Canada An Overview

Environmental Concerns Canada faces a number of environmental issues. It has many natural resources that it can use for its people and for trade to other countries. Some of the natural resources are renewable, and some are nonrenewable. The country must find ways to carefully manage both types of resources so that the environment is not damaged. Industries help Canada have a good economy with a high standard of living. However, factories are a source of pollution. Canada must find ways to keep its industry alive without destroying its environment.  

Environmental Concerns Acid rain and pollution of the Great Lakes- Factories and automobiles produce many pollutants. Depending on what a factory makes, it can put many different pollutants into the air. Coal-burning power plants, cars, and trucks are also polluters of the air. When these pollutants are put into the air, they mix with the water molecules and turn the water acidic. Clouds and rain droplets that are acidic are called acid rain.

The extraction and use of natural resources on the Canadian Shield- The soil in the region is thin and rocky. Beneath the soil is one of Canada’s most valuable resources- minerals. The mines in this region produce gold, silver, cooper, zinc, lead, iron, ore, uranium, and nickel. In fact, the most valuable minerals available in Canada are in the Canadian Shield. About 1.5 million people make their living in the mining industry in Canada- many of them in the Canadian Shield. Mining can be messy work. The land around mines can be damaged and the environment ruined.

Timber resources- Vast forests cover almost half the land in Canada Timber resources- Vast forests cover almost half the land in Canada. Canadians have made this natural resource important to the economy. Citizens in Canada are concerned that logging will destroy the forest and benefits that it brings. A major concern for many Canadians is clear-cutting. Most timber companies cut all the trees in a given area, leaving large tree-less gaps in the forest. Results of clear-cutting include reduced water quality, erosion, and loss of wildlife habitat.

Economics---A Quick Review Types of Economies: Traditional- based on customs and traditions Command- government has control Market- buyers/sellers have control 3 Economics Questions: What to produce? How to produce it? Whom to produce it for? Factors of Production: Human Capital-investing in your people (insurance, education, training) Capital Goods- anything used to make a product (factories, machines, technology) Natural Resources- anything from nature (oil, coal, timber, iron) Entrepreneurship- anyone willing to take a risk to start a business Trade Barriers Tariff- tax on imports Quota- limit on trade Embargo- ban on trade GDP- Gross Domestic Product- Amount of money your country makes in a year.

Canada is a mixed market system. Economic Systems Canada is a mixed market system. 100 Pure Command Pure Market Mixed Economy

Canada’s Economy Canada has many natural resources that contribute to its economy. Canada definitely leans toward the market side of the economic system continuum. Although famous for its socialized medicine, Canadian industries are mostly privately owned. Canada’s most important trade partner is the United States. Canada allows a tremendous amount of direct foreign investment by American companies.

Oh Canada! Canada’s national and provincial governments provide health care for all citizens. Broadcasting, transportation, and electric power are heavily regulated. These public services might not have been available in Canada’s remote area without government support. The Grand Banks, one of the best fishing grounds in the world, is now regulated by the government because of overfishing. 10

Government How do citizens participate How does government in government? How does government distribute power? Unitary Confederation Democratic Autocractic Strong central government, and weak local government Federal Strong local government, and weak central govern- ment Oligarchy The people can vote In free elections Only one person has a say in govern- ment, citizens can not vote! Power is held equally between central and local governments Only a small group have a say and can vote Presidential Parliamentary

Canada: A Constitutional Monarchy The Canadian government is a constitutional monarchy (Parliamentary Democracy) that is made up of two main branches; a legislative branch and a judicial branch. Basically this means they are exactly like England. Canada has a Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, is considered head of government. The Queen of England is considered head of state. Canada distributes power equally. Canada has passed laws to protect the civil rights of its people and to support multiculturalism.

History of Canada

History of Canada England and France settled in the area now called Canada. They brought their two languages English and French with them. The French also brought their religion Catholic and the English brought theirs, non-Catholic.

History of Canada Fur trading was the first profitable industry for the French in Canada. The king of France sent Samuel de Champlain to start a colony in Canada in the early 1600’s. In 1608, Champlain established Quebec. In the late 1600’s and early 1700’s the French and British frequently fought over land and competed for the fur trade. This will lead to the French and Indian War!!!

Battle over Land By 1763, France had given up all of its claims to land in North America. In 1774, the British passed the Quebec Act, which guaranteed the French the right to maintain their own culture.

How did Canada become Independent? Canada became part of Great Britain in the defeat of the French. The country started to expand, and by the mid-1860s, people in Canada wanted to be united. They asked British Parliament to create a constitution allowing for increases self-government.

