The Role of the Citizen in Canadian Democracy
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Canada in the Contemporary World Teacher’s Online Resource Chapter 7: The Role of the Citizen in Canadian Democracy Figure 7-1 (Page 198) Do you think television, newspapers, newsmagazines, or cell phone service news offer the best way to become a more informed citizen? Student opinion answers will vary. Have them make a comparison based in several common denominators, such as: reliability and accessibility. Active Citizenship (Page 199) Community Action Figure 7-2 (Page 200) In a democratic society, there are various ways for citizens to express their views. These women used masks to protest domestic violence. Some demonstrators have worn masks at domestic violence protests so that they remain anonymous. Some have claimed that their lives and their children's lives are put at risk when family courts grant contact orders allowing violent ex-partners to visit their children. Figure 7-3 (Page 200) Spectrum of opinion and voting preference. Figure 7-4 (Page 200) Spectrum of opinion on, interest in, and knowledge of current events. Figure 7-5 (Page 201) Spectrum of opinion on participation in community. Figure 7-6 (Page 201) Spectrum of opinion on joining a political party youth group. Using Your Knowledge (Page 201) 1. Student opinion answers will vary. Thinking It Through (Page 201) 2. Before students begin to answer the second question, have them come up with a list of the qualities that a ‘good’ citizen possesses. (Page 199 offers: obeying Canada’s laws, paying taxes, and voting). Encourage the students to think up other qualities, such as: trying to improve the quality of life for other citizens in the country, respecting the rights of others, defending one’s owns rights against those who would abuse them, and exercising one’s rights. Wyatt Anderson Chapter 7 – The Role of the Citizen in Canadian Democracy 1 Pearson Education Canada © 2008 Canada in the Contemporary World Teacher’s Online Resource Inquiring Citizen (Page 201) 3. a) Canadians have achieved the following as ‘good world citizens’: • 1950 – the Colombo Plan • 1968 – the creation of CIDA • 1985 – Eastern Canada Acid Rain Program • 1987 – Montreal Protocol • 1991 – Air Quality Agreement • 2005 – a commitment by the federal government for $1 billion toward the reduction of greenhouse gases • Canadian contributions to the World Food Programme • Several Canadian NGO’s, such as: Canadians Foodgrains Bank and the Mennonite Central Committee. • Canadian roles in international organizations such as the Commonwealth and the United Nations. b) Until 1947, "Canadians" were simply British subjects living in Canada. There was no such thing as a Canadian citizen. This became an embarrassment for a country that emerged from World War II with a strong sense of nationhood. On Jan. 1, 1947, the Canadian Citizenship Act came into effect and Canadians finally became "Canadian citizens." The Citizenship Act was the creation of Liberal cabinet minister Paul Martin Sr. He conceived of the idea after visiting the military cemetery at Dieppe in France, where thousands of Canadians from many different backgrounds fought and died for their country. Figure 7-7 (Page 203) How have other societies defined citizenship? How do Aboriginal peoples decide who is a member of their nation? Societies around the world view those born in foreign lands in different ways. Most nations decide who belongs and who does not belong through nationality laws. • How have other societies defined citizenship? Today, most countries define citizenship based on jus soli or jus sanguinis, or on a combination of the two. Jus soli is the principle in which a child born in a country's territory acquires that country's citizenship. In jus sanguinis, either the father or mother must normally be a citizen of the country in question in order for the child to be a citizen. Many countries do not recognize dual or multiple citizenship. (Canada does; Burma, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Vietnam and Zimbabwe do not). • How do Aboriginal peoples decide who is a member of their nation? - Status (Treaty) Indian: Status Indians are registered with a band and are members of that band. Band membership is passed to children from one parent. If both parents are Status Indians, children become the member of only one band - either the mother’s or father’s. - Métis: The Manitoba Métis Federation recognizes an individual as being Métis if: he/she lives in the province of Manitoba and if he/she is of Métis descent (one parent is Métis or he/she can trace their lineage back to the Red River Colony). Wyatt Anderson Chapter 7 – The Role of the Citizen in Canadian Democracy 2 Pearson Education Canada © 2008 Canada in the Contemporary World Teacher’s Online Resource Figure 7-8 (Page 204) New Canadians take the oath of citizenship. Each year