Canadian Citizenship Test Questions & Answers (2026)

Q1.Which of the following are responsibilities of Canadian citizenship?

• Owning property, joining a union, and learning French
• Obeying the law, taking responsibility for yourself and your family, and serving on a jury
• Voting for the Conservative Party and attending church
• Recycling, owning a business, and flying the flag

Answer: Responsibilities of citizenship include obeying the law, taking responsibility for yourself and your family, serving on a jury when called, voting in elections, helping others in the community, and protecting our heritage and environment.

Q2.What are the four fundamental freedoms protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?

• Freedom of conscience and religion; thought, belief, opinion and expression; peaceful assembly; and association
• Freedom to vote, drive, marry, and travel
• Freedom of speech, the right to a passport, the right to vote, and the right to work
• Freedom from taxes, freedom to bear arms, free health care, and free education

Answer: The Charter lists four fundamental freedoms: (1) conscience and religion; (2) thought, belief, opinion and expression, which covers a free press; (3) peaceful assembly; and (4) association.

Q3.In what year was the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms entrenched in the Constitution?

• 1867
• 1931
• 1982
• 1995

Answer: In 1982 Canada amended its Constitution and made the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms part of it.

Q4.True or False: There is compulsory (mandatory) military service in Canada.

• True
• False

Answer: False. Military service is not compulsory in Canada: joining the Canadian Armed Forces is voluntary.

Q5.Habeas corpus, which lets a person challenge being held unlawfully by the state, comes from which legal tradition?

• French civil law
• English common law
• The Quebec Act
• Aboriginal law

Answer: Habeas corpus protects anyone held unlawfully by the state. It comes from English common law.

Q6.What do 'mobility rights' guarantee Canadians?

• The right to free public transit
• The right to live and work anywhere in Canada, enter and leave the country, and apply for a passport
• The right to a driver's licence at 16
• The right to bring relatives to Canada

Answer: Mobility rights let Canadians live and work in any province or territory, come and go from Canada freely, and apply for a passport.

Q7.Canada's tradition of freedom under the law, more than 800 years old, traces back to which document signed in England in 1215?

• The Constitution Act
• Magna Carta
• The Royal Proclamation
• The British North America Act

Answer: Many of our freedoms go back to Magna Carta, signed in England in 1215 and also called the Great Charter of Freedoms.

Q8.What does the equality of men and women mean in Canada?

• Men and women must do the same jobs
• The law treats men and women as equals
• Women cannot serve in the military
• Men have legal authority over the household

Answer: Women and men have the same rights under Canadian law. Practices that tolerate spousal abuse, 'honour killings,' or other gender-based violence are crimes.

Q9.Which is an example of a responsibility that comes with the right to vote?

• Telling others how you voted
• Voting in federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal elections
• Joining a political party
• Donating to a campaign

Answer: With the right to vote comes a duty to take part in elections at every level: federal, provincial or territorial, and local.

Q10.Canadian law comes from several sources. Which of these is one of them?

• Only the decisions of the Prime Minister
• Laws passed by Parliament and legislatures, English common law, and the civil code of France
• Religious texts only
• The United Nations charter

Answer: Canadian law draws on several sources: the laws Parliament and the provincial legislatures pass, English common law, France's civil code, and the unwritten constitution that came to us from Britain.

Q11.Volunteering to help others in your community is best described as:

• A legal requirement for all citizens
• A responsibility of citizenship and a way to build skills and friendships
• Something only retired people do
• A requirement to keep your citizenship

Answer: Helping others in the community through volunteering is a responsibility of citizenship and an excellent way to gain skills, friends, and contacts.

Q12.True or False: Serving on a jury when you are called is a legal requirement in Canada.

• True
• False

Answer: True. When you are called to serve on a jury, you are legally required to do so. Juries help make the justice system work.

Q13.Which of the following is one of the legal rights guaranteed to people in Canada?

• The right to free housing
• The right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty
• The right to a government job
• The right to free university tuition

Answer: Legal rights include the right to life, liberty and security, protection against unreasonable search, and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

Q14.What do the official-language rights in the Charter guarantee?

• That everyone must speak both English and French
• The equality of English and French in dealings with the federal government, plus minority-language education rights
• That French is the only official language
• Free language classes for newcomers

Answer: Official-language rights affirm the equality of English and French in Parliament and the federal government and include minority-language education rights.

Q15.What does the Charter say about multiculturalism?

• It bans all foreign customs
• It must be interpreted in a way consistent with preserving and enhancing Canada's multicultural heritage
• It applies only in Quebec
• It is not mentioned in the Charter

Answer: The Charter states that it shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with preserving and enhancing the multicultural heritage of Canadians.

Q16.What do 'Aboriginal and treaty rights' in the Charter protect?

• Only the right to vote
• The existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada
• Rights for recent immigrants
• Property rights for all Canadians

Answer: The Charter protects the existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

Q17.What does the freedom of peaceful assembly allow people in Canada to do?

• Carry weapons in public
• Gather and hold peaceful meetings, demonstrations, and protests
• Avoid paying taxes
• Refuse to obey any law

Answer: Freedom of peaceful assembly is one of the four fundamental freedoms and lets people gather peacefully, including for meetings and demonstrations.

