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.
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.