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Chapter
7
Confederation Update
New Challenges
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Reflecting/Predicting
1. What challenges do these headlines
and photo suggest Confederation has
faced since 1867?
2. What do you think is the greatest
challenge Confederation faces today?
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Unit 1: Confederation
A Changing Nation
Canada today is not the Canada of 1867. Democratic
government always grows and changes as we do. How has
Canadian Confederation changed since 1900? Examine the
following timeline.
1905
Alberta and Saskatchewan become provinces.
1912
Manitoba, Ontario, and Québec are enlarged to their presentday boundaries.
January 1916
Manitoba is the first province to grant its women citizens the
vote.
24 May 1918
All women in Canada receive the right to vote in federal elections. (see Chapter 21)
11 December 1931 Statute of Westminster gives Canada complete control
over its own affairs. Until this time, some important decisions
were still being made in Britain. Canada could not make
treaties with other countries, for example.
31 March 1949
Newfoundland joins Confederation.
1960
Registered Indians are granted the right to vote in federal
elections.
1965
Canada adopts a new flag—a single red
maple leaf with red bars on a white background.
1 July 1967
Canadians celebrate Canada’s 100th birthday.
1969
The Official Languages Act makes French
and English the official languages of Canada.
All federal government services will be available in both French and English.
1970
The legal voting age for federal elections is
lowered to 18 years.
1971
The federal government supports multiculturalism. It encourages Canadians to take
pride in the customs and traditions of varied
ethnic backgrounds.
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Chapter 7: Confederation Update
1980
Parliament recognizes “O Canada” as the national anthem.
April 1982
The Constitution Act 1982 gives us the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms and a mechanism for amending (changing) our constitution.
1985
The government changes the Indian Act so that Indian women
who lost their Indian status through marriage can regain it.
June 1987
The House of Commons approves the Meech Lake
Accord, a constitutional amendment that recognizes
Québec as a distinct society. The agreement fails to pass in
the legislatures of Manitoba and Newfoundland.
January 1, 1989
The Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the United
States comes into effect.
August 1992
The Charlottetown Accord proposes constitutional
amendments that would recognize Québec as a distinct
society and set the groundwork for Aboriginal self-government and a reformed Senate, along with other proposals.
October 1992
In a national referendum, the Charlottetown Accord is
rejected by the people of Canada.
1993
In the federal election, two regional parties come second
and third behind the Liberals. They are the Bloc Québécois
which favours sovereignty for Quebec and the Reform Party
which is an Alberta-based conservative party.
1994
The North American Free Trade Agreement is signed with
the United States and Mexico.
1995
Québec voters narrowly defeat a referendum calling for
independence for Québec. Parliament recognizes Québec’s
unique language, culture, and civil law.
1996
Parliament grants 5 regions a veto over changes to the
Constitution. The regions are British Columbia, the Prairie
Provinces, Ontario, Québec, and the Atlantic Provinces.
1998
The Nisga’a of British Columbia sign a land claims agreement.
It gives them land, self-government, resource rights, and cash.
1999
The Northwest Territories is
divided into two parts. The
eastern Arctic is called
Nunavut and has Inuit selfgovernment.
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Unit 1: Confederation
Will Confederation
Survive?
From the beginning, there were groups in
Canada who opposed Confederation. On the
first birthday of Confederation, the city of
Halifax draped its main street in black to show
its opposition to the union. If Macdonald’s
promise of a railway had not been kept, British
Columbia may have left Canada.
enough seats in Parliament to become the
Official Opposition. In the 1997 federal election,
the BQ was the third largest party in the House
of Commons.
In 1995, Québec held another referendum
on independence. Once again the province
voted to remain part of Canada, but by a very
narrow margin. The issue of Québec separatism
is still very much alive.
Separatism in Québec
Regional Concerns
Since the 1970s, many people feel the strongest
threat to Confederation has come from
separatism in Québec. On 15 November 1976,
the Parti Québécois won an overwhelming
victory in the Québec provincial election.