Q18.The civil-law tradition used for private matters in Quebec originally comes from which country?

• England
• France
• Spain
• The United States

Answer: Quebec uses the civil code, a tradition from France, while the rest of Canada uses English common law for private law.

Q19.Helping to protect Canada's natural environment is best described as:

• A fundamental freedom
• A responsibility of citizenship
• A legal right
• A power of the Senate

Answer: Eliminating waste and pollution and protecting Canada's natural, cultural, and architectural heritage are responsibilities of citizenship.

Q20.What does the equality-rights section of the Charter guarantee?

• Everyone must earn the same income
• Equality before and under the law and equal protection without discrimination
• Free legal representation for everyone
• The right to hold any job

Answer: Equality rights mean every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to equal protection without discrimination.

Q21.Military service is voluntary in Canada. Which services make up the regular Canadian Forces?

• The navy, the army and the air force
• The army, the RCMP and the Coast Guard
• The navy, the Coast Guard and the fire service
• The army, the cadets and the police

Answer: Canada has no compulsory military service. People who choose to serve can join the regular Canadian Forces (the navy, the army and the air force) or the part-time reserves. Young people can join the cadets, and the Coast Guard, police and fire departments are other ways to protect your community.

Q22.Besides the armed forces, which of these is a way to serve and help protect your community?

• Joining a political party and campaigning for it
• Buying Canadian products and shopping at local stores
• Serving in the Coast Guard, a police force or a fire department
• Travelling across Canada to learn about its regions

Answer: Another way to serve is in the Coast Guard or in your community's emergency services, such as the police or the fire department. Helping to protect your community follows the example of the Canadians who made sacrifices for the country before you.

Q23.Which program helps young Canadians learn discipline, responsibility and skills?

• The Snowbirds
• The cadets
• The Order of Canada
• Legal aid

Answer: Young people can join the cadets, where they learn discipline, responsibility and useful skills. Adults can serve in the regular Canadian Forces or part-time in the reserves.

Q24.The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms begins by saying Canada is founded on principles that recognize what?

• The supremacy of Parliament and the Crown
• The will of the majority and free trade
• Equality and the right to own property
• The supremacy of God and the rule of law

Answer: Its first words describe Canada as founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law. This reflects the place of religious traditions in Canadian society and the value of every human being.

Q25.Freedom of the press is part of which fundamental freedom?

• Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression
• Freedom of peaceful assembly
• Freedom of association
• Freedom of conscience and religion

Answer: Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression includes freedom of speech and freedom of the press. The other three fundamental freedoms are freedom of conscience and religion, of peaceful assembly, and of association.

Q26.Which fundamental freedom protects your right to form and join groups of your choice?

• Mobility rights
• Freedom of the press
• Freedom of association
• Minority language education rights

Answer: Freedom of association, one of the four fundamental freedoms, protects your right to form and join groups such as clubs, associations and unions. The other three are freedom of conscience and religion; of thought, belief, opinion and expression; and of peaceful assembly.

Q27.What does the Government of Canada offer newcomers free of charge to help them prepare for citizenship?

• The citizenship test answers
• English or French language classes
• A university degree
• An exemption from the citizenship test

Answer: The Government of Canada offers English and French language classes free of charge. To prepare for the test you can also study the guide, practise questions with family or friends, and ask a local school, college or community centre about citizenship classes.

Q28.How does Canadian law treat spousal abuse, forced marriage and so-called 'honour killings'?

• As private family matters
• As acceptable if they are part of a cultural tradition
• As matters for religious leaders to settle
• As crimes that are severely punished

Answer: Canadian law treats men and women as equals. Forced marriage, spousal abuse, female genital mutilation, so-called 'honour killings' and other gender-based violence are all crimes, and Canada's criminal laws punish them severely.

Q29.Which of these is NOT one of the four fundamental freedoms?

• Freedom of conscience and religion
• Freedom of peaceful assembly
• Freedom of association
• Mobility rights

Answer: The four fundamental freedoms are freedom of conscience and religion; of thought, belief, opinion and expression; of peaceful assembly; and of association. Mobility rights (living and working anywhere in Canada, and entering and leaving freely) are a separate right set out in the Charter.

Q30.Multiculturalism is a fundamental characteristic of Canada's heritage and identity. What does it ask of Canadians?

• To respect pluralism and live together in harmony
• To keep each culture separate from the others
• To give up their own heritage
• To speak only one language at home

Answer: The Charter recognizes multiculturalism as a fundamental characteristic of Canadian heritage and identity. Canadians value one another's presence and work to respect pluralism and to live together in harmony.

Q31.Getting a job, caring for your family and working hard are important Canadian values. What does work contribute to?

• An exemption from jury duty and other civic duties
• The right to vote in federal and provincial elections
• Personal dignity and self-respect, and Canada's prosperity
• Faster approval of a citizenship application

Answer: Taking responsibility for yourself and your family is a responsibility of citizenship. Work brings personal dignity and self-respect, and it adds to Canada's prosperity.

