America’s sweet hat that’s good at hockey

YouDiscussedMe — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 15:48:21 +0000

It’s hard to argue with the metaphor.
(Click to make it bigger)

Canadian Citizenship Test. C’mon, you know you want to.

YouDiscussedMe — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:12:23 +0000

Want to be a Canadian? Of course you do. Everybody does. Canada rocks, and let’s face it – you’d be much happier if you were a Canadian.

So now that we’ve settled that – your path to Canada begins here – the Canadian Citizenship Test. Below are 100 sample questions from the actual Canadian citizenship test (a few of which we edited for our own amusement). But the questions really are legit, and if you can answer ALL OF THEM correctly, you are a prime candidate for citizenship – you just need to actually apply, meet a truckload of pesky eligibility criteria, and not be a murderer, pedophile or – god forbid – from Alaska.

So let’s get started! Here we go….

1. What does the Canadian flag look like?

Red and white with provincial emblems.
Red and white with a beaver.
White with a red border on each end and a red maple leaf in the centre.
Beige, with 'Tim Hortons' written across it in red script.

2. Who are the Aboriginal peoples of Canada?

The first European settlers to arrive in Canada.
The first settlers of Newfoundland.
The first people to live in Canada.
Those people in feathers and tassles who get choice seats at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics.

3. What are the three main groups of Aboriginal peoples?

First Nations, Métis and Inuit.
Acadians, Métis and Inuit.
Métis, Inuit and Beachcombers.
Inuit, Métis and The Tragically Hip.

4. From whom are the Métis descended?

The descendants of marriages between early English settlers and First Nations women.
The descendents of marriages between Inuit and other Aboriginal peoples.
The descendents of marriages between early French and English traders and First Nations women.
The descendents of First Nations women and Louis Riel.

5. Who were the United Empire Loyalists?

Settlers who came to Canada from the United States during and after the American Revolution.
Aboriginal peoples.
Those same people who get all excited when the Queen visits Canada every 20 years.
Inuit.

6. What does Confederation mean?

The United States Confederate soldiers came to Canada.
Joining of communities to become a province.
Joining of suburbs to form a large city.
Joining of provinces to make a new country.

7. What is the Canadian Constitution?

A system of laws and conventions by which our country governs itself.
The laws that govern the provinces.
The ability to survive in very cold weather and with very little daylight.
Municipal or local laws.

8. What year was Confederation?

1867.
1871.
1898.
1870.

9. When did the British North America Act come into effect?

1871.
1898.
1867.
1905.

10. Which four provinces first formed Confederation?

Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Alberta.
Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
Ontario, Quebec. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

11. Which was the last province to join Canada?

Newfoundland.
Alberta.
Saskatchewan.
British Columbia.

12. When is Canada Day and what does it celebrate?

February 5th of each year to celebrate the anniversary of Don Cherry's birth.
August 8th of each year to celebrate the joining of British Columbia to Confederation.
We celebrate the anniversary of Confederation July 1st of each year.
May 21st of each year to remember Queen Victoria.

13. Who was the first Prime Minister of Canada?

Louis Riel.
Sir John A. Macdonald.
Lester B. Pearson.
Geddy Lee.

14. Why is the Constitution Act of 1982 important in Canadian history?

It allows Canada to change the Constitution without asking approval of the British Government.
It allows Canadians more freedoms.
It changed the immigration laws.
The Queen became more involved in Canadian Government.

15. What part of the Constitution legally protects the basic rights and freedoms of all Canadians?

The British Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Canadian Charter of Rights.
The Canadian Charter of Freedoms.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

16. When did the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms become part of the Canadian Constitution?

1867.
1905.
1982.
1878.

17. Name two fundamental freedoms protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
Equality rights and to care for Canada's heritage.
Basic freedoms and obey laws.
Aboriginal peoples' rights and to volunteer.

18. Name three legal rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Freedom of speech, right to not pay taxes, and right to a fair trial.
Right to live and work anywhere in Canada, right to a fair trial, and right to protection against discrimination.
Right to ski anywhere in Canada, right to move, and right to public assembly.
Right to bitch about all types of weather, right to government-issued poutine, and right to a ten-month hockey season.

19. List three ways in which you can protect the environment.

Work near where you live, drive to work, take a taxi.
Use unleaded gas, drive a small car, travel by yourself.
Compost and recycle, conserve energy and water, walk or join a car pool.
Pour solvents down storm drains, leave taps running, leave lights on.