The Parti Québécois, under its leader René
Lévesque, believed that Québec should separate from the rest of Canada. They believed it
was the only way to preserve their French language and culture from being overwhelmed by
the English majority surrounding them. In 1980,
the people of Québec voted in a referendum on
whether or not to leave Canada. Of those who
voted, 59.5% wanted Québec to remain a part of
Canada.
In 1990, the Bloc Québécois (BQ) was
formed as a federal party. Its leader was Lucien
Bouchard. The goal of the BQ was to give
Québec a strong voice in the federal government. In the 1993 federal election, the BQ won
Canada is a large and very diverse country. It
has always faced the challenge of uniting
regions that have very different needs, geographies, peoples, and economies. At the time of
Confederation, the various regions had their
own concerns and interests that led some to
reject the union. Today, some regions of the
country still feel that their interests are often
neglected. They complain that they do not have
enough real power. This sense of alienation
has been particularly strong in the Western and
Atlantic provinces. They argue that the federal
government is controlled too much by central
Canada. The Reform Party was formed in 1987
to better represent the concerns of Western
citizens in the Canadian government. In the
1997 federal election, Reform won the second
largest number of seats in the House of
Commons. It became the Official Opposition.
Regional Concerns
These are some of the issues Canadians in various regions are concerned about:
• since most of the country’s population is in
Ontario and Québec, they elect more representatives to the House of Commons
and have more members in the Senate
• most government projects seem to go to
Ontario or Québec
• more jobs are created in central Canada
than in the West or East
• the national budget and banks are controlled in central Canada
•
•
•
great efforts have been made to keep
Québec in Confederation and protect
French rights, but concerns in other
regions have often been neglected
Ottawa has done little to help western
wheat farmers to survive and get a fair
price for their crops
Ottawa has not done enough to create
new jobs in the Atlantic provinces where
the fishery has been hard hit
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Chapter 7: Confederation Update
95
Fast Forward
Federal-Provincial Conferences
The Provinces Versus Ottawa
Another major source of tension within
Confederation has been the division of powers
between the provinces and Ottawa. As we have
seen, the Fathers of Confederation believed
that Canada should have a strong central government. They thought the federal government
should control important matters concerning
the whole country. The provincial governments
should be kept weak.
But Canada has changed since 1867. It is no
longer a 19th-century country of farms and
forests. It is a highly industrialized nation of
skyscrapers and suburbs. Governments play a
much bigger role in the lives of Canadians
today. Provincial governments are expected to
provide many more services such as health
care and education. Therefore, the provinces
are demanding more power and a bigger share
of tax money to pay for these services.
Aboriginal Rights
Aboriginal peoples do not believe that Canada
had only two founding nations: English and
Representatives of the federal and the ten
provincial governments meet regularly. They
discuss any problems that have arisen
between the two levels of government. There
are informal day-to-day contacts between officials in Ottawa and the provinces. There are
also regular meetings between ministers of
the two levels of government. For example,
the federal minister of agriculture meets regularly with the agriculture ministers of each
of the provinces. However, the most important
meeting is the First Ministers’ Conference. It
brings together the prime minister and the
premiers of the ten provinces along with their
advisors. These meetings usually focus on
such topics as the constitution, national unity,
economic policy, and job creation.
French. They see themselves as “First
Nations.” They believe they have a right
to self-government and a claim to their lands
as the first inhabitants. Many also believe
that the Canadian government has broken
promises made in treaties with their ancestors. Aboriginal groups are challenging the
Canadian government to honour their rights
and settle land claims. While some progress
has been made with agreements like the one
that gave the Inuit some self-government in
Nunavut, many other issues are still to be
resolved.
Women
Since Confederation, women have gained the
right to vote in Canada and to hold political
office. But in areas of business, employment,
salaries, and politics, women are still battling
for equality with men. In many cases, women
still have difficulty gaining top positions in
businesses and government. The issue of equality between men and women is still a challenge
for the Canadian Confederation.
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Unit 1: Confederation
The Canadian Identity
In 1867, the threat of an American takeover
was a major factor in bringing the colonies
together. Today, Canadians still sometimes feel
threatened by our powerful neighbour to the
south. We no longer worry about Americans
taking over Canadian territory. However,
Canadians are concerned that American economic and cultural influences will swamp us.
