Canadian Citizenship Exam (notes)

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1 Canadian Citizenship Exam (Notes) Canada is a constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy and a federal state. Canadian law has several sources, including laws passed by Parliament and the provincial legislatures, English common law, the civil code of France and the unwritten constitution that we have inherited from Great Britain. 800- year old tradition of ordered liberty, which dates back to the signing of Magna Carta in 1215 in England (also known as the Great Charter of Freedoms), including: • 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. Habeas corpus , the right to challenge unlawful detention by the state, comes from English common law. The Constitution of Canada was amended in 1982 to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which begins with the words, - “Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.” This phrase underlines the importance of religious traditions to Canadian society and the dignity and worth of the human person. Charter attempts to summarize fundamental freedoms while also setting out additional rights , such as: • 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 • Official Language Rights and Minority Language Educational Rights • Multiculturalism Citizenship Responsibilities In Canada, rights come with responsibilities., such as: - Obeying the law - Taking responsibility for oneself and one’s family - Serving on a jury — When called to do so, you are legally required to serve - Voting in elections - Helping others in the community - Protecting and enjoying our heritage and environment Who We Are Canada inherited the oldest continuous constitutional tradition in the world. Canada is the only constitutional monarchy in North America. Our institutions uphold a commitment to Peace, Order and Good Government, a key phrase in Canada’s original constitutional document in 1867, the British North America Act. poets and songwriters have hailed Canada as the “Great Dominion.” Aboriginal peoples ancestors of Aboriginal peoples are migrated from Asia many thousands of years ago. They were well established here long before explorers from Europe first came to North America.

2 Diverse, vibrant First Nations cultures were rooted in religious beliefs about their relationship to the Creator, the natural environment and each other. Aboriginal and treaty rights are in the Canadian Constitution. Territorial rights were first guaranteed through the Royal Proclamation of 1763 by King George III. many Aboriginal children in residential schools to educate and assimilate them into mainstream Canadian culture. The schools were poorly funded and inflicted hardship on the students; some were physically abused. Term Aboriginal peoples refers to three distinct groups: Indian refers to all Aboriginal people who are not Inuit or Métis The Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language, live in small, scattered communities across the Arctic. 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. About 65% of the Aboriginal people are First Nations, while 30% are Métis and 4% Inuit. English and French Canadian society today largely from the English-speaking and French-speaking Christian civilizations that were brought here from Europe by settlers. 18 million Anglophones and 7 millions francophone. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province. Acadians are the descendants of French colonists who began settling in what are now the Maritime provinces. During the war between Britain and France, more than two-thirds of the Acadians were deported from their homeland. Despite this ordeal, known as the “Great Upheaval,” the Acadians survived and maintained their unique identity. - House of Commons recognized in 2006 that the Quebecois form a nation within a united Canada English-speaking areas established by English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish settlers, soldiers and migrants. Anglophones (English speakers) are generally referred to as English Canadians. Diversity in Canada majority of Canadians were born in this country; but Canada is often referred to as a land of immigrants because of millions of newcomers. largest groups are the English, French, Scottish, Irish, German, Italian, Chinese, Aboriginal, Ukrainian, Dutch, South Asian and Scandinavian. Most immigrants have come from Asian countries. Great majority of Canadians identify as Christians. The largest religious affiliation is Catholic, followed by various Protestant churches. In Canada the state has traditionally partnered with faith communities to promote social welfare, harmony and mutual respect; - provide schools and health care; to resettle refugees; and to uphold religious freedom, religious expression and freedom of conscience. Canada’s diversity includes gay and lesbian Canadians, who enjoy the full protection of and equal treatment under the law, including access to civil marriage Canada’s History Aboriginal peoples Europeans explored Canada they found all regions occupied by native peoples they called Indians, because the first explorers thought they had reached the East Indies.

