Rights and Responsibilities

• Civics:

  • the rights/responsibilities of citizens
  • how decisions are made
  • ways we can act for common good
  • We ask questions about our communities/the world
  • The goal of learning civics is to become an active and engaged citizen
• Common good: The well-being of people in a community (in terms of justice, fairness, and respect for human rights.
• Citizen: A person who lives in a city, town or country and who is legally allowed to have rights and freedoms 
• Community:

  • a group of people who have something in common
  • Ex. school, family, neighborhood
  • They support members of a community 
  • Members of a community stand up to protect the safety and economic strength of their communities for current and future generations.
• Right: things you are allowed to do (speaking your mind, sharing thoughts)
• Responsibility: things you are expected to do (respecting others and following the rules)
• Civic action: some people need to speak up to make sure everyone has access to the same programs, etc.

  • strengthens communities/makes them more supportive
  • solves problems
  • prevents harm
• Rights: 

  • Freedom of conscious/religion
  • Freedom of thought, belief, opinion, speech
  • Aboriginal rights
  • Language and minority rights
• Responsibilities:

  • Obey all laws
  • Serve on a jury
  • Vote
  • Protect the environment
  • Helping others in a community
• As citizens, we can get involved by:

  • Vote for representatives
  • Ask elected officials to make decisions about issues
  • Protest decisions
  • Run for office
• Waterfront Casino:

  • The government debate opening a waterfront casino in Toronto in 2013
  • Pros: bring tourists, support economy, supply jobs
  • Cons: promote gambling, destroy parkland, demolition of heritage sites
  • Through lawn signs, social media, and petitions, the people were able to persuade the government not the build the casinon
• Idle No More:

  • The government wanted to pass Bill C-45 in Canada (the jobs and growth act)
  • Pros: help grow Canada’s economy and encourage job creation
  • Cons: Aboriginal reserve lands could be leased without approval of the Aboriginal council. New industrial projects did not have to prove that their projects would not harm waterways.
  • 4 women founded the Idle No More movement used social media and flash mobs to spread the word about the bill
  • Were not able to stop the bill, but spread awareness about Aboriginal rights