The government has tried to protect cultural
industries such as publishing. These industries
are considered essential in helping to protect a
Canadian identity.
Another aspect of our Canadian identity is
our multiculturalism. Canadians celebrate the
fact that Canada is a multicultural, multiracial
country made up of people from all around the
world. Canadians are encouraged to take pride
in the customs and traditions of their ethnic
backgrounds. Most Canadians respect and try
to protect the rights of all minorities.
Constitutional Changes
In the 1980s and 1990s, efforts were made to
change Canada’s constitution. The changes
were to give Canada more control over its own
affairs and to meet some
of the challenges to
Confederation.
The ministers also want to include a
Charter of Rights to protect all Canadians.
But they can’t agree. Bitter words are hurled
back and forth.
At the last minute, a deal is made. Prime
Minister Trudeau announces that nine of
the ten provinces have reached an agreement on the constitution. Only Québec has
refused. Québec wants the right to stop any
changes considered unacceptable to the
province. Prime Minister Trudeau does not
feel any province should have special powers. Québec Premier René Lévesque stalks
out of the meeting saying that Québec has
been betrayed.
The three main points of agreement are:
1. The power to amend the constitution will
be brought home to Canada from Britain.
2. Changes to the constitution can be
made if the federal government and seven
provinces (representing 50% of the population) agree.
3. A Charter of Rights and Freedoms
will be added to the constitution to protect
human rights in Canada.
Bringing Home the
Constitution
Time: November 1981
Events: For four days the
first ministers have
been debating. They
are trying to make a
plan to “bring home”
the constitution from
Britain and allow
amendments (changes)
to be made in Canada. Since
1867, Canada has had to ask
Britain for permission to
make any changes to the
Canadian constitution.
At the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa on 17 April 1982, Queen
Elizabeth signs the Constitution Act 1982. The Canadian flag
is flying proudly. But in Québec, the government has ordered
that the Québec flag fly at half mast to protest what it calls the
“insult done to Québecers by English Canada.”
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97
The Meech Lake Accord
The Charlottetown Accord
Time: June 1987
Events: The premiers of all the provinces are
meeting at Meech Lake in Québec. They are
trying to work out a number of changes to
the constitution. One recommendation is to
recognize Québec as a “distinct society”
within Canada. It is hoped that Québec will
then sign the constitution and not break
away from Canada. Other changes call for
more power for the provinces. The premiers sign the agreement but it must be
approved by the parliaments of all ten
provinces by June 1990.
There are a number of concerns.
Women and Aboriginal peoples have been
left out of the discussions. Others feel that
Québec should not be given special status.
The legislatures of Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador do not pass the
Accord by the deadline. The Meech Lake
Accord is defeated.
Time: August 1992
Events: Another conference is held at
Charlottetown. The site of the meeting is
symbolic because the Fathers of
Confederation met here in 1864. This time
the debate on the constitutional changes
has been opened up to the public and interest groups. Aboriginal peoples, women, and
other concerned citizens across the country
have had their say. The Charlottetown
Accord includes these key points:
• the distinctness of Québec should be
recognized
• the right of Aboriginal peoples to selfgovernment is recognized
• federal and provincial governments vow
to work together to develop all regions of
the country
• the Senate should be reformed
• the provinces should have power over
their own immigration, culture, forestry,
mining, tourism, housing, recreation, and
municipal and urban affairs
Time: 26 October 1992
Events: Canadians vote in a national referendum on the Charlottetown proposal. Across
the nation, 54.4% of voters say “No” and
44.6% say “Yes.” Many who vote against the
Accord think it is giving too much to Québec
and not enough to the other regions of
Canada. The rejection of the Charlottetown
Accord leaves many French Canadians feeling that the rest of Canada is hostile
towards them.
The federal government decides to put
constitutional reforms on the back burner
for a while. The people of Canada have had
enough. There are other more pressing
issues for the country to deal with. The
issue of constitutional change, however,
still has to be dealt with in the future.