Q32.Which of these is an example of helping others in your community, a responsibility of citizenship?

• Paying a parking ticket
• Volunteering at a food bank
• Renewing your passport
• Filing your income taxes

Answer: Millions of Canadians volunteer without pay: helping people in need, helping out at their children's school, working at a food bank or another charity, or helping newcomers settle in. Volunteering is also a good way to build skills and make friends and contacts.

Q33.Canadians have a responsibility to protect which kinds of heritage for future generations?

• Natural, cultural and architectural
• Military, royal and religious
• Industrial, financial and commercial
• Sporting, musical and literary

Answer: Every citizen has a part to play: avoiding waste and pollution, and looking after Canada's natural, cultural and architectural heritage so that future generations can enjoy it too.

Q34.Canadian citizens enjoy many rights. Besides obeying Canada's laws, what must they also respect?

• The decisions of their employer
• The views of the majority
• The wishes of their political party
• The rights and freedoms of others

Answer: Rights come with responsibilities: Canadians must follow the law and respect other people's rights and freedoms.

Q35.Where do the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens come from?

• From each new government, after every election
• From international treaties alone
• From Canada's history, and they are secured by Canadian law
• From the decisions of the courts alone

Answer: They have grown out of Canada's history, they are protected by Canadian law, and they reflect the traditions, identity and values that Canadians share.

Q36.In the Oath of Citizenship, new citizens pledge their loyalty to whom?

• The Prime Minister of Canada
• His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of Canada
• The Governor General
• The flag of Canada

Answer: New citizens swear (or affirm) loyalty to the King of Canada, His Majesty King Charles the Third, and to his heirs and successors. Canadians pledge loyalty to a person, the Sovereign, who represents all Canadians, rather than to a document or a flag.

Q37.Besides allegiance to the King, what else do new citizens promise in the Oath of Citizenship?

• To observe Canada's laws and fulfil their duties as Canadian citizens
• To serve two years in the Canadian Forces when called upon
• To support the party in power and vote for it at elections
• To live for five years in the province where they took the oath

Answer: New citizens also promise to obey the laws of Canada faithfully, including the Constitution, which recognizes the treaty and Aboriginal rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, and to carry out their duties as Canadian citizens.

Q38.What happens at a citizenship ceremony?

• You write the citizenship test and learn your score
• You are interviewed about your job and your income
• You take the oath and receive your citizenship certificate
• You give a short speech about why you chose Canada

Answer: Once you pass the test and meet the other requirements, you are invited to a citizenship ceremony. There you take the Oath of Citizenship, then sign the oath form, and are given your Canadian citizenship certificate. You are welcome to bring family and friends to celebrate.

Q39.Applicants of which ages must pass the citizenship knowledge test?

• 16 to 65
• 18 to 54
• 21 to 60
• All ages

Answer: Applicants aged 18 to 54 must show, in a test taken in English or French, that they know enough about Canada and about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Applicants aged 55 and over do not take the test.

Q40.To become citizens, applicants aged 18 to 54 must show adequate knowledge of which language?

• Both English and French
• English only
• French only, if they live in Quebec
• English or French

Answer: Applicants aged 18 to 54 need an adequate knowledge of English or French, Canada's two official languages. The citizenship test itself checks what you know about Canada, not your language ability, which is assessed separately.

Q41.Who are the three founding peoples of Canada?

• English, French, and Spanish
• Aboriginal, French, and British
• Inuit, Loyalist, and Acadian
• First Nations, American, and Irish

Answer: Canada's three founding peoples are the Aboriginal peoples, the French and the British. Knowing about them helps explain what it means to be Canadian.

Q42.The term 'Aboriginal peoples' refers to which three distinct groups?

• French, English, and Métis
• First Nations (Indian), Inuit, and Métis
• Inuit, Acadian, and Loyalist
• Cree, Sioux, and Haida

Answer: Aboriginal peoples include three distinct groups: First Nations (also called Indian), Inuit, and Métis.

Q43.What does the word 'Inuit' mean?

• 'The hunters'
• 'The people'
• 'The north'
• 'The first ones'

Answer: 'Inuit' means 'the people' in the Inuktitut language. The Inuit live in small communities across the Arctic.

Q44.Who are the Métis?

• Recent immigrants from France
• A distinct people with both Aboriginal and European ancestors, most living in the Prairies
• People who live only in Quebec
• The original inhabitants of the Arctic

Answer: The Métis are a distinct people with both Aboriginal and European ancestors. Most of them live in the Prairie provinces, and many speak Michif.

Q45.What are the two official languages of Canada?

• English and Spanish
• English and French
• French and Inuktitut
• English and Indigenous languages

Answer: English and French are Canada's two official languages. The federal government must provide services across Canada in both.

Q46.Which is the only officially bilingual province in Canada?

• Quebec
• Ontario
• New Brunswick
• Manitoba

Answer: New Brunswick is the one province that is officially bilingual. About a third of its people live and work in French.

Q47.Who are the Acadians?

• The descendants of French colonists who settled in the Maritimes starting in 1604
• Early British settlers of Ontario
• A First Nations group of the Prairies
• Immigrants from the Caribbean

Answer: The Acadians descend from French colonists who started settling in the Maritime provinces in 1604. Many were deported during the 'Great Upheaval' (1755–1763).

