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Unit ONE Canada Geography, and You
 In geography, landscape refers to the natural features [e.g.,
mountains, rivers, wildlife] and human features [e.g., farmer’s fields,
buildings that you can see in an area.
 Place is any spot or area on the surface of the earth
 Canada is the second largest country in the world, second only to
Russia
Two ways to give the location of a place:
1. Relative location: shows the way that places are connected to other
places
2. Absolute location: the exact location of a place measured by its
latitude and longitude
Canada is divided into different regions [areas with similar characteristics]
found on page 11 of textbook
Three types of rock:
1. Igneous Rock - formed when magma cools and solidifies
- contain minerals such as iron, copper, zinc and gold
2. Sedimentary Rock- formed when grains of sand and soil and rock
particles are carried away, usually by water and wind, and laid down
in layers
- Contain deposits of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas
3. Metamorphic rocks- when igneous rocks and sedimentary rocks
change into new rock types through heat and pressure
- example limestone turns into marble
How does nature shape the landscape?
Two different kinds of forces are at work, WEATHERING and
EROSION. Weathering is the breaking up of rocks into smaller pieces by
wind, rain, water, ice, plant roots and chemical reaction. Erosion is the
movement of broken up particles to other places.
How are mountains formed?
Mountains are formed by a push-and-pull process known as plate
tectonics. For example, the Appalachian Mountains in eastern Canada were
formed when the North American Plate collided with Europe and northern
Africa more than 300 million years ago.
The power of ice
Glaciers are key agents of erosion and deposition [laying down of earth
materials]. Glaciers moves across the land, it bulldozes everything in its
path, picking up soil, gravel, trees, huge chunks of rock. This is later
deposited in other places. The Great Lakes and Fiords of BC were created
by glaciers.
INTERACTIONS
-interactions are influences that people or things have on each other
- nothing on Earth exists without interactions
Three main types of interactions:
1. Nature has an impact on people
By studying how natural events affect people, we can prepare for
these events so that there are fewer lives lost and less damage.
2. People have an impact on their environment
Studying how people affect their environment can help us manage
our natural resources so they are sustainable[able to last into future]
3. People’s actions may affect other people
Studying how people’s actions may affect other people can help us
improve the quality of life for more people.
How does Nature affect People?
- Affects where people live and the activities they engage in
- Provide a setting for recreation and tourism
- Provide us with a wealth of resources and lure people to work
in resource based towns
- Natural hazards like hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados and
tsunamis [gigantic, fast moving wave caused by an undersea
earthquake] cause death and destruction
How do people affect the natural environment?
- Human activities, such as growing crops, cutting forests,
building dams, and cities, and creating waste have changed the
surface of Canada.
- Some activities have helped the natural setting, such as
recycling and good farming practices
- Some activities have harmed the natural setting like producing
waste that pollutes streams and farming practices that erode the
soil
Sustainable Development
- Means improving our quality of life while using natural
resources wisely so that they last and are available for future
generations.
- Four R’s are reduce, reuse, recycle and respect the Earth
Bioregion
- Is a small local region with distinct natural features [climate,
soil, plants, animals, landforms]
- Your bioregion is often based on the watershed you live in. A
watershed is the area of land that drains into a particular river
system or body of water.
UNIT 2 We live in a world of systems
System
Is a set of parts that together form an interconnected whole
Natural systems
Include the circulation of water in the ocean, weather and climate systems,
water drainage systems, and energy cycles. They form the ecosystems
[community of plants and animals and non living things that interact with
one another to make up our environment]
Human systems
Include human settlements, transportation systems such as highways
railway, and airline routes; communication systems such as telephones and
information systems such as the internet.