Canada Day celebrates day Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. Canadians ended up helping England during WW1, and began to want their own freedom from England. In 1931, the British Parliament granted independence to Canada. The Canada Act of 1982, gave Canada the right to amend its own constitution and complete separation from Great Britain. This is when final ties were broken between the British and Canadian governments. However, the two countries still share the same monarch. This was a slow process.

Quebec’s Independence Movement The people of Quebec desired independence from Canada to preserve their language and culture. People have voted on the issue twice, however both times they decided to stay with Canada as a whole. However, the government did pass several laws to protect the language and culture.

Quebec’s Independence Movement First, they made Canada bilingual. Quebec has also been officially labeled a “distinct society” in Canada. In Quebec, French is the only official language. However, English may be used to advertise, but they do have to put it after French words. Some people are happy with this, however some still believe Quebec should be independent.

Student Note Pages

Name: __________________ Locate and label the following: St. Lawrence River Hudson Bay Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean the Great Lakes Canadian Shield Rocky Mountains Student Worksheet Name: __________________

Environmental Concerns Acid rain and pollution of the Great Lakes- ___________ and automobiles produce many pollutants. Depending on what a factory makes, it can put many different pollutants into the air. ___________ power plants, cars, and trucks are also polluters of the air. When these ___________ are put into the air, they mix with the water molecules and turn the water acidic. Clouds and rain droplets that are acidic are called ___________. The extraction and use of natural resources on the Canadian Shield- The soil in the region is thin and rocky. Beneath the soil is one of Canada’s most valuable resources- ___________. The mines in this region produce gold, silver, cooper, zinc, lead, iron, ore, uranium, and nickel. In fact, the most valuable ___________ available in Canada are in the _________________. About 1.5 ___________ ______ make their living in the mining industry in Canada- many of them in the Canadian Shield. ___________ can be messy work. The land around mines can be ___________ and the environment ruined. Timber resources- Vast ______________________________the land in Canada. Canadians have made this natural resource important to the economy. Citizens in Canada are concerned that ___________ will destroy the forest and benefits that it brings. A major concern for many Canadians is _________________. Most timber companies cut all the trees in a given area, leaving large ___________ gaps in the forest. Results of clear-cutting include reduced ______________, erosion, and loss of _______________. Student Note page

Economics---A Quick Review Types of Economies: Traditional- ___________________ _______________________________ Command- ___________________ Market- ______________________ 3 Economics Questions: ___________________ Trade Barriers ___________________ Factors of Production: _____________________-investing in your people (insurance, education, training) Capital Goods- _________________ ______________________ (factories, machines, technology) ________________________- anything from nature (oil, coal, timber, iron) Entrepreneurship- _______________ ________________________________ Student Worksheet GDP- Gross Domestic Product- Amount of money your country makes in a year. Canada is a Mixed Market system, and is at 81% freedom.

Government How do citizens participate in government? How does government distribute power? Unitary Confederation Democratic Autocratic Federal Oligarchy Student note page Presidential Parliamentary

History of Canada _____________ and ___________ settled in the area now called Canada. They brought their two languages ______________ and ______________ with them. The French also brought their religion ______________ and the English brought theirs, ___________________________________. _________________________ was the first profitable industry for the French in Canada. The king of France sent Samuel de Champlain to start a colony in Canada in the early 1600’s. In 1608, Champlain established ______________________. In the late 1600’s and early 1700’s the French and British _____________________ fought over land and competed for the fur trade. This will lead to the ______________________________!!! Battle over Land By 1763, France had ________________ all of its claims to land in ____________________. In 1774, the British passed the Quebec Act, which _________________________________ the right to maintain their own culture. How did Canada become Independent? Canada became part of Great Britain in the defeat of the French. The country started to expand, and by the mid-1860s, people in _______________________ ______________________________. They asked ___________________________ to create a constitution allowing for increases self-government. Canada Day celebrates _________________________________ on July 1, 1867.  

Canadians ended up helping _______________________ during WW1, and began to want their own freedom from England. In 1931, the ____________________________ granted independence to Canada. The _________________________________, gave Canada the right to amend its own constitution and complete separation from Great Britain. This is when final ties were broken between the British and Canadian governments. However, the two countries _______________ _____________________________. This was a _____ process. Quebec’s Independence Movement The people of Quebec desired independence from Canada to ____________________________ ____________________________. People have voted on the issue twice, however both times they decided to stay with _________ as a whole. However, the government did pass several laws to ______________________________ and culture. First, they made Canada ________________________. Quebec has also been ____________________ labeled a “distinct society” in Canada. In Quebec, French is the only official language. However, English may be used to advertise, but they do have to put it after French words. Some people are happy with this, however some still believe Quebec should be independent.