Discover Canada – Citizenship Study Guide (Pages 1–30)

Understanding the Oath of Citizenship

• Canada’s Oath pledges loyalty to a person—the Sovereign—rather than to a document, flag, or territory.
  • Recognizes Canada as a constitutional monarchy in which Crown, constitution, flag, land, and people are symbolically united in the monarch.
• English text of the oath (key clauses):
  • “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…”
  • Promises to obey Canadian laws, including the Constitution, and to fulfill civic duties.
  • Explicitly mentions recognition of “Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.”
• French text (Le serment de citoyenneté) carries identical legal substance.
• Official study materials: the ONLY authoritative guide is Discover Canada, provided free by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• Third-party guides/tests are used “at your own risk.”

Welcome & Guide Orientation

• Canada has welcomed immigrants for over 400 years, building a diverse society rooted in the rule of law and parliamentary government.
• Applicants aged 18\text{–}54 must demonstrate adequate knowledge of English or French.
• Required knowledge areas: voting procedures, history, symbols, institutions, geography, rights and responsibilities.
• Citizenship test normally written; may be an interview.
  • Evaluates: 1) knowledge of Canada & citizenship duties; 2) adequate language ability.
  • Adults 55+ exempt from the written test.
• If test is passed and all requirements met, applicant receives a “Notice to Appear to Take the Oath.”
  • Ceremony steps: take oath, sign oath form, receive Citizenship Certificate.
• Preparation suggestions:
  • Study the guide thoroughly.
  • Practice Q&A with friends/family.
  • Enrol in free language or citizenship classes (schools, colleges, community centres).

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

• Canada’s legal heritage blends: Acts of Parliament, provincial laws, English common law, French civil code, & unwritten British constitutional conventions.
• Magna Carta (1215) begins an 800-year tradition of “ordered liberty.”
• Fundamental freedoms (Canadian Charter, 1982):
  • Freedom of conscience & religion.
  • Freedom of thought, belief, opinion, expression (speech/press).
  • Freedom of peaceful assembly.
  • Freedom of association.
• Key charter protections:
  • \textbf{Mobility Rights} – live/work anywhere, enter/leave freely, obtain passport.
  • \textbf{Aboriginal Peoples’ Rights} – Charter cannot derogate treaty or other Indigenous rights.
  • \textbf{Official Language Rights} – English & French equal in Parliament/gov’t.
  • \textbf{Multiculturalism} – diversity recognized as fundamental.
• Additional civic principles:
  • Habeas corpus—right to challenge unlawful detention.
  • Equality of women & men; zero tolerance for “barbaric cultural practices.”
• Core responsibilities:
  • Obeying the law.
  • Taking care of oneself & family through work.
  • Jury duty when summoned.
  • Voting in all levels of elections.
  • Volunteering & helping community.
  • Protecting environment and heritage.
• National defence:
  • No conscription; voluntary service in Canadian Forces, reserves, Coast Guard, cadets, police/fire.

Who We Are – The People of Canada

• Three founding peoples: Aboriginal, French, British.
• \textbf{Aboriginal Peoples} (≈ 1.4 million, divided \sim65\% First Nations, 30\% Métis, 4\% Inuit).
  • First Nations: about 600 communities; half live on reserve.
  • Inuit: Arctic communities; deep knowledge of harsh environment.
  • Métis: mixed Aboriginal-European ancestry; concentrated in Prairie provinces; speak Michif.
  • Rights framework: Royal Proclamation 1763, modern treaties, Constitution 1982.
  • Residential-school era (1800s–1980s) aimed at assimilation; federal apology 2008.
• \textbf{English & French Canadians}
  • 18 million Anglophones, 7 million Francophones.
  • New Brunswick is only officially bilingual province; 1 million Francophones live outside Quebec.
  • Acadians (descendants of 1604 settlers) deported during “Great Upheaval” (1755\text{–}1763) but culture survives.
  • Quebecers mainly descend from 8{,}500 17^{\text{th}}–18^{\text{th}}-century French settlers; recognized 2006 by House of Commons as a nation within a united Canada.
• \textbf{Diversity & Immigration}
  • Major ethnic origins: English, French, Scottish, Irish, German, Italian, Chinese, Ukrainian, Dutch, South Asian, Scandinavian, Aboriginal.
  • Since 1970s, majority of immigrants come from Asia.
  • Non-official languages common; Chinese languages =13\% of home use in Vancouver, 7\% in Toronto.
  • Religious landscape: majority Christian (largest: Catholic); growing Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, no-religion segments.
  • Canada protects LGBTQ+ rights, including civil marriage.
  • Newcomers expected to uphold democracy & rule of law.