20. What does equality under the law mean?

Being the same.
Being like everyone else.
Being discriminated against.
Being treated with equal dignity and respect, and having equal rights to speak out and express ideas.

21. Name six responsibilities of citizenship.

Get a job, make money, raise a family, pay taxes, mow your lawn, vote.
Vote, join a political party, get a job, obey the law, drive safely, pick up litter.
Care for the environment, don't litter, pay taxes, obey the law, help others, respect others.
Vote, help others, care for our heritage and environment, obey Canada's laws, respect the rights of others, eliminate injustice.

22. Give an example of how you can show responsibility by participating in your community.

Mind your own business.
Have a party.
Keep your property tidy.
Join a community group.

23. List four rights Canadian citizens have.

Right to have a job, vote, drive, go to school.
Right to go to school, work, have a bank account, travel.
Right to travel, live anywhere, work anywhere, get married.
Right to be educated in either official language, vote, apply for a Canadian passport, enter and leave Canada freely.

24. What will you promise when you take the Oath of Citizenship?

Pledge allegiance to the Queen, observe the laws of Canada and fulfill the duties of a Canadian.
Pledge to be faithful to the Queen.
Promise to observe the laws of Canada.
Promise to always say please and thank you.

25. What are the two official languages of Canada?

English and Métis.
Inuktitut and French.
English and French.
English and Newfie.

26. Give an example of where English and French have equal status in Canada.

In schools.
In the workplace.
In the Parliament of Canada.
At City Hall.

27. Where do most French-speaking Canadians live?

Ontario.
Nova Scotia.
Quebec.
Prince Edward Island.

28. Which province has the most bilingual Canadians?

British Columbia.
Prince Edward Island.
Nova Scotia.
Quebec.

29. Which province is the only officially bilingual province?

New Brunswick.
Quebec.
Ontario.
Prince Edward Island.

30. What song is Canada’s national anthem?

God Save the Queen.
O Canada.
Star Spangled Banner.
Takin' Care of Business.

31. Give the first two lines of Canada’s national anthem?

O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command.
Life is a highway. I'm going to ride it all night long.
A modern day warrior, mean, mean stride. Today's Tom Sawyer, mean, mean pride.
Gone gone gone, she been gone so long. She been gone gone gone so long.

32. From where does the name "Canada" come?

From the Inuit word meaning country.
From the French word meaning joining.
From the Métis word meaning rivers.
From "kanata", the Huron-Iroquois word for village.

33. Which animal is an official symbol of Canada?

The moose.
The hawk.
The beaver.
Celine Dion.

34. What is the population of Canada?

About 20 million.
38 million.
17 million.
About 33 million.

35. What three oceans border Canada?

Atlantic, Arctic and Bering.
Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific.
Pacific, Indian and Atlantic.
Hudson, Pacific and Great Big Sea.

36. What is the capital city of Canada?

Ottawa.
Toronto.
Montreal.
Are you sure it's not Toronto?

37. What are the provinces of Central Canada and their capital cities?

Manitoba (Winnipeg) and Ontario (Toronto).
Quebec (Quebec City) and Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown).
Ontario (Toronto) and Quebec (Quebec City).
Saskatchewan (Regina) and Manitoba Winnipeg).

38. What are the provinces of the Atlantic region and their capital cities?

Nova Scotia (Halifax), New Brunswick (Fredricton), Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown) and Quebec (Quebec).
Newfoundland (St. John's), Nova Scotia (Halifax), New Brunswick (Fredericton) and Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown).
Newfoundland (St. John's), Nova Scotia (Halifax), New Brunswick (Fredericton) and Quebec (Quebec).
Nova Scotia (Halifax), New Brunswick (Frederiction), Quebec (Quebec City)and Ontario (Toronto).

39. What are the Prairie provinces and their capital cities?

Alberta (Edmonton) and Saskatachewan (Regina).
Alberta (Edmonton), Saskatchewan (Regina) and Manitoba (Winnipeg).
Saskatchewan (Regina) and Manitoba (Winnipeg).
Saskatchewan (Regina), Manitoba (Winnipeg) and Ontario (Toronto).

40. What are the territories of Northern Canada and their capital cities?

Alaska (Juneau) and Yukon Territory ( Whitehorse).
Northwest Territories (Yellowknife) and Alaska (Juneau).
Northwest Territories (Yellowknife).
Yukon Territory (Whitehorse), Northwest Territories (Yellowknife), and Nunavut (Iqaluit).