Earth is made up of four spheres that are interconnected:
1. Atmosphere – is a thin layer of gases that surrounds the Earth
- Protects us from the sun’s intense energy and distributes heat
around the planet
2. Lithosphere- the earth’s crust and the uppermost part of the
underlying mantle consisting of rocks, minerals and soil
- Two kilometres thick[ mid oceanic ridge under the Atlantic
ocean] to 250 kilometres thick in parts of continents
- Broken into crustal plates that move slowly around on the
underlying mantle in the process of plate tectonics
3. Hydrosphere- all the water on the Earth’s crust- salty, fresh or frozen
- Includes lakes, rivers, glaciers, swamps, and water vapour
- Includes water stored in the organs of plants and animals
- Cryosphere- is the frozen parts of the hydrosphere
4. Biosphere- the layer of the earth which life evolves
- Since living things are found everywhere, the whole planet and
all its spheres together are often referred to as the biosphere
Energy, the fuel of life
- Energy comes from the sun
- PHOTONS are little pockets of energy in sunlight that are
captured by plants during the process of PHOTOSYNTHESIS
[process by which plants use solar energy to convert carbon
dioxide and water into carbohydrates]
Characteristics of Natural Systems
 Support all living things, including humans
 Are driven by the energy from the sun
 Display synergy [the whole system is greater than the sum of its parts]
 Operate in all four of Earth’s spheres
 Operate on very long timelines; from hundreds to millions of years
 Are not well understood by humans
 Can be affected by natural events and human influences
 Decompose and recycle all wastes
 Are connected to one another in a complex network of relationships
Three important natural cycles are:
1. Water cycle: The natural system that involves the
circulation of water through the atmosphere and the
oceans through evaporation, runoff, and precipitation.
- Much of Canada’s water is located in uninhabited area or is
stored underground in rocks and aquifers [a layer of porous
rock under the Earth’s surface that can store large quantities of
water that can be tapped by drilling a well
2. Carbon-oxygen cycle : the movement of carbon and oxygen through
the Earth’s systems
-Carbon is stored in oceans, forests, soil, rocks and underground
deposits of fossil fuels. Plants remove carbon dioxide from the air
or water and through photosynthesis release oxygen into the
environment. When we breathe we convert the oxygen back into
carbon and the cycle continues.
3. Decay cycle: The process of decomposition and regeneration in
nature.
- There is no waste in a natural system. When an animal or plant
dies Decomposers [an organism, such as fungi and bacteria that
breakdown and recycle organic material], the remaining
nutrients enrich the soil and help more plants to grow.
Human Systems
- Is a system that is created by humans
Two examples of human systems are:
- Transportation systems: are the interconnecting networks of
roads and the bus, train, airline, and cycling routes that link you
with other people and places.
- Economic systems: are integrated activities that produce and
deliver all the goods and services that we enjoy every day
Characteristics of Human Systems
- Depend on natural systems
- Can be affected by outside events and influences
- Are not well understood by humans
- Operate on shorter timelines than natural systems
- May recycle wastes but usually end up with some, and more
often with a lot of harmful waste
- Display synergy
- Are interconnected in a complicated network of relationships
Infrastructure- the structures or networks of basis services needed for the
functioning of a community or economy
Meteorologists
-people who study and forecast weather
CANADA’S CLIMATE REGIONS
1. Arctic – very cold winter, short cold summer, very dry
2. Subarctic- cold winter, cool summer, moderate precipitation
3. Pacific- mild winter, warm summer, heavy precipitation
4. Mountain- temperatures and precipitation vary greatly
5. Prairie- cold winter, hot summer, dry
6. Lower Lakes- cool winter, hot summer, moderate precipitation
7. Atlantic- cold winter, warm summer, moderate precipitation
ECOZONES
Ecozone - a region based on a combination of natural and human
characteristics that are similar throughout
Canada has 20 ecozones, most of which are unique in the world.
There are 15 terrestrial [land] regions and 5 marine [ocean] regions that are
found in Canada. [pg 101 in text]
Characteristics of ecozones
Geology
Landforms
climate
Wildlife
natural vegetation
Humans
soils
water
Biodiversity
- The diversity of species of life on Earth. Every ecozone has
different species living in them
Ecology
- Is the study of the interactions of living [biotic] things with one
another and with the non-living [abiotic] parts of the natural
environment.
How do people affect Ecozones?
- Smoggy air through industries and burning of fossil fuels
- Polluting water through industrial waste
- Disappearing forests and animals through building of cities,
mining and farming
- Collapse of fisheries through overfishing and global warming
CANADA”S POPULATION
Population- is the measure of the number of people who live in a specific
place at a specific time
Canada’s population is approximately 33.5 million
Advantages of a small population
- Limits the human effects on nature
- Reduces crowding and traffic
- Many resources for few people
Disadvantages of a small population
- Finding enough skilled labour
- Taxes could be higher to pay for services
Population Density
- A measure of crowdedness
- Calculated by dividing the population by the total land area
- Canada’s population density is approximately 3 people per
square kilometre
Why is it important for geographers to study population density?