3 Native people lived off the land, some by hunting and gathering, others by raising crops. - Huron-Wendat of the Great Lakes region, like the Iroquois, were farmers and hunters. - The Cree and Dene of the Northwest were hunter-gatherers. - The Sioux were nomadic, following the bison (buffalo) herd. - The Inuit lived off Arctic wildlife. West Coast natives preserved fish by drying and smoking. Warfare was common among Aboriginal groups as they competed for land, resources and prestige. The arrival of European traders, missionaries, soldiers and colonists changed the native way of life forever. Large numbers of Aboriginals died of European diseases to which they lacked immunity. However, Aboriginals and Europeans formed strong economic, religious and military bonds. The First European Vikings from Iceland who colonized Greenland reached Labrador and the island of Newfoundland. The remains of their settlement, l’Anse aux Meadows, are a World Heritage site. European exploration began with the expedition of John Cabot, who was the first to draw a map of Canada’s East Coast . Exploring a river, naming Canada Jacques Cartier made three voyages across the Atlantic, claiming the land for King Francis I of France. Cartier heard two captured guides speak the Iroquoian word kanata , meaning “village.” By the 1550s, the name of Canada began appearing on maps. Royal New France First European settlement north of Florida was established by French explorers Pierre de Monts and Samuel de Champlain, first on St. Croix Island (in present-day Maine), then at Port-Royal, in Acadia (present-day Nova Scotia). In 1608 Champlain built a fortress at what is now Québec City. Champlain allied the colony with the Algonquin, Montagnais and Huron, historic enemies of the Iroquois, a confederation of five (later six) First Nations who battled with the French settlements for a century. The French and the Iroquois made peace in 1701. Champlain founded Quebec, one of the oldest cities in what is now Canada. French and Aboriginal people collaborated in the vast fur-trade economy, driven by the demand for beaver pelts in Europe. Outstanding leaders like Jean Talon, Bishop Laval, and Count Frontenac built a French Empire in North America that reached from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. Struggle for a continent King Charles II of England granted the Hudson’s Bay Company exclusive trading rights Skilled and courageous men who travelled by canoe were called voyageurs and coureurs des bois, and formed strong alliances with First Nations. English colonies along the Atlantic seaboard, early 1600s, eventually became richer and more populous than New France. France and Great Britain battled for control of North America. British defeated the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham at Québec City — marking the end of France’s empire in America.

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4 Commanders of both armies, Brigadier James Wolfe and the Marquis de Montcalm, were killed leading their troops in battle. The province of Quebec Following the war, Great Britain renamed the colony the “Province of Quebec.” French speaking Catholic people, known as habitants or Canadiens, strove to preserve their way of life in the English-speaking, Protestant-ruled British Empire. A tradition of accommodation To better govern the French Roman Catholic majority, the British Parliament passed the Quebec Act of 1774. One of the constitutional foundations of Canada, the Quebec Act accommodated the principles of British institutions to the reality of the province. It allowed religious freedom for Catholics and permitted them to hold public office, a practice not then allowed in Britain. The Quebec Act restored French civil law while maintaining British criminal law. United empire loyalists In 1776, the 13 British colonies to the south of Quebec declared independence and formed the United States. North America was again divided by war. More than 40,000 people loyal to the Crown, called “Loyalists,” fled the oppression of the American Revolution to settle in Nova Scotia and Quebec. - The term "Loyalists" refers to American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown . Many of them served under the British during the American Revolution Joseph Brant led thousands of Loyalist Mohawk Indians into Canada. Black Nova Scotians, who were given poor land, moved on to establish Freetown, Sierra Leone (West Africa), a new British colony for freed slaves. The Beginnings of Democracy first representative assembly was elected in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1758. Constitutional Act of 1791 divided the Province of Quebec into Upper Canada (later Ontario), which was mainly Loyalist, Protestant and English-speaking, and Lower Canada (later Quebec), heavily Catholic and French-speaking. The Act also granted to the Canadas, for the first time, legislative assemblies elected by the people. - Atlantic colonies and the two Canadas were known collectively as British North America. Abolition of slavery first movement to abolish the transatlantic slave trade emerged in the British Parliament Upper Canada, led by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, a Loyalist military officer, became the first province in the Empire to move toward abolition. In 1807, the British Parliament prohibited the buying and selling of slaves, and in 1833 abolished slavery throughout the Empire. Thousands of slaves escaped from the United States, followed “the North Star” and settled in Canada via the Underground Railroad, a Christian anti-slavery network. A growing economy The first companies in Canada were formed during the French and British regimes and competed for the fur trade.

