The only official study guide for the citizenship test is Discover Canada: The Rights and
Responsibilities of Citizenship, available from Citizenship and Immigration Canada website at no
cost. Here is the link to the official document (Discover Canada).
This website extracted most of the materials from the official document and highlighted the
important topics and names. We highly recommend you to read the official document first and
use this document for quick reviews.
In addition, we highly recommend you to try few sample tests before your actual exam. Here is
one sample test provider (https://www.yourlibrary.ca/citizenship/). When visiting the yourlibrary
website, please choose your province and review All questions with their correct answers.
Good Luck! :)
Applying for Citizenship
Canada is a constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy and a federal state.
Immigrants between the ages of 18 and 54 must have adequate knowledge of English
or French in order to become Canadian citizens.
Adult applicants 55 years of age and over do not need to write the citizenship test.
Applying for Citizenship
If you pass the test and meet all the other requirements, you will receive a Notice to Appear
to Take the Oath of Citizenship.
At the ceremony, you will:
● Take the Oath of Citizenship
● Sign the oath form
● Receive your Canadian Citizenship Certificate
If you do not pass the test, you will receive a notification indicating the next steps.
Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
These are the sources of the Canadian law:
● Laws passed by Parliament
● Provincial legislatures
● English common law
● The civil code of France and the unwritten constitution that we have
inherited from Great Britain
Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
Magna Carta (or Great Charter of Freedoms) was signed in 1215 and it includes:
● 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 is the right to challenge unlawful detention by the state, and it comes from English
common law.
Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
The Constitution of Canada was amended in 1982 to entrench the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms and it begins with words:
"Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the
rule of law."
The Charter Rights
● 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.
The Equality of Women and Men
In Canada, men and women are equal under the law.
Practices such as spousal abuse, “honour killings,” female genital mutilation, forced marriage or
other gender-based violence are severely punished under Canada’s criminal laws.
Citizenship Responsibilities
● Obeying the law, no person or group is above the law
● Taking responsibility for oneself and one’s family like getting a job
● 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, like avoiding waste and
pollution while protecting Canada’s natural, cultural and architectural heritage for future
generations
Defending Canada
There is no compulsory military service in Canada.
Serving in the regular Canadian Forces (navy, army and air force) is a noble way to contribute to
Canada and an excellent career choice.
Canadians
Canada is the only constitutional monarchy in North America.
3 founding peoples of Canada:
● Aboriginal
● French
● British
Aboriginal peoples
The ancestors of Aboriginal peoples are believed to have migrated from Asia many
thousands of years ago.
Today, the term Aboriginal peoples refers to 3 distinct groups:
● Indian or First Nations (all Aboriginal people who are not Inuit or Métis)
● Inuit, means "the people" in the Inuktitut language
● Métis, mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry (French and English backgrounds), the majority
of whom live in the Prairie provinces
In the 1970s, the term First Nations began to be used.
Aboriginal peoples
● Indians or First Nations: 65%
● Metis: 30%
● Intuit: 4%
● Others: 1%
English and French
The federal government is required by law to provide services throughout Canada in English and
French.
Today, there are 18 million Anglophones (people who speak English as a first language) and
7 million Francophones (people who speak French as their first language).
New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.
The Acadians are the descendants of French colonists who began settling in what are now
the Maritime provinces in 1604.
Quebecers are the people of Quebec, the vast majority French-speaking.
Diversity in Canada
Canada is often referred to as a land of immigrants because, over the past 200 years,
millions of newcomers have helped to build and defend our way of life.
The largest groups are the English, French, Scottish, Irish, German, Italian, Chinese, Aboriginal,
Ukrainian, Dutch, South Asian and Scandinavian.
Chinese languages are the second most-spoken at home, after English, in two of Canada’s
biggest cities:
● Vancouver: 13% of the population speak Chinese languages at home
● Toronto: 7% of the population speak Chinese languages at home
Diversity in Canada
The great majority of Canadians identify as Christians and the largest religious affiliation
is Catholic.
Other religions such as Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and members of other religions, as
well as people who state “no religion” are also growing.
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
Europeans called native people Indian because the first explorers thought they
had reached the East Indies.
The Vikings from Iceland reached Labrador and the island of Newfoundland. The remains of
their settlement, l’Anse aux Meadows, are a World Heritage site.
John Cabot, was the first to draw a map of Canada’s East Coast.
Jacques Cartier was the first European to explore the St. Lawrence River and to set eyes on
present-day Québec City and Montreal.
Canada’s History
Kanata in Iroquoian, means "village". By the 1550s, the name of Canada (adopted from Kanata)
began appearing on maps.
In 1604, the first European settlement north of Florida was established by French explorers Pierre de
Monts and Samuel de Champlain.
The French and Aboriginal people collaborated in the vast fur-trade economy, driven by the
demand for beaver pelts in Europe.
Quebec Act of 1774, restored French civil law while maintaining British criminal law.
Canada’s History
In 1776, the 13 British colonies to the south of Quebec declared independence and formed the
United States.
After the independence declaration, 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.
About 3,000 black Loyalists,freedmen and slaves came north seeking a better life.
In 1792, some 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
The 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 and the name Canada also became official at this time.