- Helps in planning infrastructure such as transportation and
communication systems
- Helps develop land use strategies [parks, recreation, houses,
stores etc]
How do natural systems affect where people live in Canada?
- Climate is warmer in the south so most people live there
- Great Lakes and St Lawrence River provide good transportation
routes
- Coastal regions in Atlantic Canada are close to ocean resources
- Settlements follow the valleys in the western Cordillera
Where do people come from in Canada?
- Canada is represented by about 200 countries
- Most people have an European background
- Recent years a lot of people come from Asian Countries
- Aboriginal groups are found throughout Canada
Canada has an official policy of Multiculturalism [ a policy that encourages
cultural diversity and respect for cultural diversity within a country].
However some countries prefer Assimilation [ making differences the same].
Challenges of Multiculturalism
- Cultural discrimination is hard to control
- Hard to create a national identity
- People feel that there are a lot of mini- versions of home
countries in Canada
While Multiculturalism is challenging, most people in Canada agree that it
does offer an incredible way to learn, live, and love cultural diversity.
Culture - beliefs, traditions, and ways of life of a group of people.
- Includes food, clothing, language, music, architecture, family
traditions, spiritual beliefs and recreational activities
Demographic Patterns and Trends
Demography- the numerical study of the characteristics, trends, and
issues of a population
Key goal of studying population is to be able to determine the needs
of Canadian society today and to plan for the future.
Components of population change
1. Birth Rate- number of children born in an area for every 1000
people. [Canada’s birth rate is 11.3]
2. Death Rate- number of people who die in an area for every 1000
people [Canada’s death rate is 7.3]
3. Immigration- moving from another country to live in Canada
4. Emigration- leaving Canada to take up residence in another
country
Population pyramids
- Is a graph which shows the age and sex of a population
- If the graph is thicker at the bottom than the population will be
increasing
- If the graph is thicker towards the top, this generally indicates
an aging population
- Emigration and Immigration
Push factors- those conditions that cause a person to leave their home
country.
- Famine
- War
- Persecution based on religion, race etc
- Lack of employment
Pull factors- conditions or situations that attract immigrants to settle in one
country or another
- Prospects for employment
- High quality of life
- Excellent education opportunity for children
- More democratic society
In Canada most immigrants come from Philippines, India, China, United
Kingdom and the United States
Out migration- when people leave a province or territory and move to
another province or territory
In- migration- when people come to live permanently in a province or
territory
Most people that move are people with a post secondary education and are
young, between the ages of 15 and 44.
Where do Canadians live?

Canada’s population is distributed across approximately 10 million
kilometres square
Urban
 An area where a lot of people live at a high density
 Over 80% of the people in Canada live in an urban area
Urbanization- refers to the growing trend of increasing numbers of people
choosing to live in cities
Census metropolitan areas [CMAs]- a community with a population greater
than 100 000 people, consisting of one or more adjacent municipalities
centred on a large urban core
Population centre- an urban area with a population of at least1000 and a
density of 400 or more people per square kilometre
Top 5 cities in Canada in terms of growth rate are:
1. Calgary, Alberta
2. Edmonton, Alberta
3. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
4. Kelowna, British Columbia
5. Moncton, New Brunswick
- St John’s is in 9th place in terms of growth rate
Issues affecting Urban Areas
 Service Availability [infrastructure, linkages, human resources]
 Population Concerns [poverty, crowding, employment]
 Environmental concerns [pollution, loss of arable land]
 Quality of life [green spaces, crime, quality of life]
Rural
 An area where people are spread out at a low density
 Most are resource based communities [ mining, fishing, farming,
forestry]
Issues affecting Rural Areas
 Service availability [maintaining infrastructure, providing medical
services, schools]
 Population [declining tax base]
 Employment [impact of resource activities]
 Quality of life [pace of life]
URBAN LAND USE
Land use- is a term that geographers and planners use to identify the
different areas where people live, shop, work, play, and go to school
Six main designations for Urban Land use:
1. Residential- land allocated to living space[single-family houses,
town houses and apartment buildings
2. Transportation- roads, highways, subways, streetcars, trains and
airplanes
3. Commercial land- assigned to businesses [shopping malls, box
stores]
