or MPs), tosit in the House of Commons. Thepeople who serve in the Senate arechosen by the Prime Minister andappointed by the Governor General.They are called senators. The PrimeMinister is the leader of the politicalparty with the most elected membersof Parliament sitting in the House ofCommons.

Making laws

When the government proposes anew law to Parliament, it is called abill. MPs and senators have severalopportunities to debate each new billin the House of Commons and theSenate. Then the MPs and senatorsvote on the bill. To become law, a billmust be approved by majorities inboth the House of Commons and theSenate. Once a majority of MPs andsenators have approved a bill, theGovernor General gives final approvaland the bill becomes law.


Other Levels of Government in Canada


Municipal governments usually have acouncil that passes laws. These lawsare called by-laws, and affect only thelocal community. The council includesa mayor and other elected represen -tatives, often called councillors.

Provincial, territorial and municipalelections are held by secret ballot, butthe rules are not the same as thosefor federal elections. It is important tofind out the rules for voting inprovincial, territorial and localelections so that you can exerciseyour right to vote.

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Each provincial and territorial govern ment has an electedlegislature where provincial and territorial laws are passed. Themembers of the legis lature are called members of the LegislativeAssembly (MLAs), members of the National Assembly (MNAs),members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs) or members ofthe House of Assembly (MHAs), depend ing on the province orterritory.

Levels of Government Elected Officials Some Responsibilities

Federal Members of National DefenceParliament (MPs) Foreign Policy

CitizenshipPolicing

Provincial Members of the Educationand Territorial Legislative Assembly (MLA) Health Care

or HighwaysMembers of the Policing

National Assembly (MNA)or

Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPP)

orMembers of the

House of Assembly (MHA)

Municipal (local) Mayor PolicingCouncillors Firefighting

Snow RemovalRecycling Programs

Do You Know Your Elected Representatives?


Federal Government Head of State: the representative of the Queen for all Canada is the Governor General: ________________________________________________

Head of government in power: the Prime Minister is ________________________

The party in power is ___________________________________________________

The leader of the opposition is __________________________________________

The official opposition is _______________________________________________

The other opposition parties and leaders are _______________________________

My member of Parliament (MP) in Ottawa is ______________________________

My federal electoral district is ____________________________________________

Provincial Government Head of State: the representative of the Queen for my province is theLieutenant Governor: ___________________________________________________

Head of the government: the Premier is __________________________________

The provincial party in power is __________________________________________

The provincial opposition parties and leaders are ___________________________

My provincial representative is ___________________________________________

Territorial GovernmentHead of State: the Commissioner for my territory is ________________________

Head of the government: the Premier is __________________________________

My territorial representative is ___________________________________________

Municipal GovernmentThe name of the municipality where I live is ________________________________

The head of the municipal government (mayor or reeve) is___________________

Use this page tolist the names ofyour governmentrepresentativesand otherimportantinformation.

Federal Elections


Canadians vote in elections for the people they want torepresent them in the House of Commons. In each election,voters may re-elect the same members of the House ofCommons or choose new ones.

Federal elections must be held on thethird monday in October in the fourthcalendar year following the mostrecent general election. The PrimeMinister may ask the GovernorGeneral to call an earlier election.According to Canada’s Constitution,an election must be held within fiveyears of the last election.

Canada is divided into 308 electoraldistricts. An electoral district is ageographical area represented by amember of the House of Commons.The citizens of each electoral districtelect one member of the House ofCommons who sits in the House ofCommons.

Canadian citizens who are at least18 years old may run in a federalelection. The people who run foroffice are called candidates. Therecan be many candidates in anelectoral district.

The people in each electoral districtvote for the candidate of their choice.The candidate who receives the mostvotes becomes the member of theHouse of Commons for that electoraldistrict.

A member of the House of Commonsrepresents everyone who lives in hisor her electoral district, even thepeople who did not vote for him orher. Your member of the House ofCommons is your link to the federalgovernment. Your member of theHouse of Commons helps you by

• representing your ideas when newlaws are being proposed;

• asking questions about the federalgovernment on your behalf; and

• helping you if you needinformation from the federalgovernment or if you have anyproblems with the government.

