Discover Canada 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.

Who was John Buchan?

A popular Governor General of Canada

Who passed the Quebec Act of 1774?

The British Parliament

Which Act granted to the Canadas, for the first time, legislative assemblies elected by the people?

The Constitutional Act

Who was Lieutenant Colonel John Graves Simcoe?

Upper Canada's first Lieutenant Governor and founder of the City of Toronto

Name 3 fathers of Confederation

Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché, Sir George-Étienne Cartier, and Sir John A. Macdonald

When were the Canada and Quebec Pension Plans devised?

1965

When did the British North America Act come into effect?

1867

How many electoral districts are there in Canada?

338

What is the population of Canada?

About 36 million

When did Nunavut become a territory?

1999

During the War of 1812 the Americans burned down the Parliament Buildings in York (now Toronto). What did the British and Canadians do in return?

Burned down the White House

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.

Magna Carta and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Identify four (4) rights that Canadians enjoy.

• Mobility Rights — Canadians can live and work anywhere they choose in Canada, enter and leave the country freely, and apply for a passport.

• Aboriginal Peoples’ Rights — The rights guaranteed in the Charter will not adversely affect any treaty or other rights or freedoms of Aboriginal peoples.

• Official Language Rights and Minority Language Educational Rights — French and English have equal status in Parliament and throughout the government.

• Multiculturalism — A fundamental characteristic of the Canadian heritage and identity. Canadians celebrate the gift of one another’s presence and work hard to respect pluralism and live in harmony.

Name four (4) fundamental freedoms that Canadians enjoy.

Freedom of conscience and religion; Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of speech and of the press; Freedom of peaceful assembly; Freedom of association.

What is meant by the equality of women and men?

In Canada, men and women are equal under the law. This means that Canada’s openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, “honour killings,” female genital mutilation, forced marriage or other gender-based violence. Those guilty of these crimes are severely punished under Canada’s criminal laws.

What are some examples of taking responsibility for yourself and your family?

Getting a job, taking care of one’s family and working hard in keeping with one’s abilities are important Canadian values. Work contributes to personal dignity and self-respect, and to Canada’s prosperity.

Who were the founding peoples of Canada?

Aboriginal, French, and British.

Who are the Métis?

The Métis are a distinct people of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry, the majority of whom live in the Prairie provinces. They come from both French- and English-speaking backgrounds and speak their own dialect, Michif.

What does the word “Inuit” mean?

“The people” in the Inuktitut language.

What is meant by the term “responsible government”?

This means that the ministers of the Crown must have the support of a majority of the elected representatives in order to govern. If the government loses a confidence vote in the assembly it must resign.

Who was Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine?

La Fontaine was a champion of democracy and French language rights, and became the first leader of a responsible government in the Canadas in 1849.

When did English settlement begin?

1610

What did the Canadian Pacific Railway symbolize?

On November 7, 1885, a powerful symbol of unity was completed when Donald Smith (Lord Strathcona), the Scottish-born director of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), drove the last spike. The project was financed by British and American investors and built by both European and Chinese labour.

What does Confederation mean?

A confederation is an organization consisting of different groups of people working together for business or political purposes.

From 1864 to 1867, representatives of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada, with British support, worked together to establish a new country. These men are known as the Fathers of Confederation. They created two levels of government: federal and provincial.

What is the significance of the discovery of insulin by Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best?

Sir Frederick Banting of Toronto and Charles Best discovered Insulin, a hormone to treat diabetes that has saved 16 million lives world.

What does it mean to say that Canada is a constitutional monarchy?

As a constitutional monarchy, Canada’s Head of State is a hereditary Sovereign (Queen or King), who reigns in accordance with the Constitution: the rule of law. The Sovereign is a part of Parliament, playing an important, non-partisan role as the focus of citizenship and allegiance, most visibly during royal visits to Canada.

What are the three branches of government?

Legislative, executive, and judicial.

What is the difference between the role of the Sovereign and that of the Prime Minister?

There is a clear distinction in Canada between the head of state—the Sovereign—and the head of government—the Prime Minister, who actually directs the governing of the country.

What is the highest honour that Canadians can receive?

Victoria Cross

When you go to vote on election day, what do you do?

Go to your polling station. The location is on your voter information card. Bring this card and proof of your identity and address to the polling station.

Mark an “X” in the circle next to the name of the candidate of your choice.

Your vote is secret. You will be invited to go behind the screen to mark your ballot. Once marked, fold it and present it to the poll officials.

The poll official will tear off the ballot number and give your ballot back to you to deposit in the ballot box.

Who is entitled to vote in Canadian federal elections?

A Canadian citizen who is at least 18 years old on voting day and on the voters’ list.

In Canada, are you obliged to tell other people how you voted?

No, no one, including family members, your employer or union representative, has the right to insist that you tell them how you voted.

After an election, which party forms the government?

The political party with the most seats in the House of Commons is invited by the Governor General to form the government.

If the party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of Commons, this is called a majority government. If the party in power holds less than half of the seats in the House of Commons, this is called a minority government.

Who is your member of Parliament?

Terry Beech

What are the three levels of government?

Federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal.

What is the role of the courts in Canada?

The courts settle disputes and the police enforce the laws.

The Supreme Court of Canada is our country’s highest court. The Federal Court of Canada deals with matters concerning the federal government. In most provinces there is an appeal court and a trial court, sometimes called the Court of Queen’s Bench or the Supreme Court. There are also provincial courts for lesser offences, family courts, traffic courts and small claims courts for civil cases involving small sums of money.

In Canada, are you allowed to question the police about their service or conduct?

Yes, you can question the police about their service or conduct if you feel you need to. Almost all police forces in Canada have a process by which you can bring your concerns to the police and seek action.

Name two Canadian symbols.

Maple leaf; Fleur-de-lys; Beaver

What provinces are referred to as the Atlantic Provinces?

Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.

What is the capital of the province or territory that you live in?

Victoria, Vancouver Island

Who is the Governor General?

Louise Arbour

Who is the Lieutenant General in your province of residence?

Wendy Cocchia

Who is the Premier in your province of residence?

David Eby (NDP)

Who is the Mayor in your province of residence?

Mike Hurley