Q48.In 2006, the House of Commons recognized that the Québécois form what?

• A separate country
• A nation within a united Canada
• A province with no ties to Canada
• An official language group

Answer: In 2006 the House of Commons recognized that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada.

Q49.What is the largest religious affiliation in Canada?

• Islam
• Christianity (with Catholic being the largest)
• Hinduism
• No religion

Answer: Just over half of Canadians (2021 census) identify as Christian. Catholics are the largest group, followed by the various Protestant churches.

Q50.In which province do the majority of Canada's French-speaking population live?

• New Brunswick
• Ontario
• Quebec
• Manitoba

Answer: The majority of French-speaking Canadians live in Quebec, where French is the language of everyday life for most people.

Q51.What is the policy by which Canada encourages people of all backgrounds to belong and contribute while keeping their cultures?

• Assimilation
• Multiculturalism
• Segregation
• Bilingualism

Answer: Multiculturalism is a fundamental characteristic of Canada; people of many cultures are encouraged to participate fully while keeping their traditions within the law.

Q52.In which region of Canada do most Inuit traditionally live?

• The Arctic (far north)
• Southern Ontario
• The Prairies
• Vancouver Island

Answer: The Inuit are an Aboriginal people who live in the Arctic, the far north of Canada.

Q53.True or False: English and French have the same status in Parliament and across the federal government.

• True
• False

Answer: True. Canada's two official languages, English and French, have equal status in Parliament, the courts and the federal government across the country.

Q54.The deportation of the Acadians by the British, beginning in 1755, is known by what name?

• The Quiet Revolution
• The Great Upheaval (le Grand Dérangement)
• The October Crisis
• The Last Spike

Answer: The forced removal of the Acadians from their lands beginning in 1755 is called the Great Upheaval, or 'le Grand Dérangement.'

Q55.Approximately what share of Canadians speak French as their first language?

• About 5%
• About one-fifth
• About one-half
• About three-quarters

Answer: About one in five Canadians (roughly 20% in the 2021 census) speak French as a first language, most of them in Quebec.

Q56.Which group is NOT one of Canada's three founding peoples?

• Aboriginal peoples
• The French
• The British
• The Spanish

Answer: Canada's three founding peoples are the Aboriginal, French and British peoples. The Spanish are not one of them.

Q57.What is the best description of Canada's approach to its many cultures?

• Newcomers must abandon their traditions
• Canadians take pride in being a diverse, tolerant, multicultural society
• Only two cultures are recognized
• Each culture lives entirely separately

Answer: Canadians are proud of a diverse, tolerant society where people of all backgrounds participate fully while keeping their identities within Canadian law.

Q58.Which two languages are spoken by the largest numbers of Canadians as a mother tongue?

• English and Mandarin
• English and French
• French and Punjabi
• English and Spanish

Answer: English and French, the two official languages, are the mother tongues of the largest numbers of Canadians, with English the most common overall.

Q59.True or False: The Inuit, First Nations, and Métis are all recognized as Aboriginal peoples of Canada.

• True
• False

Answer: True. Canada's Aboriginal peoples are made up of three distinct groups: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

Q60.Canada's long history of welcoming newcomers from around the world makes it best described as:

• A nation of immigrants
• A nation closed to immigration
• A single-culture society
• A nation of only two peoples

Answer: Canada is often described as a land of immigrants, having welcomed millions of newcomers from around the world who help build the country.

Q61.In 2008, the Government of Canada made a formal apology to people who had attended which schools?

• Military colleges
• Residential schools
• Agricultural colleges
• Language schools

Answer: From the 1800s until the 1980s, Ottawa sent many Aboriginal children to residential schools meant to assimilate them. The schools were underfunded and harsh, some students were physically abused, and most could not use their own languages or follow their cultural practices. The federal government formally apologized in 2008.

Q62.Aboriginal territorial rights were first guaranteed by which document, issued by King George III?

• The Quebec Act of 1774
• The Constitutional Act of 1791
• The British North America Act of 1867
• The Royal Proclamation of 1763

Answer: The Canadian Constitution recognizes Aboriginal and treaty rights. King George III's Royal Proclamation of 1763 was the first to guarantee territorial rights, and it became the basis for treaty negotiations with the newcomers, although the treaties were not always fully respected.

Q63.Since the 1970s, which term has been used for the Aboriginal peoples other than the Inuit and the Métis?

• First Nations
• Acadians
• Loyalists
• Québécois

Answer: The word 'Indian' covers all Aboriginal people other than the Inuit and the Métis, and the term First Nations came into use in the 1970s. First Nations, Inuit and Métis together make up Canada's Aboriginal peoples.

Q64.About what share of First Nations people live on reserves?

• Almost all
• About one in ten
• None, because reserves no longer exist
• About half

Answer: Roughly half of First Nations people live on reserves, in some 600 communities. The other half live off reserve, mostly in cities.

Q65.Which is the largest of the three groups of Aboriginal peoples?