5 The Hudson’s Bay Company, with French, British and Aboriginal employees, came to dominate the trade in the northwest from Fort Garry (Winnipeg) and Fort Edmonton to Fort Langley (near Vancouver) and Fort Victoria—trading posts that later became cities. For centuries Canada’s economy was based mainly on farming and on exporting natural resources such as fur, fish and timber, transported by roads, lakes, rivers and canals. The War of 1812: The Fight for Canada Believing it would be easy to conquer Canada, the United States launched an invasion in June 1812. The Americans were mistaken. (read p.17) By 1814, the American attempt to conquer Canada had failed. The British paid for a costly Canadian defence system. The present-day Canada-U.S.A. border is partly an outcome of the War of 1812, which ensured that Canada would remain independent of the United States. Rebellions of 1837–38 In the 1830s, reformers in Upper and Lower Canada believed that progress toward full democracy was too slow. Some believed Canada should adopt American republican values or even try to join the United States. When armed rebellions occurred in 1837–38 in the area outside Montreal and in Toronto, the rebels did not have enough public support to succeed. They were defeated by British troops and Canadian volunteers. Lord Durham, an English reformer sent to report on the rebellions, recommended that Upper and Lower Canada be merged and given responsible government. Controversially, Lord Durham also said that the quickest way for the Canadiens to achieve progress was to assimilate into English-speaking Protestant culture. This recommendation demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of French Canadians, who sought to uphold the distinct identity of French Canada. Responsible government Upper and Lower Canada were united as the Province of Canada. Reformers such as Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine and Robert Baldwin, in parallel with Joseph Howe in Nova Scotia, worked with British governors toward responsible government. The first British North American colony to attain full responsible government was Nova Scotia, Lord Elgin, introduced responsible government. This is the system that we have today: if the government loses a confidence vote in the assembly it must resign. La Fontaine, a champion of democracy and French language rights, became the first leader of a responsible government in the Canadas. Confederation 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. ( Fathers of Confederation are the 36 people) They created two levels of government: federal and provincial. The old Province of Canada was split into two new provinces: Ontario and Quebec, which, together with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, formed the new country called the Dominion of Canada. Each province would elect its own legislature and have control of such areas as education and health.

6 - Confederation means the joining of provinces to make a new country . In Canada Confederation was in 1867. The four provinces which first formed Confederation were Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In 1949 the last province to join Canada was Newfoundland and Labrador. British Parliament passed the British North America Act in 1867. The Dominion of Canada was officially born on July 1, 1867. Until 1982, July 1 was celebrated as “Dominion Day” to commemorate the day that Canada became a self-governing Dominion. Today it is officially known as Canada Day. - King George V, who assigned Canada’s national colours (white and red) Dominion from Sea to Sea - Sir Leonard Tilley, an elected official and Father of Confederation from New Brunswick, suggested the term Dominion of Canada in 1864. He was inspired by Psalm 72 in the Bible refers to “dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth.” Canada’s First Prime Minister In 1867, Sir John Alexander Macdonald, a Father of Confederation, became Canada’s first Prime Minister. Parliament has recognized January 11 as Sir John A. Macdonald Day. His portrait is on the $10 bill. Sir George-Étienne Cartier was the key architect of Confederation from Quebec. - close ally of Macdonald and patriotic Canadien, Cartier led Quebec into Confederation and helped negotiate the entry of the Northwest Territories, Manitoba and British Columbia into Canada. Challenge in the west When Canada took over the vast northwest region from the Hudson’s Bay Company, Métis of the Red River were not consulted. In response, Louis Riel led an armed uprising and seized Fort Garry, the territorial capital. Canada’s future was in jeopardy. - a stand against the Government of Canada because it was encroaching on Metis rights and our way-of-life. How could the Dominion reach from sea to sea if it could not control the interior? Ottawa sent soldiers to retake Fort Garry in 1870. Riel fled to the United States and Canada established a new province: Manitoba. Riel was elected to Parliament but never took his seat. Later, as Métis and Indian rights were again threatened by westward settlement, a second rebellion in 1885 in present-day Saskatchewan led to Riel’s trial and execution for high treason, a decision that was strongly opposed in Quebec. Riel is seen by many as a hero, a defender of Métis rights and the father of Manitoba. After the first Métis uprising, Prime Minister Macdonald established the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) Regina became its headquarters. Today, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP or “the Mounties”) are the national police force and one of Canada’s best-known symbols. Some of Canada’s most colourful heroes, such as Major General Sir Sam Steele, came from the ranks of the Mounties. - Sir Sam Steele: A great frontier hero, Mounted Policeman and soldier of the Queen