It is easy to contact your member ofthe House of Commons. To find his orher name, look in the blue pages ofthe telephone book under“Government of Canada.” Call thetoll-free number under “Informationon the Government of Canada.” Giveyour address to the informationofficer who answers your call and heor she will give you the name andtelephone number of your member ofthe House of Commons.

You can also find out about yourmember of the House of Commons

Key Words

Federal elections

Political parties

Voting

Electoral districts

Candidates

National Registerof Electors

Voter informationcard

Ballot

Polling stations


by calling Elections Canada toll-free at1 800 463-6868, or if you have accessto Internet, by visiting its Web site atwww.elections.ca.

Your member of the House ofCommons has an office in yourelectoral district. You can also write toyour member of the House ofCommons by sending your letter to:

House of CommonsName of your member of the House of Commons

Ottawa, OntarioK1A 0A6

You don’t need to put a stamp on a letter you send to the House of Commons.

Political parties

Most candidates in federal electionsbelong to a political party. A politicalparty is a group of people who shareideas about how the governmentshould work. Some political partieshave been around for a long time,but Canadians can create newpolitical parties at any time.

Members of political parties holdmeetings where they discuss theirideas and opinions. They developplans for what they would do if theircandidates were elected to form thegovernment. The plans they make arecalled the party platform.

Members of political parties help to

• decide on the party platform;

• choose the party leader;

• choose the party’s candidates; and

• campaign for party candidates inelections.

Candidates who do not belong to apolitical party are called independents.

Voting

One of the privileges and responsi -bilities of Canadian citizenship is theright to vote. Elections Canada is thenon-partisan agency of Parliamentresponsible for conducting federalelections and referendums.

You are eligible to vote in afederal election or cast a ballotin a federal referendum if youare

• a Canadian citizen; and

• at least 18 years old on voting day; and

• on the voters list.

The voters lists used during federalelections and referendums areproduced from the National Registerof Electors, a permanent database ofCanadian citizens 18 years of age andolder, who are qualified to vote infederal elections and referendums.

The right to vote isa privilege and aresponsibility ofCanadiancitizenship.

Voters lists areproduced from theNational Register of Electors.


The National Register of Electorscontains the name, address, sex anddate of birth of each elector. ElectionsCanada updates the National Registerof Electors through existing datasources, including Citizenship andImmigration Canada.

It is important to add your name tothe National Register of Electors assoon as your citizenship is grantedand you become eligible to vote.

When you apply for citizenship, youcan check a box on the applicationform to show your consent to thetransfer of your name, address, sexand date of birth to Elections Canada.

This information will only be sent toElections Canada and added to theNational Register of Electors if youcheck the box to show that youagree. The information can be usedonly for electoral purposes.

Eligible Canadians are also able toindicate their consent to being addedto the National Register of Electors ontheir federal income tax form.

Once an election has been called,Elections Canada mails a voterinfor mation card to each electorwhose name is in the NationalRegister of Electors. The card tells youwhen and where to vote. If yourequire an interpreter or other specialservices, it tells you the number to call.

Even if you choose not to be listed inthe National Register of Electors or donot receive a voter information card,you can still be added to the voterslist right up to election day. Forinformation on how to do this, callElections Canada toll-free at 1 800 463-6868 or visit their Web siteat www.elections.ca.

To vote either on election day or atadvance polls, go to the pollingstation listed on your voterinformation card. After proving youridentity and address, an electionofficer will give you a ballot. Theballot lists the names of thecandidates in your electoral district inalphabetical order.

Mark the ballot by writing an “X” inthe circle beside the name of yourchosen candidate. Next, fold theballot so that no one can see howyou voted. Give the folded ballot tothe election officer, who tears off theballot number and hands your ballotback to you. Then, either put theballot in the ballot box or ask theelection officer to do it for you.

Canada’s election laws say that yourvote is secret. This means that no onecan watch you vote and no oneshould look at your marked ballot.You may choose to discuss how youvoted with others, but no one has theright to insist that you tell them howyou voted.

As soon as you aregrantedcitizenship, youare eligible tovote. Make sureyour name is onthe NationalRegister ofElectors.

Once an election iscalled, you willreceive a voterinformation card.