The first movement to abolish the transatlantic slave trade emerged in the British Parliament in
the late 1700s. Upper Canada, led by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, a Loyalist
military officer, became the first province in the Empire to move toward abolition.
A growing economy
The first companies in Canada were formed during the French and British regimes and
competed for the fur trade.
The Hudson’s Bay Company dominated 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.
The Montreal Stock Exchange opened in 1832.
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
United States launched an invasion in June 1812 to conquer Canada.
● In July of 1812, Major-General Sir Isaac Brock captured Detroit
● In 1813, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles de Salaberry and 460 soldiers, mostly French Canadiens,
turned back 4,000 American invaders at Châteauguay, south of Montreal
The War of 1812: The Fight for Canada
● In 1813 the Americans burned Government House and the Parliament Buildings in York (now
Toronto)
● In retaliation in 1814, Major-General Robert Ross led an expedition from Nova Scotia that burned
down the White House and other public buildings in Washington, D.C.
By 1814, the American attempt to conquer Canada had failed.
Rebellions of 1837–38
The armed rebellions occurred in 1837–38 in the area outside Montreal and in Toronto. The
rebels did not have enough public support to succeed and 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. This recommendation demonstrated
a complete lack of understanding of French Canadians, who sought to uphold the distinct identity of
French Canada.
Responsible government
In 1840, Upper and Lower Canada were united as the Province of Canada.
The first British North American colony to attain full responsible government was Nova Scotia
in 1847–48.
Lord Elgin, with encouragement from London, introduced responsible government and 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 Canada.
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.
Two levels of government was created: federal and provincial.
The old Province of Canada was split into two new provinces: Ontario and Quebec together
with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia formed the new country called the Dominion of Canada.
The Dominion of Canada was officially born on July 1, 1867. Today July 1st is officially
known as Canada Day.
Canada’s First Prime Minister
In 1867, Sir John Alexander Macdonald, a Father of Confederation, became Canada’s first Prime
Minister. January 11th is recognized 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. Cartier led
Quebec into Confederation and helped negotiate the entry of the Northwest Territories, Manitoba
and British Columbia into Canada.
Challenge in the west
After taking the vast northwest region by Canada without consulting the Métis, Louis Riel
led an armed uprising and seized Fort Garry (now Winnipeg), the territorial capital.
Ottawa sent soldiers to retake Fort Garry in 1870. Riel fled to the United States and
Canada established a new province: Manitoba.
Louis Riel is seen by many as a hero, a defender of Métis rights and the father of Manitoba.
Louis Riel was executed for high treason, a decision that was strongly opposed in Quebec
Challenge in the west
After the first Métis uprising, Prime Minister Macdonald established the North West Mounted
Police (NWMP) in 1873 to pacify the West and assist in negotiations with the Indians.
The NWMP founded Fort Calgary, Fort MacLeod and other centres that today are cities and towns.
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.
A Railway from Sea to Sea
British Columbia joined Canada in 1871 after Ottawa promised to build a railway to the West Coast.
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 railway project was financed by British and American investors and built by both European and
Chinese labour (mostly Chinese).
After project complextion, the Chinese were subject to discrimination, including the Head Tax, a race-
based entry fee. The Government of Canada apologized in 2006 for this discriminatory policy.
Moving westward
During 1890s and early 1900s one million British and one million 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. His portrait is on the $5 bill.
The railway made it possible for immigrants, including 170,000 Ukrainians, 115,000 Poles and tens
of thousands from Germany, France, Norway and Sweden to settle in the West before 1914 and
develop a thriving agricultural sector.
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, and over 260 died. In
1900, 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 (later the Canadian Corps). More than 600,000 Canadians served in
the war, most of them volunteers, out of a total population of 8 million.
The First World War
Canada shared in the tragedy and triumph of the Western Front. The Canadian Corps captured
Vimy Ridge in April 1917 (first British victory of the First World War), with 10,000 killed or
wounded. April 9 is celebrated as Vimy Day.
The Vimy Memorial in France honours those who served and died in the Battle of Vimy Ridge
on April 9, 1917, the first British victory of the First World War.
The First World War
In 1918, under the command of General Sir Arthur Currie, Canada’s greatest soldier, the Canadian
Corps advanced alongside the French and British Empire troops in the last hundred days. These
included the victorious Battle of Amiens on August 8, 1918–which the Germans called “the black
day of the German Army”, followed by Arras, Canal du Nord, Cambrai and Mons.
With Germany and Austria’s surrender, the war ended in the Armistice on November 11, 1918.
In total 60,000 Canadians were killed and 170,000 wounded.
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.
Dr. Emily Stowe, was the found of the suffrage movement in Canada and the first Canadian
woman to practise medicine in Canada.
Manitoba is the first province to grant voting rights to women (in 1916).
In 1917, the federal government of Sir Robert Borden gave women the right to vote in federal
elections, first to nurses at the battle front, then to women who were related to men in active
wartime service.
Women get the vote
In 1918, most Canadian female citizens aged 21 and over were granted the right to vote in federal
elections.
In 1921 Agnes Macphail, a farmer and teacher, became the first woman MP.