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7 A Railway from Sea to Sea British Columbia joined Canada in 1871 after Ottawa promised to build a railway to the West Coast. The project was financed by British and American investors and built by both European and Chinese labour. Afterwards the Chinese were subject to discrimination, including the Head Tax, a race-based entry fee Moving westward Canada’s economy grew and became more industrialized during the economic boom of the 1890s and early 1900s. many British and Americans immigrated to Canada at this time. Sir Wilfrid Laurier became the first French Canadian prime minister since Confederation and encouraged immigration to the West The First World War Most Canadians were proud to be part of the British Empire. Over 7,000 volunteered to fight in the South African War (1899–1902), popularly known as the Boer War. Canadians took part in the battles of Paardeberg (“Horse Mountain”) and Lillefontein, victories that strengthened national pride in Canada. When Germany attacked Belgium and France in 1914 and Britain declared war, Ottawa formed the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Victorious Battle of Amiens, which the Germans called “the black day of the German Army. The war strengthened both national and imperial pride, particularly in English Canada. - The Vimy Memorial in France honours those who served and died in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the first British victory of the First World War - Agnes Macphail, a farmer and teacher, became the first woman MP Women get the vote At the time of Confederation, the vote was limited to property-owning adult white males. The effort by women to achieve the right to vote is known as the women’s suffrage movement . Its founder in Canada was Dr. Emily Stowe. - Manitoba became the first province to grant voting rights to women. Federal government of Sir Robert Borden gave women the right to vote in federal elections. In 1918, most Canadian female citizens aged 21 and over were granted the right to vote in federal elections Quebec granted women the vote in 1940. November 11: Remembrance Day. Canadians wear the red poppy and observe a moment of silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to honour the sacrifices of over a million brave men and women who have served. Between the wars After the First World War, the British Empire evolved into a free association of states known as the British Commonwealth of Nations. Canada remains a leading member of the Commonwealth to this day, together with other successor states of the Empire such as India, Australia, etc. The “Roaring Twenties” were boom times, with prosperity for businesses and low unemployment. The stock market crash of 1929, however, led to the Great Depression or the “Dirty Thirties.”

8 The D-Day Invasion, June 6, 1944 In the epic invasion of Normandy in northern France on June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, 15,000 Canadian troops stormed and captured Juno Beach from the German Army. The Second World War The Second World War began in 1939 when Adolf Hitler, the National Socialist (Nazi) dictator of Germany, invaded Poland and conquered much of Europe. More than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders (Newfoundland was a separate British entity) served in the Second World War. Canada contributed more to the Allied air effort than any other Commonwealth country. Second World War, Canada had the third largest navy in the world. State of war and public opinion in B.C. led to the forcible relocation of Canadians of Japanese origin by the federal government and the sale of their property without compensation. Government of Canada apologized in 1988 for wartime wrongs and compensated the victims. Modern Canada The world’s restrictive trading policies in the Depression era were opened up by such treaties as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), now the World Trade Organization (WTO). The discovery of oil in Alberta in 1947 began Canada’s modern energy industry. Canada drew closer to the United States and other trading partners, the country enjoyed one of the strongest economies among industrialized nations. Today, Canadians enjoy one of the world’s highest standards of living—maintained by the hard work of Canadians and by trade with other nations, in particular the United States. As prosperity grew, so did the ability to support social assistance programs. The Canada Health Act ensures common elements and a basic standard of coverage, such as unemployment insurance, old age security, pension plans, education, etc. International engagement Cold War began when several liberated countries of eastern Europe became part of a Communist bloc controlled by the Soviet Union under the dictator Josef Stalin. Canada joined with other democratic countries of the West to form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance, and with the United States in the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD). Canada joined international organizations such as the United Nations (UN). Example, defending South Korea in the Korean War. Canada has taken part in numerous UN peacekeeping missions in places. Canada and Quebec Quebec experienced an era of rapid change in the 1960s known as the Quiet Revolution. Many Quebecers sought to separate from Canada.