Your vote is secret.

For moreinformation onvoting, visitElections Canada’sWeb site atwww.elections.ca


Immediately after the polling stationsclose, election officers count theballots, and the results are announcedon radio and television, and in thenewspapers. You can also see theresults on Elections Canada’s Web siteat www.elections.ca.

After an election

After an election, the party with themost elected representatives becomesthe party in power. The leader of thisparty becomes the Prime Minister.The Prime Minister and the party inpower run the government as long asthey have the support of the majorityof the members of the House ofCommons.

The Prime Minister chooses membersof the House of Commons to becomeCabinet ministers. Cabinet ministersare responsible for running the federalgovernment departments. The PrimeMinister and the Cabinet ministers arecalled the Cabinet, and they makeimportant decisions about how to runthe country. They also propose mostnew laws. Their decisions can bequestioned by all members of theHouse of Commons.

If a majority of the members of theHouse of Commons vote against amajor government decision, the partyin power is defeated. The PrimeMinister resigns and a new election isusually held.

The parties that are not in power arecalled the opposition parties. Theopposition party with the mostmembers of the House of Commonsis the official opposition. The role ofthe opposition parties is to oppose ortry to improve government proposals.

About the citizenship test

To pass the test, you mustcorrectly answer all questionsabout the following topics

• the right to vote in electionsin Canada;

• the right to run for electedoffice in Canada; and

• voting procedures and how toregister yourself as a voter.

Your member of theHouse of Commonshas an office inyour electoraldistrict.

The party with themost electedrepresentativesbecomes the party in power.

The leader of this party becomesthe Prime Minister.

The parties that are not in power are called theopposition parties.

The opposition party with the most members of the House ofCommons is theofficial opposition.

Voting Procedures During an Election Period


1 2

I did not get a cardIf you do not receive a voter informa -tion card, call your local electionsoffice to make sure you are on thevoters list. If you do not have thenumber, call Elections Canada, inOttawa, at 1 800 463-6868.

3

Advance poll and special ballot If you cannot or do not wish to voteon election day, you can vote at theadvance polls (the dates andlocation are on your voter infor ma -tion card) or by special ballot.

4

On election dayGo to your polling station. The location ison your voter information card. After thepoll officials confirm that you are on thevoter’s list by asking you to prove youridentity and address, they will give you aballot.

5

Marking the ballotMark an "X" in the circle next tothe name of the candidate ofyour choice.

6

Voting is secretYour vote is secret. You will be invitedto go behind the screen to mark yourballot. Once marked, fold it and presentit to the poll officials.

7

The ballot boxThe poll official will tear off thecounterfoil and hand you back the ballotfor you to deposit in the ballot box.

8

The election resultsWhen the polls close, every ballot is counted and the resultsare made public. You can see the results on television or onthe Elections Canada Web site (www.elections.ca).

1 800 463-6868 www.elections.ca

Voter information cardElectors whose information is in theNational Register of Electors willreceive a voter information card.This con firms that your name is onthe voters list and tells you whenand where to vote.

The Canadian Justice System


The Canadian justice system guarantees everyone legal rightsand equality. Everyone has equal access to the justice system.

37

Canadian laws are the written rulesintended to guide people in oursociety. They are made by electedgovernment representatives. Thepolice and the courts enforce thelaws.

Canadians have rights and freedomsthat are protected under theCanadian Charter of Rights andFreedoms through the justice system.Some of the rights and freedomsprotected by the justice systeminclude:

• fundamental freedoms, such asfreedom of religion, thought,belief, opinion and expression;

• legal rights, including the right tolife, liberty and security of theperson; and

• equality under the law. EveryCanadian has an equal right to theprotection and services of thepolice and the courts.

Getting legal help

Lawyers can help you with legalproblems and act for you in court. Ifyou cannot pay for a lawyer, there arelegal aid services available free ofcharge or at low cost in mostcommunities.

Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities


All Canadians have certain rights and responsibilities. They arebased on Canadian laws, traditions and shared values.