Due to the work of Thérèse Casgrain and others, Quebec granted women the vote in 1940.
November 11: Remembrance Day
Each year on November 11 (called 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, and the 110,000 who have
given their lives.
Canadian medical officer Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae composed the poem "In
Flanders Fields" in 1915.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the
sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below…...
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.
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".
Unemployment reached 27% in 1933 and many businesses were wiped out. Farmers in Western
Canada were hit hardest by low grain prices and a terrible drought.
Between the wars
There was growing demand for the government to create a social safety net with minimum wages,
a standard work week and programs such as unemployment insurance.
The Bank of Canada, a central bank to manage the money supply and bring stability to the financial
system, was created in 1934.
Immigration dropped and many refugees were turned away, including Jews trying to flee Nazi
Germany in 1939.
The D-Day Invasion, June 6, 1944
In order to defeat Nazism and Fascism, the Allies invaded Nazi-occupied Europe. Canadians
took part in the liberation of Italy in 1943–44.
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, which a great
national achievement.
Approximately one in ten Allied soldiers on D-Day was Canadian.
The Canadian Army liberated the Netherlands in 1944–45 and helped force the German
surrender of May 8, 1945, bringing to an end six years of war in Europe.
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 1 million Canadians (out of 11.5 million population) and Newfoundlanders (Newfoundland
was a separate British entity) served in the Second World War. 44,000 were killed in the war.
The Canadians fought bravely and suffered losses in the unsuccessful defence of Hong Kong (1941)
from attack by Imperial Japan, and in a failed raid on Nazi-controlled Dieppe on the coast of France
(1942).
The Second World War
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) took part in the Battle of Britain.
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) saw its finest hour in the Battle of the Atlantic, protecting convoys
of merchant ships against German submarines.
At the end of the Second World War, Canada had the 3rd largest navy in the world.
The Second World War
In the Pacific war, Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands, attacked a lighthouse on Vancouver
Island, launched fire balloons over B.C. and the Prairies, and grossly maltreated Canadian
prisoners of war captured at Hong Kong.
Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945, the end of four years of war in the Pacific.
After the war, the 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.
The Government of Canada apologized in 1988 for wartime wrongs and compensated the victims.
Modern Canada
After the Second World War Canada enjoyed record prosperity and material progress.
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.
In 1951, for the first time, a majority of Canadians were able to afford adequate food, shelter and
clothing.
Modern Canada
The Canada Health Act ensures common elements and a basic standard of coverage.
Unemployment insurance (now called "employment insurance") was introduced by the federal
government in 1940.
Old Age Security was devised as early as 1927, and the Canada and Quebec Pension Plans in 1965.
Publicly funded education is provided by the provinces and territories.
International engagement
The 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). Canada participated in
the UN operation defending South Korea in the Korean War (1950–53), with 500 dead and 1,000
wounded.
Canada and Quebec
French-Canadian society and culture flourished in the postwar years.
Quebec experienced an era of rapid change in the 1960s known as the Quiet Revolution.
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.
In 1948 the last of these, the Japanese-Canadians, gained the right to vote.
Aboriginal people were granted the vote in 1960.
Today every citizen over the age of 18 may vote.
Arts and culture in Canada
Canadian artists have a long history of achievement in which Canadians take pride.
Men and women of letters included Stephen Leacock, Louis Hémon, Sir Charles G.D. Roberts,
Pauline Johnson, Émile Nelligan, Robertson Davies, Margaret Laurence and Mordecai Richler.
Musicians such as Sir Ernest MacMillan and Healey Willan won renown in Canada and abroad.
Writers such as Joy Kogawa, Michael Ondaatje and Rohinton Mistry have diversified Canada’s
literary experience.
Arts and culture in Canada
Canada is historically is known for the Group of Seven in visual arts. Group of Seven (developed in
1920) is a style of painting to capture the rugged wilderness landscapes.
Emily Carr painted the forests and Aboriginal artifacts of the West Coast.
Les Automatistes of Quebec were pioneers of modern abstract art in the 1950s, most notably Jean-
Paul Riopelle.
Quebec’s Louis-Philippe Hébert was a celebrated sculptor of historical figures. Kenojuak Ashevak
pioneered modern Inuit art with etchings, prints and soapstone sculptures.
Arts and culture in Canada
The films of Denys Arcand have been popular in Quebec and across the country, and have won
international awards.
Other noteworthy Canadian filmmakers include Norman Jewison and Atom Egoyan.
Sports
Basketball was invented by Canadian James Naismith in 1891.
In 1996 at the Olympic Summer Games, Donovan Bailey became a world record sprinter and
double Olympic gold medallist. Chantal Petitclerc became a world champion wheelchair racer
and Paralympic gold medalist.
Wayne Gretzky, one of the greatest hockey players of all time, played for the Edmonton Oilers from
1979 to 1988.
Sports
In 1980, Terry Fox, a British Columbian who lost his right leg to cancer at the age of 18, began a
cross-country run, the "Marathon of Hope," to raise money for cancer research.
In 1985, fellow British Columbian Rick Hansen circled the globe in a wheelchair to raise funds for
spinal cord research.
