Welcome to the new blog. I've had cause to post a couple of impromptu civics lesson on Facebook, but I have to think that a blog is a more appropriate forum. Since it seems strange to start a blog with "Day 2", I'm reposting yesterday's lesson.
I was somewhat surprised by an obscure point of parliamentary procedure today, so I did a bit of cramming on all things Canadian. The end result was me digging into the question bank for the Canadian Citizenship Test, so that I have the opportunity to show the Facebook crowd that I know more about this country than the people writing the test.
Since I'm a die-hard republican who has seen a just seen responsible government suspended by an unelected representative of a foreign country, today's test may contain up to 50% more snark than usual.
From where does the name "Canada" come?
My Answer: From a native word for village.
Their Answer: From "Kanata", the First Nations word for village.
My Response: Well, for starters, the attempt to avoid ending that sentence with a preposition is terribly awkward. Actually my issues here are entirely grammatical. Using the definite article here is utterly wrong, and it makes me want to go learn the First Nations language.
Where did the first European settlers to Canada come from?
My answer: Greenland (Erikson), then Basque Country (?), then England (Cabot), then France (Cartier). There may have been some Irish ca. 500, but if so they left no trace.
Their Answer: France.
What does "Equality under the law" mean?
My answer: All individuals are subject to the same laws, regardless of their job, their titles, or whether they are descended from Sophia of Hanover.
Their answer: Protection from discrimination.
How is the government formed after an election?
My answer: The queen, or the vice-regal representative if the Queen is absent, chooses the party best able to command Parliament.
Their answer: The party with the most elected representatives becomes the party in power.
Which territory shares a border with another country?
My answer: Either 2 or 3. Yukon shares a border with the United States, and Nunavut shares a border with Denmark. All three might share borders with Russia, but this is disputed.
Their answer: Yukon.
What is Canada's system of government?
My answer: Constitutional Monarchy
Their answer: Parliamentary government
How is the Prime Minister chosen?
My answer: The Queen, or the vice-regal representative if the Queen is absent, chooses the Prime Minister who they suspect will be best able to govern.
Their answer: The leader of the party with the most elected representatives becomes the Prime Minister.
Why did early explorers first come to Atlantic Canada?
My answer: Nobody really knows, but the local resources and empty space for the taking were likely the major factors. 11000 years after that, the Vikings came for timber and the Basques came for fish.
Their answer: To fish and trade with the First Nations people.
Who do Members of Parliament represent?
My answer: Members of what now?
Their answer: Everyone who lives who lives in his/her electoral district.
How are Senators chosen?
My answer: I thought they were appointed by the Prime Minister, but suddenly I suspect they are appointed by the Queen or vice-regal representative yadda yadda yadda.
Their answer: By the Prime Minister.
My response: I checked, yep, it's the Queen. She does so much for us, we really ought to see about making her an honourary citizen or something.
What is the Canadian shield?
My answer: A slab of impenetrable adamantium which along with the Parliamentary Mace is wielded by Captain Canuck in his defence of peace, order, and good government.
My other answer: A rock formation conssisting of a considerable part of the North American plate, one of the oldest formations in the world with rock deposits dating back over 2 billion years.
Their answer: A rock formation millions of years old.
What are the three levels of government in Canada?
My answer: Government is not always so neatly divided into levels. Federal and Provincial could be considered levels, but then you have Territorial which exists solely at the whim of the Federal government, Municipal and regional which exist solely at the whim of the Provincial governments, and an assortment of natives with varying levels of self-governance.
Their answer: Federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal/local.
In which parts of Canada did the Aboriginal peoples first live?
My answer: Either the BC Coast or the Yukon interior, depending on how exactly they wandered in from Beringia.
Their answer: All regions.
How many provinces and territories are there in Canada?
My answer: I'm sure the answer you want is 10 and 3, although embassies are considered Canadian territory, and the Vimy Memorial is considered an honourary territory.
Their answer: Ten provinces and three territories.
What animal is an official symbol of Canada?
My answer: Any one of the Beaver, the Lion, the Unicorn, or the Canadian Horse, although calling the Unicorn an animal is stretching things a bit. Please note that I actually researched this one, it turns out the Canadian Horse was made a national symbol in 2002 while nobody was looking.
Their answer: The beaver.
What year did Canada become a Country?
My answer: Either 1867, when it became a unified subsidiary of the British Empire, or 1931, when it became a slightly more independent subsidiary of the British Empire, or 1982, when we became slightly more independent than that and the Queen decided we would only have to stay that way as long as we wanted to.
Their answer: 1867.
Who has the right to run as a candidate in federal elections?
My answer: Anyone eligible to vote, I.E. a citizen 18 years old or older who has resided in Canada for some months of which I have forgotten the precise number.
Their answer: Any Canadian citizen at least 18 years old.
What are the provinces of Central Canada?
My answer: Well, Canada starts at about 41 degrees in Lake Erie and goes up to about 83 degrees on Ellesmere Island, so the center must be around 62 degrees, making it a territory. I think the east-west center is in Manitoba, so the overall center must be in Nunavut. Therefore, there are no provinces of Central Canada.
Their answer: Ontario and Quebec.
What do political parties do?
My answer: You know, this one is just too easy for satire. Fish in a barrel.
Their answer: Share ideas about how government should work.
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