1.What continent is Canada located on? North America
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.
2. The main differences between the US and Canadian governments include:
- Presidential vs Parliamentary system: The US has a presidential system, where the president is both the head of state and head of government, while Canada has a parliamentary system, where the head of state, the monarch, is separate from the head of government, the prime minister.
- Separation of powers: The US has a clear separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, while Canada has a fusion of powers, with the executive branch being part of the legislative branch.
- Electoral system: The US uses an electoral college to elect the president, while Canada uses a first-past-the-post system to elect members of Parliament.
- Legal system: The US follows a common law legal system, while Canada has a mix of common law and civil law.
- Monarchy: Canada is a constitutional monarchy, with the monarch serving as the symbolic head of state, while the US is a republic.
- Healthcare: Canada has a universal healthcare system, while the US has a primarily private healthcare system.
- Gun control: Canada has stricter gun control laws compared to the US.
3. It is difficult and expensive to live in northern parts of Canada due to various factors such as harsh climate, limited infrastructure, and lack of basic services. These areas have a sparse population compared to southern parts of Canada. People living in northern Canada primarily reside in the territories of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
8. Environmental Issues in Canada:
- Pollution: The causes of pollution in Canada include industrial activities, transportation emissions, and improper waste management. The effects of pollution include air and water pollution, negative impacts on human health, and damage to ecosystems.
- Acid Rain: Acid rain is caused by the combination of industrial pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, with atmospheric moisture. It affects forests, lakes, and aquatic ecosystems, leading to loss of biodiversity and damage to infrastructure.
- Extraction of natural resources on Canadian Shield: The extraction of natural resources like mining and logging on the Canadian Shield can cause deforestation, habitat destruction, and pollution of air, water, and soil. This can impact wildlife and ecosystems negatively.
9. Canada has a parliamentary democracy, which means it has a system of government where the executive branch is elected by and accountable to the legislative branch.
10. Canadian citizens play a crucial role in their government through voting in elections. They elect members of Parliament (MPs) to represent their interests and make decisions on their behalf.
11. Canada has a mixed economy, characterized by a combination of private enterprise and government intervention. The government plays a significant role in sectors like healthcare, education, and social welfare, while the private sector drives most economic activities.
12. GDP stands for Gross Domestic Product, and it measures the total value of goods and services produced within a country in a specific period. Some ways to improve a country's GDP include increasing productivity, investing in infrastructure, promoting innovation, and expanding international trade.
13. Literacy rate measures the percentage of the population that can read and write at a specific age. It can affect the standard of living and GDP of a country because literacy enables people to participate in the workforce, access education and information, and contribute to the economy.
14. Entrepreneurship refers to the process of starting and running a new business venture. An entrepreneur takes risks, identifies opportunities, and mobilizes resources to create and grow a business.
15. Specialization refers to focusing on producing certain goods or services in which a country or individual has a comparative advantage. Specialization enables higher efficiency and productivity, leading to increased output and economic growth. It also promotes voluntary trade by allowing countries to trade their specialized goods or services with others.
16. Trade barrier: A trade barrier is a government-imposed restriction or regulation that limits or hinders international trade.
- Type of Trade Barrier: Examples of trade barriers include natural trade barriers (such as geographical or climate-related factors), tariffs (taxes on imported goods), quotas (limiting the quantity of imported goods), and trade embargoes (a complete ban on trade with a specific country).
- Explanation: Natural trade barriers can include things like distance, terrain, or weather that make trade difficult or costly.
- Example: A tariff is a tax imposed on imported goods, which increases the price of the imported product and can discourage imports.
17. NAFTA stands for the North American Free Trade Agreement. It is a trade agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It was created to eliminate trade barriers, such as tariffs and quotas, among the participating countries, and promote economic cooperation and integration.
18. The Colorado River has become a major environmental issue due to overuse and unsustainable water management practices. The river's water has been heavily allocated for agriculture, household use, and energy production, resulting in reduced water flow, ecosystem degradation, and water scarcity in downstream areas.
19. The proximity and shared border between the United States and Canada have helped make the US Canada's largest trading partner. The two countries have a long history of economic cooperation and benefit from their close geographical location.
20. Canada has abundant natural resources, including minerals (such as gold, copper, and uranium), oil and gas, forests, and freshwater.
21. In a traditional economy, economic activities are based on customs, traditions, and beliefs that have been passed down through generations. People rely on subsistence agriculture, hunting, gathering, and fishing to meet their basic needs. An example of a traditional economy is the indigenous communities of the Inuit people in northern Canada, who depend on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods.