Citizenship and Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada Immigration Canada A LOOK AT C ANADA 2005 EDITION C&I-143-02-05E 2005 EDITION This booklet belongs to: ____________________________________________________ A Look at Canada is produced for people applying for Canadian citizenship. Distribution to other users is limited. This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part for any non-commercial purpose relating to citizenship education. If you have any comments, please write to: Integration Branch Promotion Division Citizenship and Immigration Canada Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1 A Look at Canada can also be found and downloaded from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Web site at www.cic.gc.ca. © Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2005 Cat. No. Ci51-61/2005E ISBN 0-662-33946-3 Message to Our Readers Congratulations! It took courage to decide to move to a new country. Your decision to become a Canadian citizen is another big step. To become a Canadian citizen, Canada has a long tradition of For information you must be able to speak welcoming newcomers because they about Citizenship English or French. You must also increase the diversity and richness of and Immigration learn about voting procedures Canadian society. Canadians are Canada, visit our and Canada’s history and proud of the peaceful and tolerant Web site at geography, and know the rights society they have built. www.cic.gc.ca and responsibilities of This booklet will help you prepare citizenship. Canadian citizens enjoy to become a Canadian citizen. many rights, including equality rights, Good luck! language rights and religious rights, just to name a few. But Canadians also have responsibilities. They must respect Canadian laws, and respect the rights and freedoms of others. Canadian citizens must also be willing to get involved in their communities to help make Canada a better place. A Look at Canada 3 Ta ble of Contents Applying for Citizenship . .5 What Does Canadian Citizenship Mean? . .7 Introducing Canada . .8 Protecting the Environment—Sustainable Development . .10 Canada’s History and Symbols . .12 Aboriginal Peoples of Canada . .14 Map of Canada . .16 The Atlantic Region . .18 Central Canada . .20 The Prairie Provinces . .23 The West Coast . .25 The North . .27 Government in Canada . .29 Other Levels of Government in Canada . .30 Do You Know Your Elected Representatives? . .31 Federal Elections . .32 Voting Procedures During an Election Period . .36 The Canadian Justice System . .37 Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities . .38 For More Information . .41 Citizenship Test: Questions . .42 4 A Look at Canada Applying for Citizenship When you apply for citizenship, officials will check your documents. They will confirm your immigration status and make sure you don’t have a criminal record. They will also make sure you meet the requirements of citizenship. To become a Canadian citizen, How to use this booklet you must to prepare for the citizenship test • be 18 years old or older; This booklet will help you prepare for • be a permanent resident the citizenship test. You should of Canada; • study this booklet; •have lived in Canada for at least three of the four • ask a friend or family member to years before applying for help you practise answering citizenship; questions about Canada; • speak either English or • call a local school or school board, French; a college, a community centre or a local organization that provides • know Canada’s history and services to immigrants and ask for geography; and information on citizenship classes; • know about Canada’s system •take language classes if you need of government and the rights to learn to speak English or French; and responsibilities of citizenship. • use the questions at the back of the booklet to prepare for the test; Your application may take several and months. Make sure that the Call Centre (see page 41 for telephone numbers) always has your correct address during this time. The citizenship office will send you a “Notice to Appear” telling you where and when to go for your citizenship test or your interview with a citizenship official. A Look at Canada 5 • find the answers to the questions After the test about the region where you live. The Citizenship office will tell you about the results of your test. If you About the citizenship test pass the test and meet all the other The citizenship test is usually a written requirements, you will receive a test, but it could be an interview. The “Notice to Appear to Take the Oath of test helps government officials decide Citizenship.” This document tells you if you can speak English or French the date, time and place of your well enough to become a Canadian citizenship ceremony. This is the final citizen. It is also used to test your step in becoming a Canadian citizen. knowledge of Canada and the At the ceremony, you will take the responsibilities and privileges of oath of citizenship, sign the oath form citizenship. To pass the test, and receive your Canadian Citizenship youmust correctly answer all Certificate. Many people bring their questions about the following family and friends to share this topics occasion. •the right to vote in elections in Canada; •the right to run for elected office in Canada; and •voting procedures and how to register yourself as a voter. You must also correctly answer questions chosen from the following topics • Canada’s history; • Canada’s geography; and • the rights and responsibilities of a citizen. 6 A Look at Canada What Does Canadian Citizenship Mean? Canadian values include freedom, respect for cultural differences and a commitment to social justice. We are proud of the fact that we are a peaceful nation. In fact, Canadians act as peacekeepers in many countries around the world. Canada is a large country with a small Peace—We are proud of our non- population. We have developed a violent society and our unique federal style of government international role as peacekeepers. that is based on compromise and co- Law and order—We respect existence. We value our democracy, democratic decision making and and every citizen is encouraged to do the “rule of law.” We promote due his or her share. Our laws are based process so that the courts and the on our democratic values. police treat everyone fairly and Canadian values include: reasonably. We ensure that our Equality—We respect everyone’s elected governments remain rights. Everyone has the right to accountable to Canadians. speak out and express ideas that As you reflect on these values, ask others might disagree with. yourself which responsibilities you Governments must treat everyone will take on when you become a with equal dignity and respect— Canadian citizen. two other fundamental Canadian values. Respect for cultural differences—We try to understand and appreciate the cultures, customs and traditions of all Canadians, whether they were born in Canada or came here from another country. Freedom—As Canadians, we enjoy basic freedoms, such as freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of peaceful assembly. A Look at Canada 7 Introducing Canada Key Words Throughout Canada’s history, millions of immigrants have helped build our country. We welcome people from more than Official languages 150 countries each year. Multiculturalism As Canadians, we are proud that friends and neighbours in need. There many different cultural and ethnic are many different ways you can help Volunteerism groups live and work here in harmony. others in your community. The Canadian Multiculturalism Act recognizes our cultural diversity. It Canada’s official languages states that we are all free to maintain and share our cultural heritage and to English and French are Canada’s two participate fully and equally in our official languages. English- and national life. French-speaking people have lived together in Canada for more than The only people originally from 300 years. This is an important part of Canada are the Aboriginal peoples. our Canadian identity—more than They lived in Canada for thousands of 98 percent of Canadians speak either years before the first immigrants came English or French or both. You must here. The Aboriginal peoples are an be able to speak English or important part of Canada’s French to become a Canadian population. They are working to citizen. protect and promote their languages, cultures and traditions, and to set up Legal documents like the Canadian their own governments. Constitution and the Official Languages Act protect the rights of In a country as large and diverse as individual Canadians with regard to Canada, equality is very important. It official languages. For example, is so important that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part • English and French have equal of our Constitution. status in the Parliament of Canada, in federal courts and in all federal In Canada, we also believe in the institutions; importance of working together and helping one another. People who help •everyone has the right to a others without being paid are called criminal trial in either English volunteers. There are millions of or French; volunteers across Canada. Some people join community groups and help with local projects. Others help 8 A Look at Canada • the public has the right, where Service industries provide there is sufficient demand, to thousands of different jobs in areas receive federal government services like transportation, education, health in either English or French; and care, construction, banking, communications and government. •official language minority groups More than 70 percent of working in most provinces and territories Canadians now have jobs in service have the right to be educated in industries. their language. Canada from coast to coast Canada’s economy Canada is a very large country with Canada’s economy is made up of an area of 10 million square many different industries.