Section 2 Introduction
Completion requirements
Unit 5: Section 2: Issues for Canadians
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Section 2 Introduction
During this course, you have learned that the Canadian government and the economy of Canada have a direct impact on your quality of life, your citizenship, and your identity. Governance in Canada involves citizens in making decisions for the good of all Canadians. Also, Canada's economy is structured so that individuals have considerable freedom to make choices as consumers but with the support and protection of the government.
As a citizen in Canada, you have the opportunity and the responsibility to participate in both political and economic decision-making. You may choose to be part of a lobby, an advocacy, or a consumer group that attempts to influence decisions regarding such things as determining proposed legislation or requesting certain products be made available. Also, you pay taxes on the goods and services you purchase, which assists the federal and provincial governments in implementing the social programs that are important to the Canadian identity.
Governments have to make decisions that impact everyone. In the decision-making process, the government is mandated to consider the needs of all stakeholders. The decisions that government makes affect your quality of life.
In Section 2, you will examine how the government and the economy respond to environmental issues. You will explore the land-use planning process and learn how land use affects Alberta's economy and environment. You will present a personal plan of action detailing how you can become involved actively and help to make a difference.
In Unit 1, you were introduced to issues as roadblocks or problems that can lead to challenges as well as opportunities. What is an environmental issue?
An environmental issue is any problem that poses a challenge or opportunity for the environment, such as how human interaction changes or alters the environment. This human interaction may present itself in the form of factories releasing carbon dioxide (CO2)emissions into the air or in the removal of natural wildlife habitat for housing developments.
environmental issue: any problem that poses a challenge or opportunity for the environment, such as the human interaction affecting or changing the environment
Vocabulary
Add a definition for the term environmental issue to your Issues for Canadians Definitions handout.
Save your updated handout to your Activities folder.
In your notes, identify an environmental issue of which you are aware. What small steps could you take to make a difference to this environmental issue? Outline some actions you, your family, and/or your community could take.
Save your work to your Activities folder.
In this section, you will examine these questions:
An environmental issue is any problem that poses a challenge or opportunity for the environment, such as how human interaction changes or alters the environment. This human interaction may present itself in the form of factories releasing carbon dioxide (CO2)emissions into the air or in the removal of natural wildlife habitat for housing developments.
environmental issue: any problem that poses a challenge or opportunity for the environment, such as the human interaction affecting or changing the environment
Vocabulary
Add a definition for the term environmental issue to your Issues for Canadians Definitions handout.
Save your updated handout to your Activities folder.
In your notes, identify an environmental issue of which you are aware. What small steps could you take to make a difference to this environmental issue? Outline some actions you, your family, and/or your community could take.
Save your work to your Activities folder.
In this section, you will examine these questions:
- How is my quality of life impacted by economic and political decisions?
- What can I do about it as a citizen?
- Section 2 Inquiry
- activities
- assignments
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