• The Métis
• The Inuit
• First Nations
• The three groups are about the same size

Answer: About 65% of Aboriginal people are First Nations, about 30% are Métis and about 4% are Inuit.

Q66.What has allowed the Inuit to live in one of the harshest environments in the world?

• Food grown on large wheat farms in the Arctic
• Their knowledge of the land, the sea and the wildlife
• Supplies they received through trade with Europe
• Moving south to warmer places every winter

Answer: The Inuit are spread across the Arctic in small communities. Knowing the land, the sea and the wildlife well let them adapt to some of the harshest conditions on earth.

Q67.The Métis have both French- and English-speaking roots. What is their own language called?

• Inuktitut
• Gaelic
• Michif
• Mohawk

Answer: The Métis, a distinct people with both Aboriginal and European ancestors, have French- and English-speaking roots and their own dialect, Michif. Most of them live in the Prairie provinces.

Q68.What is an Anglophone?

• A person whose first language is French
• A person who speaks both official languages
• A person born in England
• A person whose first language is English

Answer: Anglophones are people whose first language is English, and Francophones are people whose first language is French. English and French are Canada's official languages, and the federal government must offer its services in both across the country.

Q69.Outside Quebec, in which three provinces do about one million Francophones live?

• British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan
• Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador
• Ontario, New Brunswick and Manitoba
• Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia

Answer: Most Francophones live in Quebec, but about one million are in Ontario, New Brunswick and Manitoba, with smaller communities in the other provinces. New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province.

Q70.Between 1755 and 1763, roughly what share of the Acadians were forced out of their homeland?

• About one in ten
• About one-quarter
• More than two-thirds
• All of them

Answer: In the war between Britain and France, over two-thirds of the Acadian people were deported. This ordeal is called the Great Upheaval. The Acadians survived and kept their identity, and their culture thrives today.

Q71.Most Quebecers are descendants of about how many French settlers who came in the 1600s and 1700s?

• 850
• 8,500
• 85,000
• 850,000

Answer: Quebecers, the people of Quebec, are mostly French-speaking. Most descend from about 8,500 French settlers of the 1600s and 1700s and keep a unique identity, culture and language. About one million Anglo-Quebecers, with roots going back 250 years, are also part of Quebec.

Q72.The way of life in English-speaking parts of Canada was shaped mainly by settlers, soldiers and migrants from which countries?

• England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
• France, Belgium and Switzerland
• Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark
• Spain, Portugal and Italy

Answer: Daily life in the English-speaking parts of Canada was shaped by hundreds of thousands of settlers, soldiers and migrants from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, who arrived between the 1600s and the 20th century. That is partly why Anglophones are generally called English Canadians.

Q73.True or False: Most Canadians were born in Canada.

• True
• False

Answer: True. Since the 1800s, most people in Canada have been born here. Canada is still called a land of immigrants because millions of newcomers over the last two centuries have helped to build and defend it.

Q74.Since the 1970s, where have most immigrants to Canada come from?

• Asian countries
• European countries
• The United States
• South America

Answer: Since the 1970s, most newcomers have come from Asian countries. Canada's many ethnic groups include people of English, French, Chinese, South Asian, Italian and Ukrainian origin, among many others.

Q75.In two of Canada's biggest cities, which languages are spoken most at home after English?

• French
• Spanish
• Chinese languages
• German

Answer: Many Canadians speak a non-official language at home. In Vancouver and in Toronto, Chinese languages are the most spoken at home after English.

Q76.Traditionally, how has the state in Canada worked with faith communities?

• It has kept completely apart from them in all public matters
• It has partnered with them on education, health care and social welfare
• It has required every citizen to belong to one official church
• It has allowed religious groups to operate only in Quebec

Answer: The state in Canada has long teamed up with faith communities: together they have run schools and health care, supported social welfare, harmony and mutual respect, resettled refugees and protected freedom of religion and conscience.

Q77.What protection do gay and lesbian Canadians have under the law?

• Equal protection, but only in some provinces and territories
• Equal treatment at work, but no access to civil marriage
• Protection only for those who were born in Canada
• Full and equal protection, including access to civil marriage

Answer: Gay and lesbian Canadians are part of Canada's diversity. They are fully protected and treated equally under the law, including the right to civil marriage.

Q78.In becoming Canadian, what are newcomers expected to embrace?

• The rule of law and other democratic principles
• One official religion
• The views of the governing party
• A single culture in place of their own

Answer: Some newcomers come from places of war or conflict, but that never justifies bringing violent, extreme or hateful prejudices to Canada. New Canadians are expected to accept democratic principles, including the rule of law.

Q79.What makes Canada unique among the countries of North America?

• It is the only constitutional monarchy in North America
• It is the only country in the world with two official languages
• It is the only federation in North America
• It is the only country without an army

Answer: Canada is the only constitutional monarchy in North America, and Canadians have inherited the world's oldest continuous constitutional tradition.

Q80.The phrase 'Peace, Order and Good Government' comes from which document?

• Magna Carta
• The British North America Act of 1867
• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• The Royal Proclamation of 1763

Answer: Canada's institutions are committed to 'Peace, Order and Good Government'. The phrase comes from the British North America Act of 1867, Canada's first constitutional document.