more than 160 000 people take this oath. What beliefs about the role of citizens in Canadian society are emphasized by this oath? They include: to obey Canada’s laws, to vote in elections, to respect the rights and freedoms of others, to eliminate discrimination and injustice, to care for Canada’s heritage, and to help others in the community. Figure 7-9 (Page 206) Canadian oath of citizenship. Figure 7-10 (Page 206) Lebanese Canadians arriving in Cyprus aboard a ferry chartered by the Canadian government. Active Citizenship (Page 206) Dual Citizenship. Canada's Citizenship Act allows people to be citizens of two or more countries at the same time. Dual citizenship can cause difficulties. Canadians with dual citizenship in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria – since the terrorist bombing in New York in September 11, 2001 - may come under suspicion at the U.S. border and be fingerprinted. Using Your Knowledge (Page 207) 4. Student opinion answers will vary. 5. Class debates will vary. Inquiring Citizen (Page 207) 6. In Manitoba there is one Citizenship Judge who presides over Citizenship Courts. His name is Arthur K. Miki. 7. Canadian Prime Ministers who were dual citizens: Canada’s former Prime Minister John Turner holds dual citizenship (Canada and the United Kingdom). John A. Macdonald, Alexander Mackenzie, Mackenzie Bowell, and John Turner were all foreign born. R.B. Bennett is Canada’s only former Prime Minister to be buried outside of the country. He is buried in Surrey, England. Manitoba premiers who were foreign born are: Premiers Alfred Boyd, Henry Joseph Clarke, and Thomas Greenway. John Norquay, premier from 1878 to 1887 was the first to be born in Manitoba. Figure 7-11 (Page 209) Federal election results, 1993-2006. What does this chart tell you about voter support for the major political parties? Wyatt Anderson Chapter 7 – The Role of the Citizen in Canadian Democracy 3 Pearson Education Canada © 2008 Canada in the Contemporary World Teacher’s Online Resource Figure 7-12 (Page 211) A sample ballot. Figure 7-13 (Page 211) You and the DRO each have a role to play when you cast your vote. Why is it important for DRO to monitor the balloting? Organize and Understand (Page 212) 8. Shown: Returning your ballot to the DRO. Not Shown: Checking in with the polling clerk, receiving your ballot, marking your ballot and folding it, counting of the ballots, poll report being sent to the returning officer. Using Your Knowledge (Page 212) 9. Student opinion answers will vary. 10. a) • October 25, 1993 – Liberal • June 2, 1999 – Liberal • November 27, 2000 – Liberal • June 2, 2004 – Liberal • January 23, 2006 – Conservative b) • October 25, 1993 – Majority • June 2, 1999 – Majority • November 27, 2000 – Majority • June 2, 2004 – Minority • January 23, 2006 – Minority A majority government was formed if the governing party held more than 50% of the seats in the House of Commons; a minority government was formed if the governing party held less than 50% of the seats in the House of Commons. c) After ten years of public support, favour for the federal Liberals dissipated until they achieved only a minority government. The Canadian electorate then gave the Conservatives a chance at the top spot in Canada with a minority government as well. Figure 7-14 (Page 213) Nellie McClung Thinking It Through (Page 213) 11. Student opinion answers will vary. Have them consider that voter participation in the 2006 Canadian federal election was 64.9%. In the 2004 federal election in Australia, voter turn-out was 94.85%. 12. Student opinion answers will vary. Wyatt Anderson Chapter 7 – The Role of the Citizen in Canadian Democracy 4 Pearson Education Canada © 2008 Canada in the Contemporary World Teacher’s Online Resource Inquiring Citizen (Page 213) 13. Student research will vary. In the federal election in September 1925, the Conservative Party won 115 seats to 100 for William Lyon Mackenzie King's Liberals. Counting on the support of the Progressive Party (which had 22 seats) to overcome the Conservative minority, King did not resign and remained in office with a minority government. The King-Byng Affair occurred when Governor General, Viscount Byng, refused a request by Prime Minister King to dissolve parliament and call an election. In June 1926, King's government was about to be condemned for corrupt practices by a vote in Parliament. He asked the governor general to dissolve Parliament before that vote could be taken so that another election could take place. Viscount Byng refused, believing that the Conservatives should have a chance to govern. King angrily resigned and Conservative leader Arthur Meighen took over as prime minister. A few days later, Meighen's government was accidentally defeated in a vote, and Governor General Byng dissolved Parliament. King accused Byng, the Queen's representative, of interfering in Canadian politics.