4. Industrial- land allocated for factories, warehouses and
secondary industries. Usually found along major transportation
routes
5. Institutional- schools, hospitals, places of worship and
government houses
6. Open Space and Recreational- forest, wetlands, playgrounds,
parks, golf courses, and sport fields
Economic issues in Canadian Geography
Economics
Is the study of how we use our limited resources to meet our relatively
unlimited needs and wants
Natural resource- is anything found in nature that can be used by people
Three types of natural resources
1. Renewable resources- can grow again after people harvest them.
Ex forest, fish, plants, soil
2. Non-renewable resource- when they are used, they are gone
forever. Ex minerals, fossil fuels
3. Flow resources- neither renewable or non-renewable, replaced
simultaneously. Ex wind, sunlight, running water
Canada’s economy depends on natural resources. Prosperity is the result of:
- A strong natural resource base
- Skilled workers
- Favourable patterns of world trade and strong export markets
- Innovation and ingenuity
- Figure 6.1 on page 238 show examples of our valuable
resources
It is very important that Canada has a SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE
SYSTEM- a system that will last into the future and will not be used up
faster than it can either renew or recycle itself, or be replaced with other
resources.
Economic terms:
Imports- goods and services brought in from another country
Exports- sales of our products and services to other countries
Gross domestic product [GDP]- an economic indicator that measures
the value of all goods and services produced in one country in one year
Supply and demand- can a country produce enough goods or services
and do other counties want to buy the good and services
Trends that are taking place in the world that have an effect on natural
resources in Canada.
- Consumption of natural resources is increasing in Canada and
around the world
- Competition for selling natural resources is increasing on a
global scale
- Control of natural resources is concentrated in the hands of
large international companies
- People are more concerned about the natural environment
- Canada needs to address the rights and title to land of
Aboriginal groups
- Development of new technology is changing the way resources
are both extracted and protected
Types of industries found in Canada
Industry- refers to particular types of labour that are done in exchange
for pay
Primary Industry
- Economic activity that extracts or harvests natural resources
from the environment
- Examples, fishing, mining, forestry, logging and trapping
- This type of industry is declining in Canada
Secondary Industry
- Economic activity that uses unprocessed raw materials from
primary industry to manufacture consumer products
- Examples, car assembly plants, fish plants
Tertiary Industry
- Economic activity that provides services
- Examples nursing, mechanics, waitresses
- As Canada became more industrialized[economically
developed] there was a shift from primary industries to tertiary
industries
Quaternary Industry
- Economic activity that involves the provision of services
related to the creation of knowledge, ideas, research and
development, and technology
- Examples scientists, engineers and market researchers
- To be successful quaternary industries depend on
1. Rapid flow of accurate and useful information
2. Awareness of many aspects of a problem
3. Raw brainpower and creativity to solve problems
- More important today because we are putting pressure on our
natural resources and we need to find new ways to sustain them
- Workers are usually highly educated and well trained
AGRICULTURE
- About 7% of Canada’s land area is arable[suitable for growing
crops]
Factors affecting agriculture
1. Climate, landforms and soil conditions are the most
important natural factors
2. Demands by consumers for certain products
3. Transportation facilities that are available
4. Closeness to markets
5. Competition that you may have from other lower-cost
growers
6. Changing prices for food on world markets
Challenges farmers face
- Natural hazards such as early frosts, drought, floods and animal
diseases
- High cost for fuel and equipment
- Low crop prices
- Competition from more heavily subsidized farmers in other
countries
- Competition from large industrialized factory farms
Subsidy- money given to a farmer by the government to offset some of their
cost
Factory farms- large scale form of agriculture where large numbers of
animals are kept in confined spaces and treated with hormones and
antibiotics to maximize growth and prevent diseases
Agribusiness industry- a large scale farming business that carries out all the
steps involved in producing food: growing, storing, processing and
transporting
Trends in agriculture
- Changing consumer demands [healthy food and naturally
grown]
- Changing technology [pesticides, equipment]
- Fewer farmers but larger farms
- More factory farming
Sustainable agriculture
- Meets Canadians’ needs for food so we don’t have to rely on
food imported from other countries
- Makes efficient use of fossil fuels to run farm machinery
- Protects surface and ground water, as well as air and soil
quality
- Reduces the uses of chemicals
- Provides jobs and a profitable industry
- Encourages positive contact between farmers and consumers
- Support small farms and urban agriculture
FISHERY
Fisheries refer to commercial fishing operations, mainly on Canada’s ocean
coasts and in some large freshwater lakes
Continental shelf
- The outer edge of the continent that extends below the surface
of the ocean
- Great place for fishing because it is has shallow warmer water,
nutrient rich water stirred up by ocean currents and lots of
plankton [food for fish] because the sunlight reaches the ocean
floor.