41. Name the five regions of Canada

Midwest, North, South, East, Central
Maritimes, Ontario, Quebec, Prairies and British Columbia
Atlantic, Central, Prairie, West Coast and North
West, Central, East, Prairies and Territories

42. Which region covers more than one-third of Canada?

Central Canada.
Prairies.
Atlantic Canada.
Northern Canada.

43. In which region do more than half the people in Canada live?

Central Canada.
Prairies.
Atlantic Canada.
Northern Canada.

44. One third of all Canadians live in which province?

Quebec.
Ontario.
Northwest Territories.
Manitoba.

45. Where are the Great Lakes?

Between Canada and the United States.
Manitoba.
Northern Quebec.
Atlantic Canada.

46. Where are the Parliament Buildings located?

Ottawa.
Quebec City.
Hull.
Toronto.

47. Which country borders Canada on the south?

United States of America.
Super Awesome Jesus Land.
Wal-Mart.
That country whose ass we kicked back to the White House in 1812. Yeah, we still remember.

48. Which province in Canada is the smallest in land size?

Nova Scotia.
Prince Edward Island.
Yukon Territory.
Newfoundland and Labrador.

49. What is a major river in Quebec?

Grand Fleuve.
St. Lawrence River.
Niagara.
Hudson's Bay.

50. On what date did Nunavut become a territory?

July 1st, 1867
April 1st, 1999
June 24th, 1995
March 31st, 1949

51. What are the three main types of industry in Canada?

Natural resources, tourism and service industries.
Tourism, services and manufacturing.
Natural resources, tourism and manufacturing.
Natural resources, manufacturing and services.

52. In what industry do most Canadians work?

Natural resources.
Tourism.
Service.
Manufacturing.

53. What country is Canada’s largest trading partner?

Mexico.
United States.
China.
Japan.

54. Which region is known as the industrial and manufacturing heartland of Canada?

Atlantic provinces.
Prairie provinces.
Central Canada.
West Coast.

55. Which region of Canada is known for both its fertile agricultural land and valuable energy resources?

British Columbia.
Prairie provinces.
Ontario.
Manitoba.

56. Who is Canada’s Head of State?

Governor General of Canada.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Prime Minister.
Lieutenant Governor.

57. Who is the Queen’s representative in Canada?

Prime Minister of Canada.
Premier.
Celine Dion.
Governor General of Canada.

58. What is the name of the Governor General?

Adrienne Clarkson.
Dalton McGuinty.
Michaëlle Jean.
David Johnston.

59. What do you call the Queen’s representative in the provinces?

Premier.
Member of the Legislative Assembly.
Lieutenant-Governor.
Senator.

60. What is Canada’s system of government called?

Brutal Dictatorship.
Parliamentary government.
Military Rule.
Socialism.

61. What are the three parts of Parliament?

The Queen, Governor General and Prime Minister.
The House of Commons, the Legislative Assembly and the Senate.
The Queen, the Legislative Assembly and the Senate.
The Queen, the House of Commons and the Senate.

62. When is Remembrance Day celebrated?

July 1st.
October 1st.
November 11th.
December 25th.

63. How are Members of Parliament chosen?

Appointed by the Prime Minister.
Elected by Canadian citizens.
Appointed by the Queen.
Elected by the Provincial Ministers.

64. Who do Members of Parliament represent?

All of the Canadians living in the north.
Only Canadians living in Central Canada.
Everyone who lives in his or her electoral district.
Canadians living in the province in which he/she was elected.

65. How does a bill become a law?

The Lieutenant Governor must approve the bill.
Approval by a majority in the House of Commons and Senate and finally the Governor General.
The Queen must sign the bill.
Approval by the Members of the Legislative Assembly.

66. What are the three levels of government in Canada?

Federal, Provincial/Territorial, Municipal or Local.
Federal, Provincial and City.
Federal, Provincial and City.
Federal, State and Local.

67. Name two responsibilities of the federal government.

National defence and firefighting.
National defence and foreign policy.
Citizenship and highways.
Blackberry and maple syrup production.

68. What is the government of all of Canada called?

National assembly.
Legislature.
Federal.
Council.

69. How many electoral districts are there in Canada?

20.
228.
308.
178.

70. Who has the right to vote in federal elections?

A Canadian citizen, 18 years or older and on voters list.
A Canadian citizen, 18 years or older and must work for the federal government.
A landed immigrant, 18 years old and a member of the Canadian Forces.
A Canadian citizen, over 25 years and a member of the Canadian Forces.

71. What is Canada’s national winter sport?

Golf (in Florida).
Nordic skiing.
Lacrosse.
Hockey.