38

Many of these rights are defined inthe Canadian Charter of Rights andFreedoms, which is part of Canada’sConstitution. The Canadian Charter ofRights and Freedoms legally protectsthe basic rights and freedoms ofeveryone in Canada. Some of theserights and freedoms are

• legal rights, such as the rightto a fair trial;

• equality rights, such as theright to protection againstdiscrimination;

• mobility rights, such as theright to live and workanywhere in Canada;

• Aboriginal peoples’ rights;and

• basic freedoms, such asfreedom of thought, speech,religion and peacefulassembly.

Some citizenship rights are defined inCanadian laws. One such right is theright to be given preference for jobsin the federal government.

Many of these rights and freedomsexisted in earlier laws. However, withthe creation of the Charter in 1982,they became better defined andbetter protected.

With these rights come responsibilitiesfor everyone in Canada. IndividualCanadians and all levels of Canadiangovern ment have the responsibility torespect the rights and freedoms of allCanadians. However, it is importantto realize that the rights of a singleCanadian or a group of Canadianscannot interfere with the rights of anyother. For this reason, courts mustinterpret the Charter from time totime to make sure that it is appliedfairly in all situations.

As Canadians, ourrights are defined in the CanadianCharter of Rights and Freedoms.


Citizenship rights

Under the Canadian Charter ofRights and Freedoms, Canadiancitizens have the right to

• be candidates in federal,provincial and territorialelections;

• be educated in either officiallanguage;

• apply for a Canadian passport;

• vote in federal and provincialor territorial elections; and

• enter and leave Canada freely.

Citizenship also brings responsibilities.For example, voting in elections isboth a right and a responsibility.Before you read the next section,review the list of rights and try tothink of the responsibilities that comewith them.

Citizenship responsibilities

All Canadian citizens have theresponsibility to

• vote in elections;

• help others in the community;

• care for and protect ourheritage and environment;

• obey Canada’s laws;

• express opinions freely whilerespecting the rights andfreedoms of others; and

• eliminate discrimination andinjustice.

Getting involved in Canada

Being a Canadian citizen is more thanvoting and obeying laws. Being acitizen also means getting involved inyour community and your country.Everyone has something to give tomake Canada a better place. Here aresome ways to participate:

• join a community group such asan environmental group;

• volunteer to work on an electioncampaign for a candidate of yourchoice;

• help your neighbours;

• work with others to solve problemsin your community; and

• become a candidate in an election.

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Voting in elections is both a right and a responsibility.

About thecitizenship test

You will be askedquestions about the rights andresponsibilities ofbeing a Canadiancitizen.


Oath of Citizenship

To become a Canadian citizen youwill be required to repeat the Oathafter the presiding officer.

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Oath of Citizenship

I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty

Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully

observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.

Serment de citoyenneté

Je jure fidélité et sincère allégeance à Sa Majesté la Reine Elizabeth Deux, Reine du Canada, à ses héritiers et successeurs et je jure d’observer fidèlement

les lois du Canada et de remplir loyalement mes obligations de citoyen canadien.

Affirmation solennelle

J’affirme solennellement que je serai fidèle etporterai sincère allégeance à Sa Majesté la ReineElizabeth Deux, Reine du Canada, à ses héritierset successeurs, que j’observerai fidèlement les loisdu Canada et que je remplirai loyalement mes

obligations de citoyen canadien.

For More Information


Canadian citizenship

Obtain a copy of the pamphlet How to Become a Canadian Citizenand other citizenship applicationinformation.

By telephoneCall Centre Number

For all areas within Canada, call 1 888 242-2100 (toll-free).

Note: If you are calling from outside Canada,contact the Canadian embassy, highcommission or consulate in your region.

On-lineVisit the Citizenship and ImmigrationWeb site at www.cic.gc.ca. A Look atCanada can be downloaded from thisWeb site.

Citizenship classes • Contact schools and colleges in

your area.

• Go to your local library orcommunity centre.

• Contact local settlement agenciesor ethnocultural associations.

Canada

Ask a librarian to help you find booksand videotapes about Canada. Youcould begin by asking for thesebooks:

• The Canada Yearbook (published byStatistics Canada)

• Canada: A Portrait (published byStatistics Canada)

• How Canadians Govern Themselves(written by Eugene Forsey,published by Public Works andGovernment Services Canada. Itcan also be found on-line at theLibrary of Parliament atwww.parl.gc.ca)

• The Canadian Encyclopedia(published by McClelland &Stewart)

• The Junior Encyclopedia of Canada(published by Hurtig Publishers,distributed by McClelland &Stewart)

• The Story of Canada (written byJanet Lunn and ChristopherMoore, published by LesterPublishing Ltd.)