Types of fish
1. Groundfish which prefer to live on ocean floor.
Examples are cod, halibut, sole and haddock
2. Pelagic fish that feed in open water such as sardines,
mackerel, herring, tuna and salmon
3. Shellfish such as lobster , crab and scallops
Trends in Canada’s fisheries
- Demand for fish is growing
- Cod and salmon stocks are declining
- Fishers are turning to other species such as shellfish to earn a
living
- Fish farming is increasing
Risks for the fishery
1. Overfishing – people are catching more than their quota
[allowable catch per boat or per year]
2. Destructive fishing practices- nets dragging along the
ocean floor destroying the fish habitat
3. Technology- with GPS, fish finders and better gear it is
much easier to catch fish
4. Global warming is changing the temperature of ocean
water
Aquaculture
- Fish farming; breeding and growing of fish in controlled spaces
Advantages of aquaculture
- Year round product for market
- Provides jobs for unemployed fishers
- Farmed fish are rich in omega 3 fats and are healthy to eat
Disadvantages of aquaculture
 Waste produce by fish fall to bottom of ocean and pollute natural
habitat
 Diseases spread easily when fish are grown in confined spaces
 Farmed species of fish are very aggressive if they escape into the wild
How to build a sustainable fishery
- Choose better methods of catching the fish [hook and line
rather than otter trawls]
- Put severe fines in place to stop overfishing
- Don’t pollute the ocean
- Gain scientific and local knowledge about the fish stocks
- Marine protection areas in the oceans
Mining
Three types of minerals
1. Metallic minerals- a mineral that is a metal, such as iron, nickel and
copper
2. Non-metallic mineral- a mineral, such as salt or potash, that is not a
metal
3. Fuel minerals- a fossil fuel mineral, such as coal, oil, and natural gas
Mining towns
- Usually a single industry resource town. Ex Labrador city for
iron ore
- The town needs to diversify its economy in order to survive
- Ghost towns are created when all the minerals are mined.
Mining and the economy
- Ontario, Saskatchewan, BC and Quebec produce 80% of the
total value of Canada’s minerals
- In Newfoundland and Labrador the mining industry produces
8.6% of the provinces GDP
- Mining generates 80 billion a year for Canada
- Nunavut, with its vast territory of Canadian Shield rock, is a
prime location for future exploration and development of gold,
base minerals and diamond mines
Environmental Impacts of mining
- The building of infrastructure needed to support a mine [roads,
airstrips, a town site] causes the removal of natural vegetation,
causing soil erosion and harm to wildlife
- Blasting with explosives may affect water drainage systems and
wildlife
- Extracting some minerals out of the ore involves the use of
toxic chemicals such as arsenic or cyanide
- Improper storage of fuels and chemicals may cause leaking into
groundwater and surface water
- Waste material like slag [molten waste material from nickel
smelting] and tailings [finely ground up rock left over after the
mineral has been extracted]
- Air pollutants contribute to acid rain
- Former shafts and tunnels may be filled with tailings, which
may leak chemicals into groundwater
What mining companies are doing to protect natural environment?