9 In 1963 Parliament established the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism . This led to the Official Languages Act (1969), which guarantees French and English services in the federal government across Canada. In 1970, Canada helped found La Francophonie, an international association of French-speaking countries. A Changing Society Most Canadians of Asian descent had in the past been denied the vote in federal and provincial elections. Japanese Canadians gained the right to vote. Aboriginal people were granted the vote. Donovan Bailey became a world record sprinter and double Olympic gold medallist. How Canadians Govern Themselves Federal state There are federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments in Canada. The responsibilities of the federal and provincial governments were defined in 1867 in the British North America Act, now known as the Constitution Act, 1867. In our federal state, the federal government takes responsibility for matters of national and international concern. These include defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency, navigation, criminal law and citizenship. The provinces are responsible for municipal government, education, health, natural resources, property and civil rights, and highways. The federal government and the provinces share jurisdiction over agriculture and immigration. - Federalism allows different provinces to adopt policies tailored to their own populations, and gives provinces the flexibility to experiment with new ideas and policies. Every province has its own elected Legislative Assembly, like the House of Commons in Ottawa. The three northern territories, which have small populations, do not have the status of provinces, but their governments and assemblies carry out many of the same functions. Parliamentary democracy In Canada’s parliamentary democracy, the people elect members to the House of Commons in Ottawa and to the provincial and territorial legislatures. These representatives are responsible for passing laws, approving and monitoring expenditures, and keeping the government accountable. Cabinet ministers are responsible to the elected representatives, which means they must retain the “confidence of the House” and have to resign if they are defeated in a non-confidence vote. Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (Queen or King), the Senate and the House of Commons. Provincial legislatures comprise the Lieutenant Governor and the elected Assembly. In the federal government, the Prime Minister selects the Cabinet ministers and is responsible for the operations and policy of the government. The House of Commons is the representative chamber, made up of members of Parliament elected by the people, traditionally every four years. Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and serve until age 75. Both the House of Commons and the Senate consider and review bills (proposals for new laws). No bill can become law in Canada until it has been passed by both chambers and has received royal assent, granted by the Governor General on behalf of the Sovereign.

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10 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. Her Majesty is a symbol of Canadian sovereignty, a guardian of constitutional freedoms, and a reflection of our history. As Head of the Commonwealth, the Sovereign links Canada to 53 other nations that cooperate to advance social, economic and cultural progress. - 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. Sovereign is represented in Canada by the Governor General, who is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for five years. In each of the ten provinces, the Sovereign is represented by the Lieutenant Governor, who is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, also normally for five years. The interplay between the three branches of government—the Executive, Legislative and Judicial—which work together but also sometimes in creative tension, helps to secure the rights and freedoms of Canadians. Each provincial and territorial government has an elected legislature where provincial and territorial laws are passed. The members of the legislature are called members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), members of the National Assembly (MNAs), members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs) members of the House of Assembly (MHAs), depending on the province or territory. In each province, the Premier has a role similar to that of the Prime Minister in the federal government, just as the Lieutenant Governor has a role similar to that of the Governor General. In the three territories, the Commissioner represents the federal government and plays a ceremonial role. Federal Elections Canadians vote in elections for the people they want to represent them in the House of Commons. Members of the House of Commons are also known as members of Parliament or MPs. Under legislation passed by Parliament, federal elections must be held on the third Monday in October every four years following the most recent general election. The Prime Minister may ask the Governor General to call an earlier election. Canada is divided into 308 electoral districts, also known as ridings or constituencies. An electoral district is a geographical area represented by a member of Parliament (MP). The citizens in each electoral district elect one MP who sits in the House of Commons to represent them, as well as all Canadians. Canadian citizens who are 18 years old or older may run in a federal election. The people who run for office are called candidates. The people in each electoral district vote for the candidate and political party of their choice. The candidate who receives the most votes becomes the MP for that electoral district.