• Symbols of Nationhood (publishedby Public Works and GovernmentServices Canada)

• Canada: A People’s History(Canadian BroadcastingCorporation). A variety of resourcesbased on the CBC series thatbegan airing in October 2000 areavailable. Ask the public library ifthey have the VHS videos, theDVDs, the CDs, or the books foradults and children.

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Federal programs and services

You can obtaininformation aboutCanada by telephoneor on the Internet:

Telephone:1 800 0-Canada

(1 800 622-6232) (toll-free)

TTY 1 800 465-7735(toll-free)

Internet: The Government ofCanada Web sitecontains informationabout all governmentprograms and services.It can be found atwww.canada.gc.ca

Citizenship Test: Questions


The questions in the citizenship testare based on information provided inthis booklet. The test includesquestions about

• the right to vote in elections in Canada;

• the right to run for elected office;

• voting procedures in Canada andhow to register yourself as a voter;

• Canada’s main historical andgeographical features;

• the rights and responsibilities of acitizen;

• the structure of Canadiangovernment; and

• Confederation.

You should also be ready to answermore specific questions about yourregion’s economy, geography andhistory. Use the questions below toprepare for your test. All the answersto the questions in Section I can befound in this booklet.

Section II contains questions aboutyour region. You will have to find theanswers to these questions yourself.

Section I: Questions about Canada

Aboriginal Peoples

1. Who are the Aboriginal peoples of Canada?

2. What are the three main groups of Aboriginal peoples?

3. From whom are the Métisdescended?

4. Which group of Aboriginal peoplesmake up more than half thepopulation of the NorthwestTerritories and Nunavut?

5. Why are the Aboriginal peoples ofCanada working toward self-government?

History (answers can be found inthe sections on regions of Canada)