- Investing millions of dollars on technology to reduce emissions
- Encouraging recycling programs to help sustain their resource
- Finding greener ways to get energy for their mining
operations[wind power and hydro power]
- Working with local groups to build golf courses, parks,
recreational lakes when the mine closes
FORESTRY
Facts
- ½ of Canada’s land area is covered in forest
- 57% of forested area is considered commercial forest [capable
of producing marketable products such as timber
The value of forest
Economic Value
- More than 300 communities depend on forestry in Canada
- Provides jobs to 195,000 people
- In Newfoundland and Labrador 5500 people are employed in
forestry work
- Canada exports $24 billion worth of forest products each year
- Camping, hunting and resort hotels bring in billions each year
Ecological Value
- Forest reduce soil erosion, recycle water, and control water
flow
- Improve air quality by producing oxygen and absorbing carbon
dioxide
- Forest act as carbon sinks [storing carbon that would otherwise
contribute to global warming]
- Provide habitats for animals
Cultural value
- Scenic beauty and spiritual sanctuary
- Recreation
Forest harvesting methods
1. Clear cutting is a method that involves clearing all the
trees in an area at one time. Advantage for logging
companies because it costs less and can be safer for
loggers. Disadvantage is that it creates desert like
landscape ,soil erosion and loss of habitats for tree
species and animals
2. Strip cutting is a form of clear cutting in which long
strips of land are cleared leaving parts of the forest
intake. This reduces soil erosion, less disruptive to
wildlife and allows natural reseeding to take place
3. Shelterwood cutting is used in areas where trees are the
same age. Some mature trees are cut remaining trees
provide shade needed for the growth of younger trees
4. Selection cutting is used where there are different types
of trees of various ages. Most environmentally friendly
way of cutting forests
Sustaining our forests
- Leaving a band of forest around the shores of lakes and rivers
and avoiding cutting on slopes to reduce erosion
- Reducing the size of clear cutting areas
- Forest protection areas where they are left alone
- New ways of constructing houses
Water
Water ethics- a set of moral principles about what is right or wrong when
considering the use of water
Views about water
commons view
Some people believe that having clean water is a basic human right. If
this is your view then you think that nature’s resources belong to everyone
commodity view
Others see water as an economic resource- a commodity that may be
owned privately and sold for a profit.
Where is Canada’s water?
- Canada has 20% of the world’s fresh water
- Found in lakes, rivers and wetlands
- 50% of the water in Canada’s rivers flow into the Arctic and is
unavailable for the densely populated areas of the south
Importance of the wetlands
- Protects local water quality
- Creates clean water by filtering out sediments and pollution
- Provides home to many species of birds
Energy Resources
Energy resources can be defined as a power source that people can
use to do work in order to meet their needs and wants. Energy
resources fall into two main categories [1] flow resources eg wave
and [2] non-renewable eg nuclear
Why the world is becoming increasingly dependent on oil
1. An expanding world population means more energy is needed
2. Emerging industrial countries like China, India and Malaysia
have standards of living that are becoming higher. This
increases their need for energy
3. People in industrialized countries, such as Canada and the
United States, continue to use cheap energy to improve their
standard of living
Comparing energy resources
COAL
Advantages
-readily available in Canada
- used in smelting iron into steal
- cheap
Disadvantages
-very heavy polluter
-produces 29%more carbon than oil and 80%more than natural gas
when burned
-coal mining is very dangerous
-shipped by train or ship
OIL
Advantages
-used to make many different materials like plastics, cosmetics, tar
etc
-used to make gasoline for cars
-Carried in pipelines
-plentiful in Canada
Disadvantages
-drilling is expensive and time-consuming
-oil spills cause ecological disasters
-creates greenhouse gases
Natural Gas
Advantages
-carried in pipelines
-relatively clean
-produces less greenhouse gases than oil or coal
-plentiful in Canada
Disadvantages
-unstable gas that can explode
-constructing massive pipelines to transport gas across vast
distances causes environmental damage
Hydroelectricity
Advantages
-clean-no greenhouse gases
-many power sites in Canada
-inexpensive and reliable
-requires no fuel
Disadvantages
-dams affect ecosystems
-dams cause mercury pollution in reservoirs which bioaccumulates
in animals and people
-disrupts traditional Aboriginal lifestyles
Nuclear Energy
Advantages
-clean no greenhouse gases
-uranium is abundant and inexpensive
-cheap to run plant
Disadvantages
-plant very expensive to build and decommission after short life
span [20-25 years]
-plants often shut down for repairs
-radioactive waste impossible to dispose of
-fears of nuclear accident and of nuclear weapons
Canada’s energy resources sustain the modern lifestyle we all enjoy. They
are also a valuable resource that can be traded on the international market,
and they provide other countries with a way of improving their standard of
living, too.
Many people believe that the burning of fossil fuels to supply our energy
needs is causing GLOBAL WARMING- refers to the gradually increasing
average temperature of the Earth as a whole.