Canada’s History (Early Contact to Confederation)

• Pre-contact: varied Indigenous economies—farming (Huron-Wendat, Iroquois), hunter-gatherers (Cree, Dene), nomadic bison hunters (Sioux), Arctic hunting (Inuit), West Coast fishing.
• Norse Vikings at L’Anse aux Meadows (~1000 CE) first European site.
• John Cabot’s 1497 map of Atlantic coast; Jacques Cartier’s 1534–1542 voyages claim “Canada” (from kanata = village).
• Royal New France: Champlain founded Québec 1608; alliances with Algonquin & Huron; fur-trade economy; leaders Talon, Laval, Frontenac.
• Struggle for North America: Hudson’s Bay Company monopoly 1670; Anglo-French wars; Battle of the Plains of Abraham 1759 yielded British victory; both Wolfe & Montcalm killed.
• Quebec Act 1774: religious freedom for Catholics, restored French civil law—cornerstone of accommodation.
• American Revolution 1776 brought >40{,}000 Loyalists north (incl. 3{,}000 Black Loyalists, Mohawk led by Joseph Brant).

Road to Democracy & Responsible Government

• Constitutional Act 1791 created Upper (English) & Lower (French) Canada; first elected assemblies.
• Upper Canada (Ontario) abolished slavery 1793 (Lt-Gov Simcoe); Empire outlawed slave trade 1807; full abolition 1833.
• War of 1812: Canadian militia, First Nations & British repel U.S. invasions; key figures Brock, Tecumseh, de Salaberry; outcome secured present border.
• Rebellions 1837\text{–}38 in both Canadas failed; Lord Durham’s report advised responsible gov’t.
• Responsible government achieved: Nova Scotia 1848, United Canada 1849 (La Fontaine–Baldwin).

Confederation & Nation-Building

• Fathers of Confederation conferences 1864–1867; Constitution Act 1867 created Dominion with 4 provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick.
• Dominion \to\sea phrase from Psalm 72 inspired by Sir Leonard Tilley.
• Expansion timeline: 1870 Manitoba & NWT; 1871 BC; 1873 PEI; 1898 Yukon; 1905 Alberta & Saskatchewan; 1949 Newfoundland & Labrador; 1999 Nunavut; 1880 Arctic Islands transferred to NWT.
• Sir John A. Macdonald (b. 1815) = first PM; Sir George-Étienne Cartier key Quebec architect.
• Métis resistance 1869–70 (Red River) & 1885 (North-West); Louis Riel executed; North-West Mounted Police 1873 maintained order; evolved into RCMP.
• CPR promise brought BC into Confederation; Last Spike driven Nov 7, 1885; Chinese labour & subsequent Head Tax (apology 2006).
• 1890s\text{–}1914 immigration boom: 1 million British, 1 million Americans; 170{,}000 Ukrainians, 115{,}000 Poles, etc.; Sir Wilfrid Laurier (1896–1911) promoted western settlement.

Canada in the 20th Century

• South African (Boer) War 1899–1902: 7{,}000 volunteers, >260 dead.
• First World War 1914–1918: 600{,}000 served (population 8 million); 60{,}000 killed, 170{,}000 wounded; Vimy Ridge victory April\;9\;1917 (Vimy Day); General Sir Arthur Currie led “Hundred Days.”
  • Internment of >8{,}000 Austro-Hungarian (mainly Ukrainian) “enemy aliens” 1914–1920.
• Women’s suffrage milestones:
  • Manitoba 1916 first province.
  • Federal vote 1917– nurses/relatives of soldiers ⇒ universal female suffrage 1918 (age 21+).
  • Agnes Macphail first woman MP 1921; Quebec women vote 1940.
• Inter-war period: prosperity “Roaring 20s” → Great Depression 1929; unemployment 27\% 1933; Bank of Canada 1934 created.
• Second World War 1939–1945: >1 million served; 44{,}000 killed.
  • Key actions: defence of Hong Kong, Dieppe raid, Battle of Britain, Battle of the Atlantic (RCN 3rd-largest navy), D-Day Juno Beach (15,000 Canadians), liberation of Netherlands.
  • Japanese-Canadian internment & property seizure in B.C.; federal apology 1988.
• Post-war international role: founding NATO, NORAD, UN peacekeeping (Korea 1950–53, Egypt, Cyprus, Haiti, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan).
• Quiet Revolution 1960s in Quebec; Official Languages Act 1969; Constitution patriated 1982 sans Quebec assent; referendums on sovereignty 1980 & 1995 defeated.

