Canadian Government 1, Chapter 12 Living Standards in a Changing World 1

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Equality

the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.

Rights

The benefits of government to which every citizen is entitled.

constitution

the fundamental rules and laws governing a group or organization

law

Rules made by parliament and enforceable by the courts

Federal

In charge of the whole country - relating to all of Canada - mail, military, foreign affairs etc.

provincial

in charge of things just relating to the province. education, health care etc.

municipal

relating to a city, town, village, or the like with local self-government like garbage and recycling

bylaw

a rule made by a local authority to regulate its own affairs - not as serious

permit

to allow to do something

property rights

the ability of an individual to own and exercise control over scarce resources

civil rights

the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

Age of being of an adult

(19 years old in BC)

defence

protection from harm

foreign affairs

A nation's relationships with other countries

Copyright Law

laws designed to protect intellectual property rights and to provide monetary rewards for inventiveness and hard work; protects works "fixed in any tangible form of expression"

Criminal Law

A law that defines crimes against the public order. laws relating to crimes (serious stuff)

independence

freedom from control by another government or country

elect

to choose by voting

appoint

assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to

Cabinet

Group of ministers: Government members chosen by the Prime Minister for specific jobs (Defense, Transport, Finance, Fisheries)

House of Commons

the first legislative body of Parliament whose members are elected.

living standards

Factors that affect the quality of life in a country, such as access to safe food and water, employment, and security.

Patronage

Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support

vote of no confidence

Vote taken by a legislature as to whether its members continue to support the current prime minister. Depending on the country, a vote of no confidence can force the resignation of the prime minister and/or lead to new parliamentary elections.

opposition

The party with the second most seats in parliament

Legislative Branch

the branch of government that makes the laws

Judicial Branch

Branch of government that decides if laws are carried out fairly.

Executive Branch

the branch of government that carries out laws

Prime Minister (PM)

The head of government in parliamentary and semipresidential systems

Liberal Party of Canada

Sometimes called by its nickname "the Grits," it is the oldest federal political party in Canada. The party believes in the principles of liberalism, and generally sits at the centre of the Canadian political spectrum.

Bloc Quebecois

A separatist party from Quebec that elected members to the federal parliament in every election since 1993. Although a majority of Quebecers do not wish to see Quebec separate from the rest of Canada, many feel that their interests within Canada are best represented in Ottawa by the Bloc.

Green Party

A minor party dedicated to the environment, social justice, nonviolence, and the foreign policy of nonintervention. Ralph Nader ran as the Green party's nominee in 2000.

New Democratic Party (NDP)

founded in Ottawa in 1961 at a convention uniting the CCF and several labour unions.

Conservative Party

A political party in it is generally more right wing, and more towards free-markets and the upper classes, advocates a mixed economy and encourages property owning.

Human Development Index

UN's index to rate standards of living in its member countries. Consists of literacy rate, life expectancy and GDP per capita.

GDP per capita

GDP or total value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year, divided by the population gives GDP per capita or per person

Standard of living

A measure comparing how well people live in different countries based on life expectancy, literacy rate and GDP per capita, measured by the Human Development Index. Health, levels of nutrition, life expectancy, literacy rate and the status of women and children also tie in to standards of living.

Problem with GDP per capita in measuring living standards.

If wealth is not shared among the people, this does not reflect the living standards for the majority

Developing Countries

Countries that have lower standards of living than developed countries; many have extensive poverty, can also be highly indebted. Lower on the Human Development Index than developed countries.

United Nations Children's Fund

UN organization that protects children's rights, and ensured that the basic needs of children are met, helps children reach their full potential. Used to be called the united nations international children's emergency fund. Released PNR to measure children's development in countries.

PNR

UNICEF's measurement of child development. Consists of U5MR, % of underweight children, numbers of children not in primary school, risks from armed conflict and risks from HIV/AIDs.

Tied Aid

Aid given to a HIPC with conditions attached. I.e. donated money must only be spent on good bought from the donor country. Often bilateral aid is tied aid. 2008, Canadian government announced that food aid was untied, and CIDA's development aid would be untied by 2013

Highly Indebted Poor Country

Countries at the bottom of the Human Development Index, these are developing or underdeveloped countries that are indebted to developed countries.

e.g. Haiti, Somalia, Sierra Leone

Globalization

The spreading of ideas, information and culture around the world through advances in communication, technology and travel.