Q81.From where are the ancestors of Canada's Aboriginal peoples believed to have migrated?

• Europe
• Asia
• Africa
• The South Pacific

Answer: The ancestors of Aboriginal peoples are thought to have come from Asia many thousands of years ago.

Q82.The name 'Canada' comes from 'kanata,' a word meaning 'village.' From which language does it come?

• French
• Inuktitut
• An Iroquoian language
• Latin

Answer: Jacques Cartier heard two guides use 'kanata,' an Iroquoian word for 'village.' By the 1550s the name 'Canada' was appearing on maps.

Q83.Between 1534 and 1542, Jacques Cartier crossed the Atlantic three times. For which country did he claim the land?

• England
• France
• Spain
• Portugal

Answer: Cartier claimed the land for France's King Francis I. He was also the first European to sail up the St. Lawrence River.

Q84.In 1608, who built a fort on the site of today's Québec City?

• John Cabot
• Samuel de Champlain
• Count Frontenac
• Jacques Cartier

Answer: Samuel de Champlain built a fort on the site of today's Québec City in 1608, founding the colony of New France.

Q85.Who won the 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham, fought at Québec City?

• The French
• The British
• The Americans
• The Iroquois

Answer: In 1759 the British defeated the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which ended France's empire in America. Both commanders, Wolfe and Montcalm, were killed.

Q86.What did the Quebec Act of 1774 do?

• Abolished the French language
• Allowed religious freedom for Catholics and restored French civil law
• Created the Dominion of Canada
• Gave women the right to vote

Answer: The Quebec Act of 1774 allowed religious freedom for Catholics, let them hold public office, and restored French civil law while keeping British criminal law.

Q87.Who were the United Empire Loyalists?

• French settlers loyal to the King of France
• Over 40,000 people loyal to the Crown who fled the American Revolution after 1776
• Soldiers who fought for the United States
• Members of the Hudson's Bay Company

Answer: After the 13 American colonies declared independence in 1776, more than 40,000 Loyalists fled to Nova Scotia and Quebec.

Q88.What was the main result of the War of 1812?

• Canada became part of the United States
• Canada (then British North America) remained independent of the United States
• France regained Quebec
• The border was abolished

Answer: Thanks to the War of 1812, Canada stayed independent of the United States. British troops, First Nations (led by Tecumseh) and Canadian volunteers drove back the American invasion.

Q89.Slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire — including Canada — in which year?

• 1763
• 1833
• 1867
• 1918

Answer: The British Parliament abolished slavery throughout the Empire in 1833. Upper Canada had begun moving toward abolition in 1793, and thousands of slaves escaping the United States found freedom in Canada through the Underground Railroad.

Q90.What does 'responsible government' mean?

• The government must balance its budget
• Ministers need the backing of most elected representatives, and must resign if they lose a confidence vote
• The King governs directly
• Only landowners can vote

Answer: Under responsible government, the ministers of the Crown can govern only with the backing of most of the elected representatives. Nova Scotia was the first colony to gain it (1847–48).

Q91.In what year did Canada become a country (Confederation)?

• 1812
• 1867
• 1900
• 1931

Answer: On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act created the Dominion of Canada.

Q92.Which four provinces joined together at Confederation in 1867?

• Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and British Columbia
• Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland
• Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan

Answer: At Confederation in 1867 the four founding provinces were Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.

Q93.Who was Canada's first Prime Minister?

• Sir Wilfrid Laurier
• Sir George-Étienne Cartier
• Sir John A. Macdonald
• Sir Leonard Tilley

Answer: Sir John A. Macdonald, one of the Fathers of Confederation, took office as Canada's first Prime Minister in 1867. January 11 is Sir John A. Macdonald Day.

Q94.What is celebrated on July 1 each year?

• Victoria Day
• Canada Day (the anniversary of Confederation)
• Remembrance Day
• Labour Day

Answer: July 1 is Canada Day, marking the day in 1867 that Canada became a self-governing Dominion. It was formerly called Dominion Day.

Q95.Louis Riel is remembered as a leader of which people and as the founder of which province?

• The Inuit; Nunavut
• The Métis; Manitoba
• The Acadians; New Brunswick
• The Loyalists; Ontario

Answer: Louis Riel led the Métis and is regarded by many as the founder of Manitoba. He was executed for high treason in 1885.

Q96.The Canadian Pacific Railway, completed in 1885, was a symbol of what?

• Military strength
• National unity, linking the country from sea to sea
• French and English division
• American investment only

Answer: The CPR's completion in 1885 (the 'last spike') was a powerful symbol of unity, fulfilling the national dream of a railway from sea to sea. It was built with European and Chinese labour.

Q97.Who was Sir Wilfrid Laurier?

• The first Prime Minister of Canada
• The first French-Canadian Prime Minister after Confederation
• A Father of Confederation from Nova Scotia
• The inventor of the telephone

Answer: Sir Wilfrid Laurier was the first French Canadian to become Prime Minister after Confederation, and he encouraged immigration to the West.

Q98.In 1916, which province became the first to grant women the right to vote?