Manitoba MLA Elijah Harper of the Cree First Nation stalled the debate on the Meech Lake
Accord in the Manitoba legislature. He was protesting the failure of the Accord to recognize
the rights and special status of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.The Accord was defeated in the
Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador legislatures.
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Unit 1: Confederation
Contributions of the Regions to Canada Today
British Columbia
The Prairie Region
• third largest province in area
• capital is Victoria; largest city is
Vancouver
• includes Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba
• capital cities are Edmonton, Alberta; Regina,
Saskatchewan;Winnipeg, Manitoba
Economic strengths
• forests provide 3/5 of Canada’s lumber
and wood products
• mines yield copper, coal, gold, silver,
gravel, zinc, and other minerals
• natural gas and oil produced in northeast
• important province for fishing
• Canada’s leading producer of blueberries, cranberries, and raspberries
• attractive location for film and TV production—25 000 people work in this
industry
• tourists enjoy mountain and coastal
scenery
• Vancouver is an important west coast
port for Canadian trade
Economic strengths
Alberta:
• diverse economy includes grain farming, sugar beet
industry, and cattle ranching
• oil and gas most important industry
• pulp and paper industry strong in the north
• tourism important, especially in the Rocky Mountain
areas
People strengths
• actor Michael J. Fox
• former Prime Minister Kim Campbell
• film director Atom Egoyan
• Olympic snowboarding gold medalist
Ross Rebagliati
• Grammy winners Sarah McLachlan and
Bryan Adams
• Aboriginal artists Robert Davidson, Bill
Reid, Roy Vickers, and many others
• largest Asian community in Canada
Special challenges
• declining salmon stocks threaten the
fishery
• Aboriginal land claims still need to be
settled
• environmentalists are challenging forest
industry over clear-cutting of forests
Saskatchewan:
• one of largest wheat producers in the world, along with
other grains
• oil and potash for fertilizer important natural resources
• mining of gold, copper, and uranium
Manitoba:
• manufacturing is largest industry; products include foods,
transportation equipment, textiles, and machinery
• agriculture second largest industry
People strengths
• Aboriginal leaders and politicians Phil Fontaine, Elijah
Harper, and Ovide Mercredi
• singer and harpist Loreena McKennitt
• skater Kurt Browning
• astronaut Dave Rhys-Williams
• novelist, playwright, and poet Carol Shields
• Reform Party leader Preston Manning
• programmer and inventor of JAVA James Gosling
• actor Tom Jackson
• Manitoba has one of largest French-Canadian communities
outside Québec
• originally settled by people from many different
countries and many communities retain these cultures
Special challenges
• costs of shipping grains and natural resources to
markets are high
• environmentalists are trying to protect natural
environment from tourist boom
• cuts to health care threaten standard of services
• provinces are demanding increased powers
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Chapter 7: Confederation Update
The North
• includes Yukon Territory, Northwest
Territories, and Nunavut
• capitals are Whitehorse,Yukon;Yellowknife,
Northwest Territories; Iqaluit, Nunavut
Economic strengths
• gold mining in Yukon and oil production
• known deposits of copper, gold, silver, and
diamonds
• fishery, as yet undeveloped
• Alaska Highway has opened unspoiled wilderness to tourism and other parts are accessible
by plane
People strengths
• artists Kenojuak Ashevak and Pitseolak
Ashoona
• singer Susan Aglukark
• political leader Rosemarie Kuptana and premier of Nunavut Paul Okalik
• majority of people indigenous to the land
(Aboriginals, Inuit, and Métis)
Special challenges
• harsh environment makes development difficult and expensive
• need to protect traditional lifestyles and cultures of Aboriginal peoples
• some Aboriginal land claims still to be settled
• most transportation must be by air because of
the remoteness of the communities
• cost of living is twice that of southern Canada
• has highest rates of suicide and poverty in all
of Canada
The North
less than 1%
British
Columbia
12%
Prairie Region
16%
Québec 24%
Atlantic Region
8%
Ontario 39%
PERCENTAGE OF CANADA'S TOTAL POPULATION
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Unit 1: Confederation
Ontario
Québec
• most populated province in Canada
• capital and largest city is Toronto, also the
largest city in Canada
• second most populated province after Ontario
• capital city is Québec; Montréal is largest city
• 59% of population speak French only, 35% are
bilingual, and 6% speak English only
Economic strengths
• heart of economy is manufacturing