11 Voting One of the privileges of Canadian citizenship is the right to vote. You are eligible to vote in a federal election or cast a ballot in a federal referendum if you are: • a Canadian citizen; and • at least 18 years old on voting day; and • on the voters’ list. The voters’ lists used during federal elections and referendums are produced from the National Register of Electors by a neutral agency of Parliament called Elections Canada. This is a permanent database of Canadian citizens 18 years of age or older who are qualified to vote in federal elections and referendums. Voter information card lists when and where you vote and the number to call if you require an interpreter or other special services. Secret ballot Canadian law secures the right to a secret ballot. This means that no one can watch you vote and no one should look at how you voted. Immediately after the polling stations close, election officers count the ballots and the results are announced on radio and television, and in the newspapers. After an election Ordinarily, after an election, the leader of the political party with the most seats in the House of Commons is invited by the Governor General to form the government. After being appointed by the Governor General, the leader of this party becomes the Prime Minister. 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. The Prime Minister and the party in power run the government as long as they have the support or confidence of the majority of the MPs. When the House of Commons votes on a major issue such as the budget, this is considered a matter of confidence. If a majority of the members of the House of Commons vote against a major government decision, the party in power is defeated, which usually results in the Prime Minister asking the Governor General, on behalf of the Sovereign, to call an election. The Prime Minister chooses the ministers of the Crown, most of them from among members of the House of Commons. Cabinet ministers are responsible for running the federal government departments. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers are called the Cabinet and they make important decisions about how the country is governed. They prepare the budget and propose most new laws The other parties that are not in power are known as opposition parties. The opposition party with the most members of the House of Commons is the Official Opposition or Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. The role of opposition parties is to peacefully oppose or try to improve government proposals.

12 There are three major political parties currently represented in the House of Commons: - Conservative Party - New Democratic Party - Liberal Party. Other levels of government in Canada Local or municipal government plays an important role in the lives of our citizens. - Municipal governments usually have a council that passes laws called “by-laws” that affect only the local community. The council usually includes a mayor (or a reeve) and councillors or aldermen. Municipalities are normally responsible for urban or regional planning, streets and roads, sanitation (such as garbage removal), snow removal, firefighting, ambulance. Provincial, territorial and municipal elections are held by secret ballot, but the rules are not the same as those for federal elections. The First Nations have band chiefs and councillors who have major responsibilities on First Nations reserves, including housing, schools and other services. The Justice System Our judicial system is founded on the presumption of innocence in criminal matters, meaning everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Canada’s legal system is based on a heritage that includes the rule of law, freedom under the law, democratic principles and due process. Canada is governed by an organized system of laws. These laws are the written rules intended to guide people in our society. They are made by elected representatives. The law in Canada applies to everyone, including judges, politicians and the police. Courts 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. Police There are different types of police in Canada. There are provincial police forces in Ontario and Quebec and municipal police departments in all provinces. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) enforce federal laws throughout Canada, and serve as the provincial police in all provinces and territories except Ontario and Quebec, as well as in some municipalities. Canadian Symbols The Canadian Crown Canada has been a constitutional monarchy in its own right since Confederation in 1867 during Queen Victoria’s reign. Crown is a symbol of government, including Parliament, the legislatures, the courts, police services and the Canadian Forces.

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13 Flags in Canada red-white-red pattern comes from the flag of the Royal Military College, Kingston, founded in 1876. Red and white had been colours of France and England since the Middle Ages and the national colours of Canada since 1921. The Union Jack is our official Royal Flag. The maple leaf Maple leaves were adopted as a symbol by French Canadians. The fleur-de-lys It is said that the lily flower (“fleur-de-lys”) was adopted by the French king; symbol of French royalty, including the colony of New France. Revived at Confederation, the fleur-de-lys was included in the Canadian Red Ensign. In 1948 Quebec adopted its own flag, based on the Cross and the fleur- de-lys Coat of arms and motto As an expression of national pride after the First World War, Canada adopted an official coat of arms and a national motto, means “from sea to sea.” The arms contain symbols of England, France, Scotland and Ireland as well as red maple leaves. Parliament building Centre Block was destroyed by an accidental fire in 1916 and rebuilt in 1922. The Library is the only part of the original building remaining. The Peace Tower was completed in 1927 in memory of the First World War. The Memorial Chamber within the Tower contains the Books of Remembrance in which are written the names of soldiers, sailors and airmen who died serving Canada in wars or while on duty. Popular sports Hockey is Canada’s most popular spectator sport and is considered to be the national winter sport Canadian football is the second most popular sport, official summer sport. The beaver The beaver was adopted centuries ago as a symbol of the Hudson’s Bay Company. (five-cent coin) Canada’s official languages English and French are the two official languages and are important symbols of identity. Parliament passed the Official Languages Act in 1969. It has three main objectives: • Establish equality between French and English in Parliament, the Government of Canada and institutions subject to the Act; • Maintain and develop official language minority communities in Canada; and