Positives of Globalization

People in developed world believe globalization brings more free trade, cheaper goods, access to technology bringing wealth and higher living standards

Negatives of Globalization

The trade agreements made through globalization limit government control over trade, economy and social policies. Globalization also encourages companies to exploit cheap labour in other countries, and developing countries worry that globalization brings social changes that overwhelm tradition.

World Bank

An international group of 5 financial institutions that give financial and technical aid to highly indebted poor countries, unlike the IMF, they are more focused on ending poverty.

5 Institutions of the World Bank

International bank for reconstruction and development (IBRD), international finance corporation (IFC), international development association (IDA), multilateral investment guarantee agency (MIGA), and the international centre for settlement of investment disputes (ICSID)

Bilateral Aid

Direct assistance from one country to another, can be troublesome because most of this aid is tied aid. 53% of Canada's total aid budget goes to this type of aid.

Literacy Rate

The percentage of a population that is able to read and write. One of the measures of determining quality of life in the human development index.

Non-government organization

A nonprofit group that works without government on issues such as health, environment and human rights. A benefit of this is that it is not associated with the government and has more communication to the people. A negative would be that they could have no funding or be too small to help the country they are attempting to.

Mortality

Death rate, number of deaths per 1000 people in a given population.

World Health Organization

A United Nations agency that coordinates international health activities and helps governments improve health services.

Canadian International Development Agency

Also known as Global Affairs Canada. Pierre Trudeau created this in 1968. Administers most of Canada's foreign aid budget. Has six priority areas: basic human needs; women in development; infrastructure services; human rights, democracy, and good government; private sector development; and the environment.

Multinational corporations

Companies that do business in more than one country, i.e. their company would be run in Canada but would be manufactured in Africa.

International Monetary Fund

At the end of WWII was set up by the UN to give loans and development assistance to HIPCs in order to promote economic growth and end the poverty cycle. Designed to promote economic stability and development, is mostly just a bank, not necessarily focused on ending poverty.

Under five mortality rate

UNICEF's main measure of human development. Number of children under five who die per 1000 births.

Malaria

A deadly infectious disease common in tropical climates, transmitted to humans by the mosquito. Is an epidemic common in developing countries because help is not available, and forest clearing in SA and Asia allows sunlight to warm water, allowing for mosquitoes to breed. WHO has this as a priority

Developed Countries

The world's wealthiest countries; they have well-established infrastructures and their people are well housed, healthy, and have good literacy skills.

Newly Industrializing Nations

Countries that are experiencing rapid economic and industrial growth; many are switching from agricultural to industrial economies

-e.g. Indonesia and Brazil

Malnutrition

Poor, or lack of, nourishment

Multilateral Aid

Aid that is funded by a number of governments, and usually involves large-scale programs like dam building. Involves many countries giving to one country through an organization.

Infrastructure

Structures such as roads, railways, power grids, and communications links that are basic to the functioning of a modern economy, as well as buildings such as schools and hospitals. Developing and underdeveloped countries lack this, developed countries have this.

Millennium Development Goals

Not involved with military. Made by the United Nations to bridge the gap between underdeveloped and developed nations. Includes ending poverty and hunger, ending HIV/AIDS, malaria and disease, achieving universal primary education, promoting environmental sustainability and women's rights, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and developing a global partnership. In the categories of poverty hunger disease illiteracy environmental and women's rights.

Foreign Aid

Aid given from rich, industrialized countries to poor, developing countries in order to foster development. Since WWII. Consists of bilateral, multilateral, official development assistance, and non government organizations.

Official Development Assistance

Aid given to developing countries through official government programs to promote economic development and the welfare of the people. UN wants this to be 0.7% of the country's GNP.

Ethnic cleansing

The elimination of one ethnic group from an area by another ethnic group

Epidemic

Something occurring in one geographical area and affects more people than usual for the area.

Pandemic

Epidemic occurring worldwide.

LICO

If you spend 70% or more of your income on food, shelter and clothing, you are a low income household.

NCW poverty measure

After tax income

US poverty measure

minimum adequate diet multiplied by 3

Landlock

Not having access to any countries around you, i.e. living on an island or in a super remote area