• steel and automobile production very
important
• mines of Canadian Shield produce nickel, silver,
gold, and iron ore
• places like Niagara Falls,Toronto, Ottawa,
Stratford, and the cottage areas of the north
attract tourists in all seasons
• Toronto produces more than half of country’s
manufactured goods
People strengths
• writers Alice Munro, Margaret Atwood, Michael
Ondaatje
• comedian and film star Jim Carey
• ballerina Karen Kain
• gold medal athlete Donovan Bailey
• astronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar
• world champion skater Elvis Stojko
• filmmakers Norman Jewison and David
Cronenberg
• large multicultural population provides ethnic
festivals, restaurants, heritage languages, and
wide variety of cultural events in Toronto and
other urban centres
• almost 50% of Ottawa’s population is bilingual
Special challenges
• air pollution is problem in the industrial heartland
• pollution and toxic waste is problem in Great
Lakes
• cuts to health care and education threaten
standard of services
• difficult to maintain Canadian identity when
located so close to the United States heartland
• need to protect cities from problems of violence, racism, and drugs
• traditional jobs being lost in changing labour
market
Economic strengths
• strong economy of primary (natural resources)
and secondary (manufacturing) industries
• production of electric power a major industry
• mining and/or refining of iron ore, copper, lead,
zinc, and bauxite important
• forests cover about one half of province;
forestry and pulp and paper major industries
• aerospace industry fifth largest in the world
• St. Lawrence Seaway and port of Montréal
major shipping routes for ocean-going vessels
• walled city of Québec, Montréal, the
Laurentians, and the Gaspé attract tourists in all
seasons
People strengths
• authors Roch Carrier and Anne Hébert; playwright Michel Tremblay
• astronauts Marc Garneau and Julie Payette
• author and songwriter Leonard Cohen
• singers and entertainers Céline Dion and Roch
Voisine
• Prime Ministers Brian Mulroney and Jean
Chrétien
• French-speaking majority feel strongly about
preserving their unique French heritage
Special challenges
• separatist movement: will Québecers decide to
stay within the Canadian Confederation or
become a sovereign state?
• difficult to maintain French-Canadian identity in
the midst of a North American English majority
• need to protect rights of non-French minorities
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Chapter 7: Confederation Update
British Columbia
9.5%
Atlantic Region
5.5%
The North
39.2%
Ontario 10.7%
Prairie Region
19.6%
Québec 15.5%
PERCENTAGE OF CANADA'S TOTAL LAND AREA
The Atlantic Region
• includes Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador
• capital cities are Charlottetown, PEI;
Fredericton, NB; Halifax, NS; St. John’s, NF
Economic strengths
Prince Edward Island:
• agriculture is dominant industry
• tourists love the rolling landscape and sandy
beaches
• strong cottage industries produce fine local
handicrafts for tourists
New Brunswick:
• largely dependent on forestry and forestry
products
• lobsters, crabs, and scallops important products,
and fish farming becoming important
• rich in minerals
• telecommunications industry growing
Nova Scotia:
• fishing always an important industry
• coal mining also a primary industry
• tourism and film making are developing
industries
Newfoundland and Labrador:
• traditional fishing industry in decline because of
depleted fish stocks
• pulp and paper and mining important
• many new companies manufacturing metal
products for telecommunications equipment
• offshore oil production provides resources for
other regions of Canada
People strengths
• singers Anne Murray, Rita MacNeil, Rankin
Family
• fiddlers Natalie MacMaster and Ashley MacIsaac
• actor Gordon Pinsent
• soldier and peacekeeper Lewis MacKenzie
• novelist Lucy Maud Montgomery
• astronaut Mjarni V.Tryggvason
• 30% of population is bilingual
• Acadian language, literature, music, and crafts
strong in Prince Edward Island
• Black Canadians have lived in HalifaxDartmouth area of Nova Scotia for generations
Special challenges
• depletion of cod stocks has destroyed
traditional way of life for thousands of fishers
and food processors
• whole communities dependent on government
assistance because of the loss of the fishery
• has some of the highest unemployment rates in
the country
• need to attract meaningful new jobs to the
region
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Unit 1: Confederation
Civics &
Society
Rights and Freedoms in Canada
n Canada, it is sometimes
easy to take our rights for
granted. We have the right to
speak out and criticize the government. We have the right to
hold lawful demonstrations and
ask for changes to existing laws
that no longer meet our needs.