Science and technology
Since 1989, the Canadian Space Agency and Canadian astronauts have participated in space
exploration, often using the Canadian-designed and built Canadarm
Gerhard Herzberg, a refugee from Nazi Germany, John Polanyi, Sidney Altman, Richard E. Taylor,
Michael Smith and Bertram Brockhouse were Nobel Prize-winning scientists.
Great canadian discoveries and inventions
Canadians have made various discoveries and inventions. Some of the most famous are listed
below:
● Alexander Graham Bell, hit on the idea of the telephone at his summer house in Canada.
● Joseph-Armand Bombardier, invented the snowmobile, a light-weight winter vehicle.
● Sir Sandford Fleming, invented the worldwide system of standard time zones.
● Matthew Evans and Henry Woodward, together invented the first electric light bulb and later
sold the patent to Thomas Edison who, more famously, commercialized the light bulb.
Great canadian discoveries and inventions
Canadians have made various discoveries and inventions. Some of the most famous are listed
below:
● Reginald Fessenden, contributed to the invention of radio, sending the first wireless voice
message in the world.
● Dr. Wilder Penfield, was a pioneering brain surgeon at McGill University in Montreal, and was
known as "the greatest living Canadian."
● Dr. John A. Hopps, invented the first cardiac pacemaker, used today to save the lives of people
with heart disorders.
Great canadian discoveries and inventions
Canadians have made various discoveries and inventions. Some of the most famous are listed
below:
● SPAR Aerospace / National Research Council, invented the Canadarm, a robotic arm used in
outer space.
● Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, of Research in Motion (RIM), a wireless communications
company known for its most famous invention: the BlackBerry.
● Sir Frederick Banting of Toronto and Charles Best discovered insulin, a hormone to treat
diabetes that has saved 16 million lives worldwide
How Canadians Govern Themselves
Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy.
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.
The federal government takes responsibility for matters of national and international concern. For
example: defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency,
navigation, criminal law and citizenship.
How Canadians Govern Themselves
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.
How Canadians Govern Themselves
Every province has its own elected Legislative Assembly, like the House of Commons in Ottawa.
In Canada’s parliamentary democracy, the people elect members or representatives 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.
How Canadians Govern Themselves
Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (Queen or King), the Senate and the House of
Commons.
In the federal government, the Prime Minister selects the Cabinet ministers and is
responsible for the operations and policy of the government.
House of Commons is the representative chamber, made up of members of Parliament elected
by the people, traditionally every 4 years.
Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and serve
until age 75.
How Canadians Govern Themselves
Proposal for a new law is called bill.
Both the House of Commons and the Senate consider and review bills.
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.
It is important for Canadians aged 18 or more to participate in their democracy by voting in
federal, provincial or territorial and municipal elections.
Making laws
1. First Reading, the bill is considered read for the first time and is printed
2. Second Reading, members debate the bill’s principle
3. Committee Stage, committee members study the bill clause by clause
4. Report Stage, members can make other amendments
5. Third Reading, members debate and vote on the bill
6. Senate, the bill follows a similar process in the Senate
7. Royal Assent, the bill receives royal assent after being passed by both Houses
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.
As Head of the Commonwealth, the Sovereign links Canada to 53 other nations that cooperate to
advance social, economic and cultural progress.
Other constitutional monarchies include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, The
Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, Japan, Jordan and Morocco.
Constitutional monarchy
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.
The Sovereign is represented in Canada by the Governor General, who is appointed by the
Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for 5 years.
In each of the 10 provinces of Canada, 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 5
years.
Constitutional monarchy
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) or 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 3 territories, the Commissioner represents the federal government and plays a ceremonial role.
Canada’s System of
Government
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.
Federal elections must be held on the 3rd Monday in October every 4 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).
Federal Elections
Canadian citizens who are 18 years old or older may run in a federal election. The people who
run for office are called candidates.
One of the privileges of Canadian citizenship is the right to vote. You are eligible to vote if you
are:
● a Canadian citizen
● at least 18 years old on voting day
● on the voters' list
Federal Elections
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.
Once an election has been called, Elections Canada mails a voter information card to each
elector whose name is in the National Register of Electors.
The card lists when and where you vote and the number to call if you require an interpreter or
other special services.
Federal Elections
Even if you choose not to be listed in the National Register of Electors or do not receive a voter
information card, you can still be added to the voters' list at any time, including on election day.
To vote either on election day or at advance polls, go to the polling station listed on your voter
information card.
Secret ballot
Canadian law secures the right to a secret ballot or process of voting.
Secret ballot means that no one can watch you vote and no one should look at how you voted.
You may choose to discuss how you voted with others, but 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
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.
Majority government, when the party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of
Commons.
Minority government, when the party in power holds less than half of the seats in the House
of Commons.
After an election
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.
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.
After an election
The Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers are called the Cabinet and they make important
decisions about how the country is governed.
The other parties that are not in power are known as opposition parties. The role of opposition
parties is to peacefully oppose or try to improve government proposals.
3 major political parties that are currently represented in the House of Common are:
● Conservative Party
● New Democratic Party
● Liberal Party
Voting procedures during an election period
Electors whose information is in the National Register of Electors will receive a voter information
card. This confirms that your name is on the voters’ list and states when and where you vote.
