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Celebrating Canada’s Multiculturalism Edukit

Secondary Instructional Plan 1: Ethnic Settlement/ Immigration - Part 3

The Declaration of Independence summarizes the founding principles of the United States as being “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The Canadian Constitution Act 1867 begins with the responsibility of the government to “…to make Laws for the Peace, Order, and good Government of Canada….”

Is there a difference in how individual and collective rights and responsibilities might come to a different balance in the United States and Canadian systems?

Use the following table to guide some discussion about rights and responsibilities might differ in the two systems. Note that there are no specific answers here as the debate is the key to personal understanding.

Issues of Individual and Group Rights – Canada and the U. S.
Issue: Private postal systems can be set up and compete with the national postal system.
 
Canadian system would likely forbid
 
Canadian system would likely permit
 
U. S. system would likely forbid
 
U. S. system would likely permit
 

Reason for your decision
Issue: Citizens will be taxed in order to pay for a national health system
 
Canadian system would likely forbid
 
Canadian system would likely permit
 
U. S. system would likely forbid
 
U. S. system would likely permit
 

Reason for your decision
Issue: A national law will control who comes into and leaves the country
 
Canadian system would likely forbid
 
Canadian system would likely permit
 
U. S. system would likely forbid
 
U. S. system would likely permit
 

Reason for your decision

This may be continued with issues the learners develop—there are many options, and in some cases it is apparent that any government in our tradition might act the same way.


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