We have the right to practise
any religion, or none at all.
We are free to travel outside
Canada whenever we wish. We
have the right to move, live, and
work in any province in Canada.
I
In 1998 President
Nelson Mandela of
South Africa visited
Ottawa and Toronto.
He personally thanked
Canadians for speaking
out strongly for Black
people in South Africa.
Canada helped to persuade the government
of South Africa to grant
more rights and freedoms for the Black
population.
These rights, and many others,
are guaranteed in the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms.
It is important to know that
in many countries of the world,
citizens do not have many of the
rights Canadians enjoy. They
look at our Canadian rights and
freedoms with respect and
admiration. Canadians have
played an important part in supporting more freedoms and
human rights for people in all
parts of the world.
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Chapter 7: Confederation Update
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Highlights
Under the Charter, all Canadians are guaranteed the following:
1. Fundamental Freedoms:
a) Freedom of conscience and religion;
b) Freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression, including
i) Freedom of the press,
ii) Freedom of peaceful assembly,
iii) Freedom of association.
2. Democratic Rights:
a) The right to vote;
b) The right to run for election.
3. Mobility Rights:
a) The right to enter, remain in, and leave Canada;
b) The right to live in, move to, and work in any province.
4. Legal Rights:
a) The right to life, liberty, and security;
b) Protection against unreasonable search and seizure or arbitrary detention or
imprisonment;
c) The right to be informed quickly about the charges;
d) The right to hire a lawyer;
e) The right to trial within a reasonable time;
f) The right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.
5. Equality Rights:
a) Protection from discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour,
religion, age, sex, or mental or physical disability.
6. Official Languages:
a) The right to use English and French in the government and courts of Canada and of
New Brunswick.
7. Minority Language Education Rights:
a) The right to education in English or French where there are sufficient numbers of
students.
8. Aboriginal Rights:
a) Recognition of the existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the Native Peoples (Inuit,
Indian, and Métis).
1. Look through the international news
section in a national newspaper or newsmagazine. Find examples of areas in the
world where people do not enjoy the same
rights as you do as Canadian citizens.
2. What do you think you can do as a
concerned world citizen to make people
aware of human rights abuses?
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Unit 1: Confederation
Skill Building: Conducting an Opinion Survey
An opinion survey is a method of finding out
what a number of people think about an issue.
Suppose you and your classmates want to play
music in the school halls during your lunch hour.
Your group approaches the principal and she or
he suggests that you conduct a survey to find
out whether people agree with your idea. A
structured survey is good because everyone is
asked the same questions.This makes it easier
for you to compile the results.
Your survey might look like this:
Date ________
Class _________
Sample
Opinion Survey
Question #1
Should music be played in school when classes are not in session?
Yes ____
No ____
No Preference ____
Question #2
What types of music should be played? In each case, circle your preference.
Rock
Classical
Country
Rap
Other
Always
Always
Always
Always
Always
Occasionally
Occasionally
Occasionally
Occasionally
Occasionally
Seldom
Seldom
Seldom
Seldom
Seldom
Never
Never
Never
Never
Never
Question #3
Who should be responsible for selecting and playing the music?
Student council president
Class representatives
Vice-Principal
Teacher committee
Committee of teachers
and students
Other
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
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Chapter 7: Confederation Update
105
Format
Try It!
Notice that three different types of questions
are asked.
Question #1 is a simple question that calls
for a “yes,” “no,” or “no preference” answer.
Question #2 gives the person the chance to
express several choices.