If you do not receive a voter information card, call your local elections office to ensure that you are
on the voters’ list.
If you cannot or do not wish to vote on election day, you can vote at the advance polls or by special
ballot. The dates and location are on your voter information card.
On election day, go to your polling station. The location is on your voter information card. Bring the
voter information card and proof of your identity and address to the polling station.
Voting procedures during an election period
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.
When the polls close, every ballot is counted and the results are made public. You can see the
results on television or on the Elections Canada website (www.elections.ca).
Other levels of government in Canada
Local or municipal government plays an important role in the lives of Canadian citizens.
Municipal governments usually have a council that passes laws called "by-laws" that affect only the
local community.
Municipalities are normally responsible for urban or regional planning, streets and roads, sanitation
(such as garbage removal), snow removal, firefighting, ambulance and other emergency services,
recreation facilities, public transit and some local health and social services.
Provincial, territorial and municipal elections are held by secret ballot, but the rules are not the same
as those for federal elections.
Other levels of government in Canada
The First Nations have band chiefs and councillors who have major responsibilities on First
Nations reserves, including housing, schools and other services.
Levels of government in Canada
Government
Elected Officials
Some Responsibilities
Federal
Members of Parliament
(MPs)
National Defence, Foreign Policy, Citizenship, Policing,
Criminal Justice,
International Trade, Aboriginal Affairs, Immigration
(
shared), Agriculture (shared), Environment (shared)
Provincial and
Territorial
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)
Education, Health Care, Natural Resources, Highways,
Policing (Ontario, Quebec), Property and Civil Rights,
Immigration (
shared), Agriculture (shared
), Environment
(
shared)
Municipal (local)
Mayor or Reeve, Councillors or Aldermen
Social and Community Health, Recycling Programs,
Transportation and Utilities, Snow Removal, Policing,
Firefighting, Emergency Services
How Much Do You Know About Your Government?
● Head of State is _
● The name of the representative of the Queen of Canada, the Governor General, is _
● The Head of Government, the Prime Minister, is _
● The name of the political party in power is _
● The name of the Leader of the Opposition is _
● The name of the party representing Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition is _
● The names of the other opposition parties and leaders are _
● My member of Parliament (MP) in Ottawa is _
● My federal electoral district is called _
Answer these before your exam, please look up the answers for your location and current date.
How Much Do You Know About Your Government?
● The representative of the Queen in my province, the Lieutenant Governor, is _
● The Head of Government (the Premier) is _
● The name of the provincial party in power is _
● The names of the provincial opposition parties and leaders are _
● My provincial representative is _
● The name of the Commissioner, who represents the federal government in my territory, is__
● The name of the Premier is_
● The name of my territorial representative is_
Answer these before your exam, please look up the answers for your location and current date.
How Much Do You Know About Your Government?
● The name of the municipality where I live is _
● The name of the head of the municipal government (mayor or reeve) is _
Answer these before your exam.
The Justice System
The Canadian justice system guarantees everyone due process under the law. The justice system is
founded on the presumption of innocence in criminal matters, meaning everyone is innocent until
proven guilty.
Canada is governed by an organized system of laws. These laws are the written rules intended
to guide people in our society.
The courts settle disputes and the police enforce the laws.
The law in Canada applies to everyone, including judges, politicians and the police.
Courts
The Supreme Court of Canada is Canada'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
The police are there to keep people safe and to enforce the law. You can ask the police for help
in all kinds of situations
There are provincial police forces in Ontario and Quebec and municipal police departments in all
provinces.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) enforces federal laws throughout Canada, and
serves as the provincial police in all provinces and territories except Ontario and Quebec, as well as in
some municipalities.
You can also question the police about their service or conduct if you feel you need to.
Lawyers can help you with legal problems and act for you in court. If you cannot pay for a lawyer,
in most communities there are legal aid services available free of charge or at a low cost.
Canadian Symbols
The Crown has been a symbol of the state in Canada for 400 years.
Queen Elizabeth II, who has been Queen of Canada since 1952, marked her Golden Jubilee
in 2002, and celebrates her Diamond Jubilee (60 years as Sovereign) in 2012. The Crown is a
symbol of government, including Parliament, the legislatures, the courts, police services and the
Canadian Forces.
A new Canadian flag was raised for the first time in 1965. The 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.
Canadian Symbols
The Union Jack (or flag of the United Kingdom) is Canada's official Royal Flag. The
Canadian Red Ensign served as the Canadian flag for about 100 years.
The provinces and territories also have flags that embody their distinct traditions.
The maple leaf (symbol of national identity) is Canada’s best-known symbol. Maple leaves were
adopted as a symbol by French Canadians in the 1700s.
Maple leaf appeared on Canadian uniforms and insignia since the 1850s, and are carved into the
headstones of Canada's fallen soldiers buried overseas and in Canada.
Canadian Symbols
Fleur-de-lys, it is said that the lily flower (“fleur-de-lys”) was adopted by the French king in the year
496. It became the symbol of French royalty for more than 1,000 years, including the colony of New
France.
