OTTAWA - Put down this page for a moment, pretend you’re at a hockey game. Rise to your feet for the national anthem and sing.
If you can get through the whole song, consider yourself a patriot.
If you can’t even remember the first two lines, you’re not alone. A new survey has found one-third of Canadians can’t recall even the seven words that begin the anthem.
It gets worse.
The survey, marking the 50th anniversary of the Citizenship Act, was designed by an expert panel to resemble the kind of exam immigrants must pass to become a Canadian citizen. Conducted Oct. 28 to Nov. 4 by the Angus Reid Group, the survey tested more than 1,350 Canadian adults on civics and history.
Overall, 45 per cent flunked the test. A pass mark was at least 12 correct answers.
The Dominion Institute, formed earlier this year to foster awareness of the links between history, civil traditions and Canadian identity, sponsored the survey.
Institute director Rudyard Griffiths said Canada needs an informed public to debate current issues ranging from economic management to national unity.
“The engine of any successful democracy is an active and informed citizenry. And I think these survey findings show that our democratic culture here in Canada is firing on anything but all cylinders.”
Consider, again, the national anthem. Ninety-five per cent could name the title, but only 63 per cent could correctly remember the first two lines. In an intriguing twist, Quebecers fared better than other Canadians with 82 per cent successfully reciting the lines compared with only 56 per cent of the Canadians outside Quebec.
Move over the the geography class. Only 65 per cent of Canadians can name the three oceans bordering our country.
On history, the results are mixed. Eighty-seven per cent knew the main trade controlled by the Hudson Bay Company.
But only 48 per cent could name the event when the first provinces joined to form Canada. Think about it. It’s a one-word answer.
On politics, Canadian know the big names - 93 per cent could name the current prime minister, and 72 per cent named four of the five parties in the House of Commons.
But what do you call a law before it’s passed by the federal Parliment? Only 55 per cent knew the answer.
As well, 57 per cent think the prime minister is Canada’s head of state. He’s not.
Which part of the Constitution legally protects the basic “rights and freedoms” of all Canadians? Despite the clue, one in three failed to clue in.
Griffiths, whose institute is funded by the Donner Canadian Foundation, says the survey proves the need for a national framework that sets out, grade by grade, what kinds of civics information should be taught in school.
1. Name three requirements that a person must meet in order to vote in a federal election.
2. Name three responsibilities that Canadian citizens hold.
3. What was the main trade controlled by the Hudson Bay Company?
4. When the first provinces joined to form Canada, what with the event called?
5. Which four provinces joined together in Confederation?
6. What is the part of the Constitution which legally protects the basic rights and freedoms of all Canadians?
7. Name four rights and/or freedoms protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
8. Which province has the most bilingual Canadians?
9. What song is Canada’s national anthem?
10. And can you site the first two lines of the anthem?
11. What three oceans border Canada?
12. How many provinces and territories are there in Canada?
13. Name four of the five Great Lakes?
14. Which province in Canada is the smallest in land size?
15. What country is Canada’s largest trading partner?
16. Who is Canada’s head of state?
17. What are the three levels of government called in Canada?
18. Name four of the federal political parties represented in the House of Commons.
19. What is the name of the prime minister of Canada?
20. In the federal Parliment, what is a law called before it is passed?
21. Which political party is in power in your province or territory?
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