• Ontario
• Quebec
• Manitoba
• British Columbia

Answer: Manitoba became the first province to grant women the right to vote, in 1916. Most women won the federal vote in 1918.

Q99.The 1917 battle in which the Canadian Corps captured a key ridge — often called the 'birth of a nation' — was the Battle of:

• Dieppe
• Vimy Ridge
• Juno Beach
• Hong Kong

Answer: In April 1917 the Canadian Corps took Vimy Ridge. April 9 is celebrated as Vimy Day.

Q100.On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Canadian troops stormed and captured which beach in Normandy?

• Omaha Beach
• Juno Beach
• Sword Beach
• Gold Beach

Answer: On D-Day, about 15,000 Canadian troops captured Juno Beach. Roughly one in ten Allied soldiers that day was Canadian.

Q101.What do Canadians remember on November 11 each year?

• Confederation
• The sacrifice of Canadians who served and died in wars
• The King's birthday
• The end of the fur trade

Answer: November 11 is Remembrance Day, when Canadians honour those who served and the sacrifice of those who died in military service. The red poppy is worn.

Q102.In what year did Aboriginal peoples gain the right to vote in federal elections?

• 1918
• 1948
• 1960
• 1982

Answer: Aboriginal peoples gained the federal vote in 1960. Japanese Canadians had won it in 1948.

Q103.Which was the last province to join Canada, in 1949?

• British Columbia
• Alberta
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Prince Edward Island

Answer: Newfoundland and Labrador was the last province to join Confederation, in 1949. (Nunavut, a territory, was created in 1999.)

Q104.What was created in 1873 to bring order to the West and later became the RCMP?

• The Canadian Army
• The North West Mounted Police
• The Coast Guard
• The Hudson's Bay Company

Answer: In 1873 Prime Minister Macdonald created the North West Mounted Police, known today as the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police).

Q105.During the War of 1812, who walked about 30 km to warn the British of a planned American attack, helping to win the Battle of Beaver Dams?

• Mary Ann Shadd Cary
• Agnes Macphail
• Emily Stowe
• Laura Secord

Answer: In 1813, Laura Secord, a pioneer mother of five, set out on foot on a dangerous trip of about 30 km to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon that the Americans planned to attack. Her courage helped bring victory at Beaver Dams, and Canadians still honour her as a heroine.

Q106.Why did the first European explorers call the native peoples of Canada 'Indians'?

• They thought they had reached the East Indies
• It was the name the peoples used for themselves
• It came from the Iroquoian word for 'village'
• The King of France chose the name for them

Answer: The first explorers believed they had arrived in the East Indies, so they called the people they met 'Indians'. In fact, every region of Canada was already home to Aboriginal peoples.

Q107.What is L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, now a World Heritage Site?

• The remains of a 1,000-year-old Viking settlement
• The fortress Samuel de Champlain built in 1608
• The first Hudson's Bay Company trading post
• The spot where John Cabot landed in 1497

Answer: About 1,000 years ago, Vikings from Iceland who had settled Greenland also reached Labrador and Newfoundland. Today the site of their settlement, L'Anse aux Meadows, is protected as a World Heritage Site.

Q108.In 1497, John Cabot became the first to map Canada's Atlantic coast. For which country did he claim the land?

• France
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• England

Answer: John Cabot, an Italian who had settled in England, sailed for the English Crown. He came ashore in 1497 on either Newfoundland or Cape Breton Island and claimed the 'New Founde Land' for England, though English settlement only began in 1610.

Q109.In the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy had its finest hour in which battle?

• The Battle of Britain
• The Battle of Trafalgar
• The defence of Hong Kong
• The Battle of the Atlantic

Answer: In the Battle of the Atlantic, the navy guarded convoys of merchant ships against German submarines, helping to keep Britain fed and supplied. By the war's end, Canada's navy ranked third in the world in size.

Q110.In 1670, who granted the Hudson's Bay Company sole trading rights over all the lands draining into Hudson Bay?

• King Charles II of England
• King Louis XIV of France
• King George III
• Queen Victoria

Answer: King Charles II of England gave the Hudson's Bay Company its trading monopoly in 1670. For the next century it competed with fur traders based in Montreal.

Q111.Who were the voyageurs and coureurs des bois?

• Soldiers who defended New France
• Missionaries who ran schools for settlers
• Skilled fur traders who travelled by canoe
• Farmers who cleared land along the river

Answer: The voyageurs and coureurs des bois were brave, skilled men who paddled canoes deep into the interior to trade furs. They built strong alliances with First Nations.

Q112.Who led thousands of Mohawks loyal to the Crown into Canada after the American Revolution?

• Joseph Brant
• Chief Tecumseh
• Louis Riel
• Gabriel Dumont

Answer: Joseph Brant brought thousands of Loyalist Mohawks to Canada. The Loyalists came from many backgrounds, Dutch, German, British, Scandinavian and Aboriginal among them, and from many faiths.

Q113.In 1792, some Black Nova Scotians who had been given poor land left to help found which city, in a new British colony for freed slaves?