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, A mari usque ad mare, which in Latin means
"from sea to sea."
Parliament buildings
The towers, arches, sculptures and stained glass of the Parliament Buildings (in Ottawa) embody the
French, English and Aboriginal traditions and the Gothic Revival architecture popular in the time of
Queen Victoria. The buildings were completed in the 1860s.
The 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.
Parliament buildings
The provincial legislatures are architectural treasures. The Quebec National Assembly is built in the
French Second Empire style, while the legislatures of the other provinces are Baroque,
Romanesque and neoclassical, reflecting the Greco-Roman heritage of Western civilization in
which democracy originated.
Popular sports
Hockey is Canada’s most popular spectator sport and is considered to be the national winter
sport. Ice hockey was developed in Canada in the 1800s.
The National Hockey League plays for the championship Stanley Cup, donated by Lord Stanley,
the Governor General, in 1892.
The Clarkson Cup, established in 2005 by Adrienne Clarkson, the 26th Governor General (and
the first of Asian origin), is awarded for women’s hockey.
Canadian football is the second most popular sport. Curling, an ice game introduced by Scottish
pioneers, is popular.
Lacrosse, an ancient sport first played by Aboriginals, is the official summer sport.
Soccer has the most registered players of any game in Canada.
The beaver
The beaver was adopted centuries ago as a symbol of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Beaver became an emblem of the St. Jean Baptiste Society, a French-Canadian patriotic
association, in 1834, and was also adopted by other groups.
This industrious rodent can be seen on the five-cent coin, on the coats of arms of Saskatchewan
and Alberta, and of cities such as Montreal and Toronto.
Canada’s official languages
English and French are the two official languages and are important symbols of identity.
You must have adequate knowledge of English or French to become a Canadian citizen. Adult
applicants 55 years of age or over are exempted from this requirement.
Parliament passed the Official Languages Act in 1969. It has 3 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
● Promote equality of French and English in Canadian society.
National Anthem
O Canada was proclaimed as the national anthem in 1980. It was first sung in Québec City in
1880. French and English Canadians sing different words to the national anthem.
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command
With glowing hearts we see thee rise
The true North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada
We stand on guard for thee
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee
Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Royal Anthem
The Royal Anthem of Canada, "God Save the Queen (or King)," can be played or sung on any
occasion when Canadians wish to honour the Sovereign.
God save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen!
Dieu protège la Reine!
De sa main souveraine!
Vive la Reine!
Qu’un règne glorieux,
Long et victorieux,
Rende son peuple heureux,
Vive la Reine!
The Order of Canada and other honours
All countries have ways to recognize outstanding citizens. 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 (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. The V.C. has been awarded to 96 Canadians since 1854.
Lieutenant Alexander Roberts Dunn was the first Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
The Order of Canada and other honours
Able Seaman William Hall of Horton, Nova Scotia, whose parents were American slaves, was the
first black man to be awarded the V.C. for his role in the Siege of Lucknow during the Indian
Rebellion of 1857.
Corporal Filip Konowal, born in Ukraine, showed exceptional courage in the Battle of Hill 70 in
1917, and became the first member of the Canadian Corps not born in the British Empire to be
awarded the V.C.
Flying ace Captain Billy Bishop, born in Owen Sound, Ontario, earned the V.C. in the Royal
Flying Corps during the First World War, and was later an honorary Air Marshal of the Royal
Canadian Air Force.
The Order of Canada and other honours
Captain Paul Triquet of Cabano, Quebec, earned the V.C. leading his men and a handful of tanks
in the attack on Casa Berardi in Italy in 1943 during the Second World War, and was later a
Brigadier.
Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, a navy pilot born in Trail, B.C., was killed while bombing
and sinking a Japanese warship in August 1945, a few days before the end of the Second World
War, and was the last Canadian to receive the V.C. to date.
National Public Holidays and Other Important Dates
New Year’s Day, January 1
Sir John A. Macdonald Day, January 11
Good Friday, Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday
Easter Monday, Monday immediately following Easter Sunday
Vimy Day, April 9
Victoria Day, Monday preceding May 25 (Sovereign’s birthday)
Fête nationale (Quebec) ,June 24 (Feast of St. John the Baptist)
Canada Day, July 1
Labour Day, First Monday of September
Thanksgiving Day, Second Monday of October
Remembrance Day, November 11
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day, November 20
Christmas Day, December 25
Boxing Day, December 26
Canada’s Economy
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), with over 444 million people and
over $1 trillion in merchandise trade in 2008.
Today, Canada has one of the 10 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.
Three main types of industries in Canada
1- Service industries provide thousands of different jobs in areas like transportation, education,
health care, construction, banking, communications, retail services, tourism and government.
More than 75% of working Canadians now have jobs in service industries.
2- Manufacturing industries make products to sell in Canada and around the world. Manufactured
products include paper, high technology equipment, aerospace technology, automobiles, machinery,
food, clothing and many other goods. Canada's largest international trading partner is the United
States.
3- Natural resources industries include forestry, fishing, agriculture, mining and energy. 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’s Economy
Over three-quarters (75%) of Canadian exports are destined for the U.S.A. In fact Canada has the
biggest bilateral trading relationship in the world.
