1.What continent is Canada located on?
2. List and explain the main differences between the US and Canadian governments.
CANADIAN GOVT US GOVERNMENT
3. Why is it difficult & expensive to live in northern parts of Canada? Are there many people living there? What part(s) of Canada do they live in?
4 - 7. Locate all of the following on the map provided:
8. Environmental Issues in Canada
Fill out the chart below about the causes and effects of Canada’s environmental issues:
Issue
Causes (why is this happening?)
Effects (what is happening because of this?)
Pollution
Acid Rain
Extraction of natural resources on Canadian Shield (mining and logging)
9. What type of government does Canada have?
10. What role do Canadian citizens play in their government? Who do they elect?
11. What kind of economy does Canada have? EXPLAIN
12. What is GDP? What are some ways to improve a country’s GDP?
13. What does literacy rate measure? How can it affect the standard of living and GDP of a country?
14. What is entrepreneurship? What does an entrepreneur do?
15. Describe specialization. How does it relate to/help voluntary trade?
16. Fill out the chart below about trade barriers in Canada.
What is a trade barrier?
Type of Trade Barrier
Explanation
Example
Natural Trade Barrier
Tariff
Quota
Trade Embargo
17. What is NAFTA? What was it created to do?
18. For what reason has the Colorado River become a major environmental issue?
19. What factor had helped to make the United States Canada’s largest trading partner?
20. What are some examples of Canada’s natural resources?
21. Explain how a Traditional Economy works and give an example of one.
1. Canada is located on the continent of North America.
2. The main differences between the US and Canadian governments are as follows:
- Political System: Canada is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy, while the US is a federal republic with a presidential system.
- Head of State: Canada has a monarch as the head of state, represented by the Governor General, while the US has an elected president as the head of state and government.
- Electoral System: Canada uses a multi-party system and proportional representation for elections, while the US has a two-party system and uses the electoral college for presidential elections.
- Judiciary: Canada's judiciary has a more centralized structure, with the Supreme Court of Canada being the highest court, while the US has a decentralized structure with the Supreme Court being the highest court.
- Constitution: Canada has an unwritten constitution primarily based on laws, conventions, and court decisions, while the US has a written constitution that is the supreme law of the land.
3. It is difficult and expensive to live in northern parts of Canada due to the harsh climate, limited access to resources and services, and the remoteness of the region. The population density is much lower in these areas compared to southern parts of Canada. People living in northern Canada are primarily concentrated in territories such as Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
8. Environmental Issues in Canada:
- Pollution: Causes include industrial activities, transportation, and agricultural practices. Effects include air and water pollution, harm to ecosystems, and negative impacts on human health.
- Acid Rain: Caused by air pollution, especially emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. Effects include damage to forests, lakes, and aquatic life.
- Extraction of natural resources on Canadian Shield: Mining and logging activities can lead to deforestation, habitat destruction, and soil erosion.
9. Canada has a parliamentary democracy.
10. Canadian citizens play a role in their government by electing members of Parliament (MPs) and the Prime Minister. They also have the right to participate in political parties, vote in elections, and engage in political activism.
11. Canada has a mixed economy. It combines elements of a market economy and a welfare state. The government plays a significant role in areas such as healthcare, education, and social welfare, while also supporting private enterprise and promoting free trade.
12. GDP stands for Gross Domestic Product and is a measure of the total value of goods and services produced within a country during a specific period. Some ways to improve a country's GDP include increasing productivity, promoting innovation and technological advancement, attracting foreign investments, and boosting exports.
13. Literacy rate measures the percentage of people in a country who can read and write. A higher literacy rate is generally associated with a higher standard of living and GDP as it indicates a more educated workforce capable of contributing to the economy and accessing higher-paying job opportunities.
14. Entrepreneurship refers to the ability and willingness to start and operate a new business venture. An entrepreneur identifies opportunities, takes risks, and organizes resources to create and run a business. They play a crucial role in driving innovation, economic growth, and job creation.
15. Specialization refers to the concentration of individuals, businesses, or regions on producing certain goods or services in which they have a comparative advantage. It allows for more efficient production and enables voluntary trade by facilitating the exchange of specialized goods or services between different parties who have different areas of expertise.
16. Trade barrier refers to any government-imposed restriction that limits or obstructs the free flow of goods and services between countries. Examples of trade barriers in Canada include natural barriers like distance or geographic features, tariffs (taxes on imports), quotas (limits on import quantities), and trade embargoes (complete bans on trade with certain countries).
17. NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) is a trilateral trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It was created to facilitate free trade between the three countries by removing tariffs and trade barriers, promoting investment, and enhancing economic cooperation.
18. The Colorado River has become a major environmental issue due to its overuse and allocation of water resources. Factors such as increasing population, agricultural demands, and climate change have resulted in water scarcity and ecosystem degradation along the river.
19. The geographical proximity and economic interdependence between the United States and Canada have helped make the US Canada's largest trading partner. The two countries share a long border and have established strong trade ties, benefitting from the movement of goods, services, and investments.
20. Examples of Canada's natural resources include minerals (such as gold, nickel, and uranium), oil and gas, timber, hydropower, and fish.
21. A traditional economy is an economic system in which resources are allocated based on customs, traditions, and beliefs passed down through generations. It relies on subsistence agriculture, hunting, fishing, and gathering. An example of a traditional economy is found in certain indigenous communities that rely on traditional practices and have limited interaction with modern markets.