Modern Canada: Economy, Society, Culture

• Oil discovery 1947 Leduc, Alberta ⇒ modern energy sector.
• By 1951 majority could afford adequate food/shelter/clothing.
• Social programs: Employment Insurance (1940), Canada/Quebec Pension Plans (1965), Canada Health Act (ensures national standards).
• Immigration & multiculturalism:
  • Hungarian refugees 37{,}000 1956; Vietnamese “boat people” 50{,}000+ 1975.
  • 1960: Indigenous peoples gain federal vote.
• Arts & culture highlights:
  • Literature: Leacock, Hémon, Nelligan, Davies, Laurence, Richler, Ondaatje, Kogawa, Mistry.
  • Painting: Group of Seven, Emily Carr, Riopelle, Ashevak.
  • Film: Denys Arcand, Norman Jewison, Atom Egoyan.
  • Performing arts: national & regional theatres; Cirque du Soleil global success.
• Sport achievements:
  • Hockey dominance; Wayne Gretzky records.
  • Donovan Bailey 1996 Olympic 100 m gold & world record.
  • Chantal Petitclerc Paralympic champion.
  • Canadian Football League (Grey Cup 1909).
  • Terry Fox “Marathon of Hope” 1980 & Rick Hansen “Man in Motion” 1985.
• Science & innovation:
  • Bell telephone, Fleming time zones, Evans & Woodward electric bulb, Fessenden radio, Banting & Best insulin (saved 16 million+ lives), Penfield neurosurgery, Hopps pacemaker, Canadarm (SPAR/NRC), BlackBerry (Lazaridis & Balsillie).

How Canadians Govern Themselves

• Canada = federal state + parliamentary democracy + constitutional monarchy.
• \textbf{Federalism}: division of powers (Constitution Act 1867).
  • Federal: defence, foreign policy, trade, currency, criminal law, citizenship.
  • Provincial: municipalities, education, health, natural resources, property/civil rights, highways.
  • Shared: agriculture, immigration.
• Legislative structures:
  • Federal Parliament = Sovereign (represented by Governor General) + Senate (appointed, serve until 75) + House of Commons (elected, terms ~4 yrs).
  • Provinces/territories: Lieutenant Governor (or Commissioner) + elected assembly; premiers analogous to PM.
• Bills become law after 7 basic steps: First Reading → Second → Committee → Report → Third → Senate → Royal Assent.
• Citizens 18+ are entitled—and morally obliged—to vote and may stand for office.
• Constitutional monarchy:
  • Monarch is symbolic, partisan-neutral head of state; ensures continuity and focus of allegiance.
  • Governor General (federal) & Lieutenant Governors (provincial) carry out ceremonial & constitutional duties for \approx5-year terms.
  • Distinction: Head of State (Sovereign) vs. Head of Government (Prime Minister).

Federal Elections

• Fixed-date law: general elections every 4^{\text{th}} year on the 3^{\text{rd}} Monday in October, but PM may request earlier dissolution.
• 308 electoral districts (“ridings” or “constituencies”); each elects one MP to House of Commons.
• Candidate eligibility: Canadian citizen 18+.
• Voting eligibility: citizen 18+ & on voters’ list (National Register of Electors).
  • Elections Canada mails voter information cards indicating polling place; registration possible on election day.
  • Advance polls & special services (interpreters, accessibility) available.
• Voting process embodies democratic responsibility—failure to vote forfeits a key voice in governance.

Study & Resource Checklist

• Thoroughly review each section of Discover Canada.
• Practise language (English/French) to meet “adequate proficiency.”
• Use community resources: settlement agencies, libraries, schools for citizenship classes.
• Familiarize with sample questions (pp. 52–53 of guide) & examination regulations (p. 64).
• Engage with Canadian culture: visit museums, national historic sites; follow news on parliamentary proceedings.

Ethical & Civic Implications

• Canada’s evolution demonstrates balance between unity and diversity—accommodation of French civil law, Indigenous rights, multicultural realities.
• History of internments and discriminatory policies (Head Tax, Japanese relocation) underscores need for vigilance to protect rights.
• Citizenship oath and Charter embed commitment to democracy, reconciliation, and rule of law.
• Personal civic contribution—through work, volunteerism, defence, environmental stewardship—continues the “story of Canada.”