72. What is written on a federal election ballot?

The list of candidates running for Prime Minister.
The names of the candidates in your electoral district in alphabetical order from "A" to "Z".
The list of Canadians eligible to vote.
The results of the election.

73. What do you mark on a federal election ballot?

The candidate's name.
The number for the candidate.
An "X"
The voter's name.

74. How is the government formed after a federal election?

The party with the most elected representatives becomes the party in power. The Queen chooses the Prime Minister from this party.
The party with the most elected representatives becomes the party in power. The leader of this party becomes the Prime Minister.
The Governor General picks a party and a Prime Minister to run the government.
Each province elects one representative to form the government. The Queen then chooses the Prime Minister.

75. How is the Prime Minister chosen?

The leader of the party with the most elected representatives becomes the Prime Minister.
The Governor General with the Senate appoint the Prime Minister.
The Queen appoints the Prime Minister.
The MP's vote on the Prime Minister.

76. When must federal elections be held?

About every 4 years.
About every 15 minutes.
On the third Monday in October every four years following the most recent general election.
Whenever the Prime Minister calls the election.

77. Name all the federal political parties in the House of Commons and their leaders.

Conservative (Harper), NDP (Layton), Liberal (Martin), Bloc Quebecois (Duceppe)
Conservative (Harper), NDP (Layton), Liberal (Ignatieff), Bloc Quebecois (Duceppe)
NDP (Layton), Green (May), Liberal (Ignatieff), Bloc Quebecois (Duceppe)
Liberal (Ignatieff), Conservative (Harper), NDP (Layton), Green (May)

78. Which party becomes the Official Opposition?

The party with the second most MP's.
The party receiving the least votes.
Any independent candidate.
The party the Prime Minister selects.

79. What is the role of the Opposition parties?

To assist the Prime Minister.
To sign bills.
To oppose or try to improve government proposals.
To put forward bills to be passed.

80. Which party is the Official Opposition at the federal level?

The New Democratic Party.
The Liberal Party.
The Independent Party.
The Conservative Party.

81. What is the name of the Prime Minister of Canada and his/her party?

Michael Ignatieff (Liberal Party).
Stephen Harper (Conservative Party).
Jack Layton (New Democratic Party).
Gordon Campbell (Liberal Party).

82. What is a voter information card?

Tells you who the candidates are in your electoral district.
Tells you what province to vote in.
A form that tells you when and where to vote.
A form that lets you know your voting time.

83. Who has the right to run as a candidate in federal elections?

Anyone.
A Canadian citizen who is 16 years old.
Any man who is at least 18 years old.
Any Canadian citizen who is at least 18 years old.

84. Who do Canadians vote for in a federal election?

A candidate they want to represent them in Parliament.
The best speaker running in the election.
Someone to become the Premier.
All of the candidates in their electoral district.

85. Which federal political party is in power?

Green Party.
New Democratic Party.
Liberal Party.
Conservative Party.

86. How are Senators chosen?

By the Governor General of Canada.
By the Premiers of all provinces.
Appointed by the Queen.
They are chosen by the Prime Minister and appointed by the Governor General.

87. What should you do if you do not receive a voter information card telling you when and where to vote?

Go to the police station.
Call your Member of Parliament.
Assume you cannot vote.
Call Elections Canada or visit their website.

88. After a federal election, which party forms the new government?

The party with the most elected representatives becomes the party in power.
The Queen picks a party to run the government.
The Governor General proposes a law for elected officials to become the governing body.
The Premiers of each province pick a party to run the government.

89. Which of the following statements about residential schools is NOT true?

The federal government placed many Aboriginal children in residential schools to educate and assimilate them into mainstream.
The schools were poorly funded and inflicted hardship on the students.
The schools were welcomed by the Aboriginal people.
Aboriginal language and cultural practices were mostly prohibited.

90. Who are the Québécois?

European settlers in the 1600s.
Descendants of the French colonists.
Descendants of the Anglophones.
People of Québéc.

91. Who are the Acadians?

Aboriginal people of the arctic.
French-speaking Catholics living in Ontario.
The descendants of French colonists who began settling in what are now the Maritime provinces in 1604.
English speaking refugees who settled in Louisiana.

92. What is the largest religious affiliation in Canada?

Roman Catholic.
Muslim.
Jewish.
Hindu.

93. Which Act granted, for the first time in Canada, legislative assemblies elected by the people?

The Constitution Act of 1867.
The Constitution Act of 1791.
The Constitution Act of 1982.
The Constitution Act of 2010.