Consequences of Global Warming
- Plants and trees that thrive in colder temperatures are creeping
north into the tundra ecosystem
- Animals such as caribou have had to move farther north and
change their long-term migration patterns
- Sea ice is melting
- Northern permafrost is disappearing causing homes to collapse
- In southern part of Canada, changing weather patterns are
bringing more severe storms
- More precipitation for eastern Canada
- Effects on the economy of Canada
1. Drier climate in Prairies affect agriculture
2. Forest fires because of drier summers affect forestry
3. Melting permafrost in north affects transportation
therefore affecting the mining industry
4. Tourism like ski resorts will suffer
5. Service industries will be affected. Healthcare because
of people affected by higher temperatures and more
tropical diseases. Engineers and transportation workers
will be constantly fixing roads damaged by flooding
What can be done to reduce global warming
People
- Turn off lights and appliances
- Keep thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter
- Reduce, reuse and recycle
- Car pool and use public transit
- Buy use clothes and reduce the need for consumer goods
Corporations
- Introduce the paperless office
- Turn off lights outside of office hours
- Use energy efficient appliances and photocopiers
- Use computer archives instead of filing cabinets
Governments
- Legislate lower emissions for cars
- Provide incentives to develop energy alternatives
- Provide grants to help people insulate their homes
- Increase taxes on fossil fuels to make people use them less
GLOBALIZATION
Globalization is the increasing integration of economics, trade,
financial services and cultures from around the world. Canada is part of the
global community. We are connected to the world around us in many ways,
such as through tourism, trade, sports, communication systems and
technology.
Global village- the concept that people around the world can interact
almost as easily as if the world were one large village due to advances in
communications and technology
Global issues
a. Child labour- we are connected by local stores importing
carpets, shoes or clothing made by children
b. Poverty and world hunger- we contribute to food banks,
shelters for homeless and breakfast programs
c. International drug trade- They supply our community with
drugs
d. Global warming- this affects our weather patterns and more
severe storms
e. Free trade- we are connected because our local farmers have to
compete with farmers worldwide
f. Terrorism- We have to be screen when going on planes and
passports are being used more
Global citizen- is someone who wants to make the world a better place
Comparing quality of life
Human Development Index is used to measure the well-being of
people, especially children, by examining three major factors:
-first factor is longevity, or how long people’s lives are
-second factor is knowledge, which is measured by people’s literacy
rates and education levels
-third factor is a decent standard of living, and this is measured by per
capita gross domestic product [GDP]
Development status
-is a rating of a country’s social systems, such as education and health
care, as well as its economic systems
Three main classifications of developing status are:
1. Developed world
- High GDP
- Strong economy
- Well developed infrastructure
- Strong social network that includes health care and education
- Highly developed secondary and tertiary industries to process
and sell goods
2. The developing world
- Low standard of living
- Usually primary activities
- Very little processing or manufacturing of resources
- Infrastructures such as roads and health care systems are poorly
developed
3. Newly industrialized countries
- Include Brazil, India and China
- Economies have traditionally been centred on agriculture, but
they are now on the way to developing secondary industries,
such as manufacturing and technology
Global Economy
-United States is Canada’s biggest trading partner
-Canada and NAFTA [North American Free Trade Agreement]. This
agreement was signed in1992 between Canada, The United States and
Mexico phasing out TARIFFS [tax imposed on imports]
Canada’s reasons for trading goods and services
Why export?
1. Increased income- sells from goods and services create revenue for
Canada and Canadians
2. Jobs- many Canadians work in fields that are related to the export of
goods and services
3. Economy of Scale- by producing more of a product, it can become
cheaper to make it. In the end, this means cheaper goods and services
to Consumers
4. Increased Innovation- when goods and services are sent to another
country they are exposed to greater competition from other goods.
This means that quality must be high if products are to be sold
Why Import?
1. Product Needs- some products cannot be produced easily or obtained
in Canada
2. Jobs-many Canadians work in jobs related to the import and
distribution of goods and services
3. Cheaper Goods- greater competition among producers causes prices
to be cheaper
4. More Choice- greater choice means greater competition creating
better quality of goods and services
5. International Development- promotes wealth in trading partners
Import Substitution
-refers to the practice of buying Canadian products instead of goods
produced elsewhere. This helps create and save jobs and reduces our
ecological footprint.
Canada makes a difference globally through their involvement with the
United Nations [international organization that was formed to create
peace, security and cooperation among the countries of the world]. There
are 192 countries in the world that are part of the United Nations.
Canada is also involved in CIDA [Canadian International Development
Agency]. The purpose of CIDA is to help countries that require
humanitarian assistance, and to promote social development within these
countries