At Blaine in the State of Washington, the Peace Arch, inscribed with the words “children of a
common mother” and “brethren dwelling together in unity,” symbolizes our close ties and
common interests.
Canada exports billions of dollars worth of energy products, industrial goods, machinery, equipment,
automotive, agricultural, fishing and forestry products, and consumer goods every year.
Canada’s Regions
Canada is the 2nd largest country on earth with 10 million square kilometres area.
3 oceans line Canada's frontiers: the Pacific Ocean in the west, the Atlantic Ocean in the east,
and the 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.
Canada’s Regions
Canada includes many different geographical areas and five distinct regions:
● The Atlantic Provinces
● Central Canada
● The Prairie Provinces
● The West Coast
● The Northern Territories
Ottawa, located on the Ottawa River, was chosen as the capital of Canada in 1857 by Queen
Victoria, the great-great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II. Ottawa is Canada’s 4th largest
metropolitan area.
Canada’s Regions
Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories. Each province and territory has its own capital city. You
should know the capital of your province or territory as well as that of Canada. Toronto is the capital
of Ontario.
The Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Nunavut are Canada's 3 territories.
Canada has a population of about 34 million people. While the majority live in cities, Canadians also
live in small towns, rural areas and everywhere in between.
Canada’s Regions
Canada’s
Map
The Atlantic provinces
The Atlantic Canada’s coasts and natural resources, including fishing, farming, forestry and mining, have
made these provinces an important part of Canada’s history and development.
The Atlantic Ocean brings cool winters and cool humid summers
Newfoundland and Labrador is the most easterly point in North America and has its own time
zone. The province has a unique heritage linked to the sea and is known for its fisheries, coastal
fishing villages and distinct culture. Today offshore oil and gas extraction contributes a substantial
part of the economy. Labrador also has immense hydro-electric resources.
Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) is the smallest province, known for its beaches, red soil and
agriculture, especially potatoes. P.E.I. is the birthplace of Confederation, connected to mainland
Canada by one of the longest continuous multispan bridges in the world, the Confederation
Bridge.
The Atlantic provinces
Anne of Green Gables, set in P.E.I. by Lucy Maud Montgomery, is a much-loved story about the
adventures of a little red-headed orphan girl.
Nova Scotia (capital is Halifax) is the most populous Atlantic Province, with a rich history as the
gateway to Canada. Known for the world’s highest tides in the Bay of Fundy, the province’s identity
is linked to shipbuilding, fisheries and shipping.
Halifax has played an important role in Atlantic trade and defence and is home to Canada’s largest
naval base.
Nova Scotia has a long history of coal mining, forestry and agriculture. Today there is also offshore oil
and gas exploration.
Nova Scotia is home to over 700 annual festivals, including the spectacular military tattoo in Halifax.
The Atlantic provinces
New Brunswick was founded by the United Empire Loyalists and has the second largest river
system on North America’s Atlantic coastline, the St. John River system.
Forestry, agriculture, fisheries, mining, food processing and tourism are the principal industries.
Saint John is the largest city, port and manufacturing centre. Moncton is the principal Francophone
Acadian centre. And, Fredericton is the historic capital.
New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province, and about one-third of the population lives
and works in French.
Central canada
More than half the people in Canada live in cities and towns near the Great Lakes and the St.
Lawrence River in southern Quebec and Ontario, known as Central Canada and the industrial and
manufacturing heartland.
Ontario and Quebec produce more than three-quarters (75%) of all Canadian manufactured
goods.
Nearly 8 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.
Quebec is Canada’s main producer of pulp and paper.
Central canada
Quebec is the Canada’s largest producer of hydro-electricity.
Quebecers are leaders in cutting-edge industries such as pharmaceuticals and aeronautics.
Montreal is Canada’s second largest city and the second largest mainly French-
speaking city in the world after Paris.
Central canada
Ontario has more than 12 million people, which is more than one-third of Canada's population..
Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the country’s main financial centre.
The Niagara region is known for its vineyards, wines and fruit crops.
Ontario is founded by United Empire Loyalists, and has the largest French speaking population
outside of Quebec.
There are 5 Great Lakes located between Ontario and the United States: Lake Ontario, Lake Erie,
Lake Huron, Lake Michigan (in the U.S.A.) and Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in
the world.
The Prairie Provinces
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta are the Prairie Provinces, rich in energy resources and some
of the most fertile farmland in the world. The region is mostly dry, with cold winters and hot
summers.
Manitoba’s economy is based on agriculture, mining and hydro-electric power generation.
The province’s most populous city is Winnipeg, whose Exchange District includes the most famous
street intersection in Canada, Portage and Main.
Winnipeg’s French Quarter, St. Boniface, has Western Canada’s largest Francophone
community at 45,000.
Manitoba is also an important centre of Ukrainian culture, with 14% reporting Ukrainian origins, and
the largest Aboriginal population of any province, at over 15%.
The Prairie Provinces
Saskatchewan, once known as the “breadbasket of the world” and the “wheat province,” has 40%
of the arable land in Canada and is the country’s largest producer of grains and oilseeds. It also
boasts the world’s richest deposits of uranium and potash, used in fertilizer, and produces oil and
natural gas.
Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan, is home to the training academy of the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police. Saskatoon, the largest city of Saskatchewan, is the headquarters of the mining
industry and an important educational, research and technology centre.
The Prairie Provinces
Alberta is the most populous Prairie province. The province, and the world-famous Lake
Louise in the Rocky Mountains, were both named after Princess Louise Caroline
Alberta, 4th daughter of Queen Victoria.
Alberta has 5 national parks, including Banff National Park, established in 1885.
The rugged Badlands house some of the world’s richest deposits of prehistoric fossils and
dinosaur finds.
Alberta is the largest producer of oil and gas, and the oil sands in the north are being developed
as a major energy source.
Alberta is also renowned for agriculture, especially for the vast cattle ranches that make Canada
one of the world’s major beef producers.
The West Coast
British Columbia is known for its majestic mountains and as Canada’s Pacific gateway.
The Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest and busiest, handles billions of dollars in goods traded
around the world. Warm airstreams from the Pacific Ocean give the B.C. coast a temperate climate.
British Columbia (B.C.) is Canada’s westernmost province, with a population of 4 million. The Port of
Vancouver is our gateway to the Asia-Pacific. About 1/2 of all the goods produced in B.C. are forestry
products, including lumber, newsprint, and pulp and paper products, the most valuable forestry industry
in Canada. B.C. is also known for mining, fishing, and the fruit orchards and wine industry of the
Okanagan Valley.
B.C. has the most extensive park system in Canada, with approximately 600 provincial parks. The
province’s large Asian communities have made Chinese and Punjabi the most spoken languages in the
cities after English. The capital, Victoria, is a tourist centre and headquarters of the navy’s Pacific fleet.
The Northern Territories
The Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon contain 1/3 of Canada’s land mass but have a
population of only 100,000. There are gold, lead, copper, diamond and zinc mines.
The North is often referred to as the "Land of the Midnight Sun" because at the height of
summer, daylight can last up to 24 hours. In winter, the sun disappears and darkness sets in for
3 months.
The Northern territories have long cold winters and short cool summers. Much of the North
is made up of tundra, the vast rocky Arctic plain. Because of the cold Arctic climate, there are no
trees on the tundra and the soil is permanently frozen. Some continue to earn a living by hunting,
fishing and trapping. Inuit art is sold throughout Canada and around the world.
The Northern Territories
Thousands of miners came to the Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s, as celebrated in the
poetry of Robert W. Service.
Mining remains a significant part of the economy. The White Pass and Yukon Railway opened from
Skagway in neighbouring Alaska to the territorial capital, Whitehorse, in 1900 and provides a
spectacular tourist excursion across precipitous passes and bridges.
Yukon holds the record for the coldest temperature ever recorded in Canada (-63°C).
The Northern Territories
The Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) were originally made up in 1870 from Rupert’s Land and the
North-Western Territory.
The capital of The Northwest Territories is Yellowknife (population 20,000), is called the "diamond
capital of North America". More than half the population is Aboriginal (Dene, Inuit and Métis).
The Mackenzie River, at 4,200 kilometres, is the second-longest river system in North America
after the Mississippi and drains an area of 1.8 million square kilometres.
The Northern Territories
Nunavut, meaning "our land" in Inuktitut, was established in 1999 from the eastern part of the
Northwest Territories, including all of the former District of Keewatin.
The capital of Nunavut is Iqaluit, formerly Frobisher Bay, named after the English explorer Martin
Frobisher, who penetrated the uncharted Arctic for Queen Elizabeth I in 1576.
The 19-member Legislative Assembly chooses a premier and ministers by consensus. The population
is about 85% Inuit, and Inuktitut is an official language and the first language in schools.
Canada’s vast North brings security and sovereignty challenges. Dealing with harsh weather
conditions in an isolated region, the Canadian Rangers, part of the Canadian Forces Reserves
(militia), play a key role.
Some study questions
● Name two key documents that contain our rights and freedoms.
● Identify four (4) rights that Canadians enjoy.
● Name four (4) fundamental freedoms that Canadians enjoy.
● What is meant by the equality of women and men?
● What are some examples of taking responsibility for yourself and your family?
● Who were the founding peoples of Canada?
● Who are the Métis?
● What does the word “Inuit” mean?
● What is meant by the term “responsible government”?
● Who was Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine?
● What did the Canadian Pacific Railway symbolize?
● What does Confederation mean?
● What is the significance of the discovery of insulin by Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best?
Some study questions
What does it mean to say that Canada is a constitutional monarchy?
What are the three branches of government?
What is the difference between the role of the Queen and that of the Prime Minister?
What is the highest honour that Canadians can receive?
When you go to vote on election day, what do you do?
Who is entitled to vote in Canadian federal elections?
In Canada, are you obliged to tell other people how you voted?
After an election, which party forms the government?
Who is your member of Parliament?
What are the three levels of government?
What is the role of the courts in Canada?
Some study questions
● In Canada, are you allowed to question the police about their service or conduct?
● Name two Canadian symbols.
● What provinces are referred to as the Atlantic Provinces?
● What is the capital of the province or territory that you live in?