Question #3 allows the person to rank her
or his choices in order of importance.
1. Discover which rights in the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms your classmates value the
most. First, think about your question.
Remember to keep it specific. For example, your
question could be: “Which of these four human
rights do you consider to be the most important: freedom of religion, freedom of speech,
freedom of movement, or freedom from fear?”
Audience
2. Next, decide on your audience.Who will you
survey? Do you want to survey students of different ages? Do you want to include teachers?
Do you want to broaden your survey and
include adults, such as your parents?
Decide who will be involved in the survey.Will
you include teachers, administrative assistants,
and custodians? Will you ask an equal number of
students from all grades? Will there be an equal
number of males and females surveyed?
Compiling the Results
Summarize the results that you have collected.
Be sure your summary includes the following:
• the purpose of the survey
• who the audience was
• how many people were surveyed out of the
total group
• the results
• your conclusions and recommendations.
For example, the music survey results could
indicate:
• how many students responded to each
question
• recommendations based on the results of the
survey.
3. Now design your questionnaire. Remember
to leave spaces for people to write their age if
you want to make age part of your results.Then
develop your questions.You will want to list the
four rights and perhaps have people rank them.
4. Conduct your survey and compile the
results.What did you find? Was there any consensus? Can you draw any conclusions from your
survey? Write a few statements to summarize
the results.
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Unit 1: Confederation
Activities
Understanding Concepts
1. Add these new terms to your Factfile.
Statute of Westminster
Official Languages Act
Constitution Act 1982
Meech Lake Accord
Charlottetown Accord
separatism
Parti Québécois
Bloc Québécois
alienation
treaty
Charter of Rights and
Freedoms
opinion survey
2. List the major challenges to Confederation Canada has faced since the 1970s.
Briefly explain to a partner how each challenge could break up the country.
3. Why might provinces such as British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Québec
choose to leave Confederation?
4. Why did conflicts between the central and provincial governments arise? How
do the governments try to resolve these problems?
Digging Deeper
5. THINK/SPEAK Divide into three groups. Each group discusses one question
below and then chooses a spokesperson to report to the class.
a) How would you feel if Québec or any other province/region of Canada did
leave Confederation? Why? What would Canada lose? What might the
province or region have to gain?
b) Could the separation of any province or region lead to war with the rest of
Canada? Explain the reasons for your answer.
c) If one or more provinces left the union, would the rest of Canada fall apart?
What do you think would happen to Canada?
6. RANKING The following is a list of rights set out in the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms. Rank these in the order of importance for you and give reasons for
your choices.
• Aboriginal rights (Native rights)
• minority language
• assembly
• mobility
• association
• press
• conscience
• run for public office
• equality
• thought
• language
• vote
• legal rights
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Chapter 7: Confederation Update
7. WHO’S WHO A good review exercise is to prepare your own “Who’s Who.”
List all the names you can remember discussing in this unit on Confederation.
In a sentence or two, summarize the importance of each name.Then use your
list to quiz other members of your class.
Making New Connections
8. INVESTIGATE Some French-speaking students from Québec were talking with
some English-speaking students from the Prairies.They said to each other, “We
don’t know you! You don’t know us!” What do you think the students meant
by this remark? Is it true? How much do you know about other regions of
Canada and the people in them? Find out more about another region of
Canada. Create a visual display with photos and facts.
9. THINK/WRITE To help you understand how difficult it is to write a constitution, divide the class into two committees. One will write a constitution that
governs the running of a classroom.The other committee will write a constitution for a school team. Each constitution should cover the rights and responsibilities of both students and teachers.
10. CREATE Divide into groups and compose a “Student’s Bill of Rights” or a
“Child’s Bill of Rights.”
Child's Bill
of Rights
Student's Bill
of Rights
11. CURRENT EVENTS Collect information from newspapers and magazines on the
question of Confederation today.Watch for references to conflict felt by
regions of Canada with the Confederation agreement.
a) Display the articles on a bulletin board.
b) Discuss the current issues involving the provinces or regions and the federal
government.
c) Make a scrapbook on the theme “Confederation Today.”
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