Study Questions

Question 1

Name two key documents that contain our rights and freedoms.

Answer 1

Magna Carta (Great Charter of Freedoms)
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Question 2

Identify 4 rights that Canadians enjoy.

Answer 2

Mobility rights
Aboriginal people’s rights
Official Language Rights and Minority Language Educational Rights
Multiculturalism

Question 3

Name 4 fundamental freedoms that Canadians enjoy.

Answer 3

Freedom of conscience and religion
Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression (Free speech and freedom of the press)
Freedom of peaceful assembly
Freedom of association

Question 4

What is meant by the equality of women and men.

Answer 4

Men and women are equal under the law

Question 5

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

Answer 5

Getting a job, taking care of your family, work hard in keeping with one’s abilities

Question 6

Who were the founding peoples of Canada?

Answer 6

Aboriginal, French and British

Question 7

Who are the Métis?

Answer 7

People from mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry.
Living in the Prairie provinces.
Speak Michif dialect
30% of total Aboriginal people

Question 8

What does the word “Inuit” mean?

Answer 8

“The people” in Inuktitut language

Question 9

What is meant by the term “responsible government”?

Answer 9

Ministers of the Crown (Government) must have support of a majority of the elected representatives (Members of the Parliament or MPs) in order to govern.

Question 10

Who was Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine?

Answer 10

First head of responsible government in Canada in 1849
Champion of French language rights and democracy

Question 11

What did the Canadian Pacific Railway symbolize?

Answer 11

Unity

Question 12

What does Confederation mean?

Answer 12

Union of provinces to make a new country

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Saved 16 million lives worldwide, a hormone to treat diabetes

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Sovereign (Head of State) reigns in accordance with the Constitution

Question 15

What are the three branches of government?

Answer 15

Executive, Legislative and Judicial

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Queen is Head of State (part of Parliament, guardian of constitutional freedoms, example of lifelong service, link to 53 nations as Head of Commonwealth)

Prime Minister is Head of Government (directs governing of the country)

Question 17

What is the highest honour that Canadians can receive?

Answer 17

The Victoria Cross (V.C.)

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Go to polling station, bring voter information card and ID, mark X in the circle next to the name of the candidate, fold it and present to poll officials to tear number, get ballot to deposit in the ballot box.

Question 19

Who is entitled to vote in Canadian federal elections?

Answer 19

Canadian citizen
18 years old on voting day
On the voters list

Question 20

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

Answer 20

No, Canadian law secures the right to a secret ballot.

Question 21

After an election, which party forms the government?

Answer 21

The party with the most seats in the House of Commons.

Question 22

Who is your member of Parliament?

Answer 22

Stephane Bergeron

Question 23

What are the three levels of government?

Answer 23

Federal, provincial/territorial and municipal (local)

Question 24

What is the role of the courts in Canada?

Answer 24

To settle disputes.

Question 25

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

Answer 25

Yes, you can bring concerns with a process depending on police force

Question 26

Name two Canadian symbols.

Answer 26

Canadian Crown
Canadian flag
Maple leaf
Fleur-de-lys
Coat of arms and motto (A mari usque ad mare)
Parliament Buildings
Beaver
Hockey (winter) and Lacrosse (summer)
English and French languages
National and royal anthems?

Question 27

What provinces are referred to as the Atlantic Provinces?

Answer 27

Newfoundland and Labrador
Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick

Question 28

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

Answer 28

Quebec City