Lesson 1: Citizenship and Contemporary Issues
2. Lesson
In the previous lessons you learned what your rights and responsibilities are as a citizen of Canada. You were also given some suggestions for ways that you can get involved in both society and the political process in Canada. In this lesson you will examine some contemporary issues at the local, national and international level and reflect on:
- What is the role of the individual in society?
- What actions are appropriate responses to various contemporary issues at the local, national and international level
LOCAL ISSUES
One issue that has been a hot topic in Alberta is minimum wage. Please follow the link below and read up about the pros and cons of increasing minimum wage in Alberta.
Another controversial issue in Alberta is Bill 24 which prevents teachers from outing students who join a gay straight alliance in school. Please read the following article about Bill 24.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/bill-24-passes-gsa-alberta-legislature-1.4403953
NATIONAL ISSUES
Read pages 375-379 of your textbook, Understandings of Ideologies, and read about Poverty and Debt in Canada.
Answer the following questions based on your textbook reading:
1. What is the difference between living in poverty and living in abject poverty?
2. What does it mean to live below the poverty line in Canada?
3. How would a supporter of mixed economies say governments should deal with poverty? (you need to think about this one ~ consider how people in a mixed economy view economic equality)
4. Why are housing, poverty and debt so closely linked together?
5. How is debt and poverty a global issue?
6. What is the purpose of the Millennium Development Goals?
7. How does the World Bank contribute to the problem of global poverty and debt?
8. Explain how a supporter of classical liberalism (capitalism) might respond to the issue of poverty? (hint: what is the law of the jungle?)
Self Check your answers here.
INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
Poverty and debt are issues faced not only by Canadians but are a global concern. Please read your textbook, Understandings of Ideologies, pages 380-389. As you read this section of your textbook take notes on the following international issues:
- The environment and resources
- The internet and censorship
- Health Crises
THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY
The final part of this lesson is for you to reflect on:
- To what extent should your ideology shape the way you respond to issues in times of peace?
- How society's beliefs and values can affect government decisions and legislation.
- How various interpretations of citizens' rights, roles and responsibilities influence individual and collective action in times of peace
Please read this article about a local youth, Stephen McPhee and how he has addressed the issue of poverty in Airdrie.
http://www.airdriecityview.com/article/Airdrie-youth-wins-national-Me-to-We-award-20151008
In the summer of 2010 Toronto, Ontario hosted a controversial gathering of the world's leaders, the G20 Summit. While leaders met to discuss the world economy and key global initiatives, protestors took to the streets to bring attention to what they believed were the inherent injustices in the capitalist economic system.
Watch this video about the protest and dissent surrounding the G20 Summit held in Toronto, Ontario in June of 2010.
Consider these other examples of the role of the citizen in society
Muhammad Ali refuses to serve in the US army during the Vietnam War on religious grounds.
Ehren Watada, a lieutenant in the US army, believed that the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 was illegal and unjust. He also believed that as a citizen of a democratic country he had the right - the responsibility- to question decisions made by his government. When he refused to participate in the Iraq war 2006, he was charged with several offences. At a speech at the Veterans for Peace 2006 National Convention in Seattle, Washington, Watada said that he was simply a patriotic American who believed in the principles and laws of his country and its constitution.