14 • Promote equality of French and English in Canadian society. O Canada national anthem was proclaimed as the national anthem in 1980. It was first sung in Québec City in 1880. The Order of Canada and other honours Official awards are called honours, consisting of orders, decorations and medals. After using British honours for many years, Canada started its own honours system with the Order of Canada in 1967, the centennial of Confederation. The Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (V.C.) is the highest honour available to Canadians and is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery, a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. Canada’s Economy A trading nation Canada has always been a trading nation and commerce remains the engine of economic growth. As Canadians, we could not maintain our standard of living without engaging in trade with other nations. In 1988, Canada enacted free trade with the United States. Mexico became a partner in 1994 in the broader North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Today, Canada has one of the ten largest economies in the world and is part of the G8 group of leading industrialized countries with the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Japan and Russia. Canada’s economy includes three main types of industries: • Service industries _ provide thousands of different jobs in areas like transportation, education, health care, construction, banking, communications, retail services, tourism and government. • Manufacturing industries make products to sell in Canada and around the world. Our largest international trading partner is the United States. • Natural resources industries include forestry, fishing, agriculture, mining and energy. - These industries have played an important part in the country’s history and development. - Today, the economy of many areas of the country still depends on developing natural resources, and a large percentage of Canada’s exports are natural resources commodities. Canada enjoys close relations with the United States and each is the other’s largest trading partner. Over three-quarters of Canadian exports are destined for the U.S.A. In fact we have the biggest bilateral trading relationship in the world. Canada exports billions of dollars worth of energy products, industrial goods, machinery, equipment, automotive, agricultural, fishing and forestry products, and consumer goods every year. Millions of Canadians and Americans cross every year and in safety what is traditionally known as “the world’s longest undefended border.” - inscribed with the words “children of a common mother”, symbolizes our close ties and common interests. Canada’s Regions Canada is the second largest country on earth—10 million square kilometres.

15 Three oceans line Canada’s frontiers : - Pacific Ocean in the west - Atlantic Ocean in the east - Arctic Ocean to the north Along the southern edge of Canada lies the Canada-United States boundary. Both Canada and the U.S.A. are committed to a safe, secure and efficient frontier. The Regions of Canada Canada includes many different geographical areas and five distinct regions . • The Atlantic Provinces • Central Canada • The Prairie Provinces • The West Coast • The Northern Territories The National Capital Ottawa, located on the Ottawa River, was chosen as the capital in 1857 by Queen Victoria, the great-great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II. Today it is Canada’s fourth largest metropolitan area. Provinces and Territories Canada has ten provinces and three territories. Each province and territory has its own capital city. Canada's three territories: (Located North Region) - Yukon - Northwest Territories, - Nunavut They are granted their powers through federal legislation instead of through the Canadian constitution. Regions & 10 Provinces: Prairie Provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba Atlantic Provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island Central Canada: Ontario , Quebec. A province is created due to a constitutional act. A territory comes into existence through the determination of federal law. Thing that differentiate a Territory from a province are: A large Geographic Area with a relatively small population; and. Federal Acts that control the existence and powers of local governments.

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16 Population Canada has a population of about 34 million people. Quebec Nearly eight million people live in Quebec, the vast majority along or near the St. Lawrence River. More than three-quarters speak French as their first language. The resources of the Canadian Shield have helped Quebec to develop important industries, including forestry, energy and mining. Quebec is Canada’s main producer of pulp and paper. The province’s huge supply of fresh water has made it Canada’s largest producer of hydro-electricity Montreal, Canada’s second largest city and the second largest mainly French-speaking city in the world after Paris, is famous for its cultural diversity.