1. Where did the first Europeansettlers in Canada come from?

2. Why did the early explorers firstcome to Atlantic Canada?

3. What three industries helped theearly settlers build communities inthe Atlantic region?

4. Who were the United EmpireLoyalists?

5. When did settlers from France firstestablish communities on theSt. Lawrence River?

42


6. Which trade spread acrossCanada, making it important tothe economy for over 300 years?

7. What form of transportation didAboriginal peoples and fur tradersuse to create trading networks inNorth America?

8. What important trade did theHudson’s Bay Company control?

9. What did the government do tomake immigration to westernCanada much easier?

Confederation/Government

1. What does Confederation mean?

2. What is the CanadianConstitution?

3. What year was Confederation?

4. When did the British North AmericaAct come into effect?

5. Why is the British North AmericaAct important in Canadian history?

6. Which four provinces first formedConfederation?

7. Which was the last province tojoin Canada?

8. When is Canada Day and whatdoes it celebrate?

9. Who was the first Prime Ministerof Canada?

10. Why is the Constitution Act, 1982important in Canadian history?

Rights and Responsibilities

1. What part of the Constitutionlegally protects the basic rightsand freedoms of all Canadians?

2. When did the Canadian Charter ofRights and Freedoms become partof the Canadian Constitution?

3. Name two fundamental freedomsprotected by the Canadian Charterof Rights and Freedoms.

4. Name three legal rights protectedby the Canadian Charter of Rightsand Freedoms.

5. List three ways in which you canprotect the environment.

6. Who has the right to apply for aCanadian passport?

7. What does equality under the lawmean?

8. Name six responsibilities ofcitizenship.

9. Give an example of how you canshow responsibility byparticipating in your community.

10. List four rights Canadian citizenshave.

11. What will you promise when youtake the Oath of Citizenship?

43


Languages

1. What are the two officiallanguages of Canada?

2. Give an example of where Englishand French have equal status inCanada.

3. Where do most French-speakingCanadians live?

4. Which province has the mostbilingual Canadians?

5. Which province is the onlyofficially bilingual province?

Symbols

1. What does the Canadian flag look like?

2. What song is Canada’s nationalanthem?

3. Give the first two lines of Canada’snational anthem.

4. Where does the name “Canada”come from?

5. Which animal is an official symbolof Canada?

6. What is the tower in the centre ofthe Parliament buildings called?

Geography

1. What is the population of Canada?

2. What three oceans border onCanada?

3. What is the capital city of Canada?

4. Name all the provinces andterritories and their capital cities.

5. Name the five regions of Canada.

6. Which region covers more thanone-third of Canada?

7. In which region do more than halfthe people in Canada live?

8. One-third of all Canadians live inwhich province?

9. Where are the Canadian Rockies?

10. Where are the Great Lakes?

11. Which mountain range is on theborder between Alberta andBritish Columbia?

12. Where are the Parliamentbuildings located?

13. Which country borders Canadaon the south?

14. What are the Prairie provinces?

15. Which province in Canada is thesmallest in land size?

16. What is a major river in Quebec?

17. On what date did Nunavutbecome a territory?

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Economy

1. What are the three main types ofindustries in Canada?

2. In what industry do mostCanadians work?

3. What country is Canada’s largesttrading partner?

4. Which region is known as theindustrial and manufacturingheartland of Canada?

5. Which region of Canada is knownfor both its fertile agricultural landand valuable energy resources?

Federal Government

1. Who is Canada’s Head of State?

2. Who is the Queen’s representativein Canada?

3. What is the name of the GovernorGeneral?

4. What do you call the Queen’srepresentative in the provinces?

5. What is Canada’s system ofgovernment called?

6. What are the three parts ofParliament?

7. Explain how the levels ofgovernment are different.

8. What do you call a law before it ispassed?

9. How are members of Parliamentchosen?

10. Who do members of Parliamentrepresent?

11. How does a bill become law?

12. What are the three levels ofgovernment in Canada?

13. Name two responsibilities foreach level of government.

14. What is the government of all of Canada called?

Federal Elections

1. How many electoral districts arethere in Canada?

2. In what electoral district do youlive?

3. Who has the right to vote infederal elections?

4. What three requirements must youmeet in order to vote in a federalelection?

5. What is written on a federalelection ballot?

6. What do you mark on a federalelection ballot?

7. How is the government formedafter an election?

8. How is the Prime Minister chosen?

9. When does an election have to beheld according to theConstitution?

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10. Name all the federal politicalparties in the House of Commonsand their leaders.

11. Which party becomes the officialopposition?

12. What is the role of the oppositionparties?

13. Which party is the officialopposition at the federal level?

14. Name the Prime Minister ofCanada and his party.

15. Name your member ofParliament and the party he orshe belongs to.

16. What is a voter information card?

17. Who has the right to run as acandidate in federal elections?

18. Who do Canadians vote for in afederal election?

19. What do political parties do?

20. Which federal political party is in power?

21. How are senators chosen?

22. What should you do if you donot receive a voter informationcard telling you when and whereto vote?

23. After a federal election, whichparty forms the new government?

Section II. Questions aboutyour region

1. What is the capital city of theprovince or territory in whichyou live?

2. List three natural resourcesimportant to your region’seconomy today.

3. Who is your city councillor,alderperson, reeve or regionalcouncillor?

4. What is the name of your mayor?

5. What is the name of yourprovincial representative (memberof the Legislative Assembly,member of the provincialParliament, member of theNational Assembly or member ofthe House of Assembly)?

6. What is the name of the premierof your province or territory?

7. Which political party is in power inyour province or territory?

8. What is the name of the leader ofthe opposition in your province?

9. What is the name of yourlieutenant governor orcommissioner?

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These questions have beendeveloped as a study guide. Yourcitizenship test is made up ofsimilar questions.

Sample Question

Answer this question. Draw a circlearound the letter beside the correctanswer.

What are the colours of theCanadian flag?

a) red, white and blue

b) red and white

c) blue and white

d) red, orange and green

The answer to this question is (b). Youshould have put a circle around the(b) like this:

a) red, white and blue

b) red and white

c) blue and white

d) red, orange and green

There is only one correct answer toeach question.

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A Look at Canada - The Globe and Mail

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