94. Which of the following sentences best describes the War of 1812?

Napoleon’s fleet was defeated by the Royal Navy in the war.
The USA became independent from the British Empire after the war.
The USA invaded Canada and was defeated, which ensured that Canada would remain independent of the United States.
Canada joined the United States after the war.

95. Who was the first leader of a responsible government in the Canadas in 1849?

Sir John A. Macdonald.
Robert Baldwin.
Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine.
Louis Riel.

96. Who was Sir Sam Steele?

A great frontier hero, Mounted Policeman and soldier of the Queen.
A military leader of the Métis in the 19th century.
The first Prime Minister of Canada.
The first Prime Minister of Canada.

97. Who had played an important part in building the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)?

American railroad engineers.
Acadian railroad workers.
Chinese railroad workers.
Afro-American slaves.

98. What is the “Head Tax”?

Race-based entry fee charged for Chinese entering Canada.
Fee charged for anyone entering Canada after 1900.
A tax imposed on beer beginning in 1867.
Fee charged for moving westward in the early 1900s.

99. Approximately how many Canadians served in the First World War?

7000.
8 million.
About 60,000.
More than 600,000.

100. What was the Women’s Suffrage Movement?

The effort by women to achieve the right to vote.
The effort by women to participate in military service.
An unsuccessful movement to get husbands to do housework.
The effort by women to be in Parliament.

sources: Richmond Public Library, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Wikibooks.

Canadian Army disassembles and reassembles Jeep in under 4 minutes

YouDiscussedMe — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:48:25 +0000

Canadian army soldiers from the 3 Area Support Group (3ASG) Technical Services Division stationed at CFB Gagetown strip and rebuild a Willys MB US Army Jeep in under four minutes during a local army services parade in Halifax.

source: liveleak

Canadian Dollar hits par with sad, sad, U.S. dollar.

YouDiscussedMe — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:16:45 +0000

Warm up the car, it’s time for some cross-border shopping! Yes, for the first time since 2007, the loonie has achieved parity with the sad, sickly, mostly-Chinese-owned U.S. greenback. And according to pretty much everyone, it’ll hover near or above par for the coming months, maybe years.

From the Globe:

Nonetheless, it’s hard to find a reason that the currency would drop more than a cent or two any time soon. Rising oil prices and a greater appetite for risk are pushing investors away from currencies like the U.S. dollar and toward those linked to commodity prices and strong economic growth. That’s on top of longer-term factors, such as central banks around the world buying Canadian dollars to diversify their currency reserves amid questions about the greenback and the euro and, more immediately, mounting signs that the Bank of Canada will start raising interest rates in June or July, well before the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.

Sure, it’s not great for Canadian manufacturing, which relies heavily on trade with our recession-drowning neighbours to the south, but it still feels good to know that our obsessive online shopping will cost a little less moving forward.

links: Yahoo!, The Globe and Mail

Canada tops The Economist’s Top Ten Most Liveable Cities. Again.

YouDiscussedMe — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:48:39 +0000

Once again proving that Canada IS better – The Economist’s 2010 index of the World’s Most Liveable Cities is loaded with Canadian cities.

For the third year in a row, Vancouver tops the list, with its picturesque mountains and coast line, its unparalelled outdoor activites, and who’s kidding who – it’s world-class cannabis. After their impressive hosting of the 2010 Winter Games, no doubt the world agrees.

Also holding their own in terms of liveability – Toronto and Calgary remain at their 4th and 5th positions from 2009, making Canada the top ranking country on the index AGAIN. This is empirical evidence of Canadian superiority in the world, people!

The Economist ranks liveability by rating each city in terms of stability, health care, culture and entertainment, education, and infrastructure.

Check out the top ten below (which happens to omit any mention of that global superpower that seems to always think it’s #1):

Rank, Country, City, Rating
1, Canada, Vancouver, 98.0
2, Austria, Vienna, 97.9
3, Australia, Melbourne, 97.5
4, Canada, Toronto, 97.2
5, Canada, Calgary, 96.6
6, Finland, Helsinki, 96.2
7, Australia, Sydney, 96.1
8, Australia, Perth, 95.9
8, Australia, Adelaide, 95.9
10, New Zealand, Auckland, 95.7

Source: The Economist

Canada is Better. » Canada is #1!

America’s sweet hat that’s good at hockey

Canadian Citizenship Test. C’mon, you know you want to.

Canadian Army disassembles and reassembles Jeep in under 4 minutes

Canadian Dollar hits par with sad, sad, U.S. dollar.

Canada tops The Economist’s Top Ten Most Liveable Cities. Again.