• Kingston, Jamaica
• Monrovia, Liberia
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Freetown, Sierra Leone

Answer: About 3,000 Black Loyalists, both free and enslaved, came north seeking a better life. In 1792, some who had received poor land in Nova Scotia moved on to found Freetown, in the new British colony of Sierra Leone in West Africa.

Q114.Where was the first representative assembly in what is now Canada elected, in 1758?

• Québec City
• Montreal
• Halifax
• Charlottetown

Answer: Democracy grew step by step. Nova Scotia elected the first representative assembly, in Halifax, in 1758. Prince Edward Island did the same in 1773, and New Brunswick in 1785.

Q115.What did the Constitutional Act of 1791 do?

• Divided the Province of Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada
• United Upper and Lower Canada as the Province of Canada
• Gave Catholics the freedom to practise their religion
• Created the Dominion of Canada

Answer: The Constitutional Act split the Province of Quebec in two: mostly English-speaking, Protestant Upper Canada (later Ontario) and mostly French-speaking, Catholic Lower Canada (later Quebec). Each got an assembly elected by the people, and the name Canada became official.

Q116.Which Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, founder of York (now Toronto), began the move to abolish slavery there in 1793?

• Sir Isaac Brock
• Lord Durham
• Sir Guy Carleton
• John Graves Simcoe

Answer: John Graves Simcoe, a Loyalist officer, was Upper Canada's first Lieutenant Governor. In 1793 Upper Canada, under Simcoe, became the first part of the British Empire to start moving toward abolition; Britain abolished slavery throughout the Empire in 1833.

Q117.What was the Underground Railroad?

• A network that helped slaves escape to Canada
• A secret railway line built beneath Montreal
• A smuggling route used during the War of 1812
• An escape route the Loyalists used in 1776

Answer: Thousands of enslaved people escaped from the United States by following 'the North Star' to freedom in Canada, helped by the Underground Railroad, a Christian network that opposed slavery.

Q118.Which British general captured Detroit in 1812 but was killed defending Queenston Heights, near Niagara Falls?

• Sir Arthur Currie
• James Wolfe
• Sir Isaac Brock
• Sir Guy Carleton

Answer: Major-General Sir Isaac Brock took Detroit in July 1812. Months later he died at Queenston Heights, where the British and their allies beat back an American attack. Chief Tecumseh's Shawnee warriors also fought on the British side.

Q119.At Châteauguay in 1813, who led some 460 soldiers, mostly French Canadiens, to turn back about 4,000 American invaders?

• Sir George-Étienne Cartier
• Count Frontenac
• Charles de Salaberry
• Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché

Answer: Lieutenant-Colonel Charles de Salaberry's small force, made up mostly of French Canadiens, stopped a much larger American army at Châteauguay, south of Montreal, in 1813.

Q120.After American troops set fire to the Parliament Buildings at York (now Toronto) in 1813, what did a British force burn in 1814?

• The White House in Washington
• The American fort at Detroit
• The port of Boston
• Independence Hall in Philadelphia

Answer: In 1814 a British expedition from Nova Scotia, under Major-General Robert Ross, struck back by setting fire to the White House and other government buildings in Washington. By then, the American invasion of Canada had clearly failed.

Q121.After the rebellions of 1837–38, what did Lord Durham recommend?

• Letting Lower Canada become a separate republic
• Joining the colonies to the United States
• Ending elected assemblies in both Canadas
• Uniting the two Canadas under responsible government

Answer: Sent from England to report on the uprisings, the reformer Lord Durham proposed uniting Upper and Lower Canada under responsible government. He also argued that French Canadians should be assimilated, which showed he did not understand French Canada's wish to keep its own identity.

Q122.Which was the first colony in British North America to gain full responsible government, in 1847–48?

• The Province of Canada
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island

Answer: Nova Scotia came first, in 1847–48, with reformers such as Joseph Howe. The Province of Canada followed in 1848–49, when Governor Lord Elgin introduced responsible government with London's support.

Q123.In 1849, who became the first to lead a responsible government in the Province of Canada?

• Robert Baldwin
• Sir George-Étienne Cartier
• Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché
• Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine

Answer: A champion of democracy and of French language rights, Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine worked with Robert Baldwin for responsible government and in 1849 became the first to head one in the Canadas.

Q124.Who are the Fathers of Confederation?

• The leaders who worked together to create Canada
• The British officials who ran the colonies
• The first members of the Senate
• The leaders of the 1837 rebellions

Answer: Between 1864 and 1867, leaders from the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick met and negotiated, with Britain's backing, to form one country. History calls them the Fathers of Confederation.

Q125.Until 1982, what was July 1 called?

• Empire Day
• Victoria Day
• Dominion Day
• Commonwealth Day

Answer: On July 1, 1867, the Dominion of Canada was born under the British North America Act. The day was celebrated as Dominion Day until 1982; today it is officially Canada Day.

Q126.Which province entered Confederation in 1871 on the promise of a railway link to the Pacific coast?

• Manitoba
• Prince Edward Island
• Alberta
• British Columbia

Answer: British Columbia joined in 1871 when Ottawa promised a railway to the West Coast, and the Canadian Pacific Railway was finished in 1885. Manitoba had joined in 1870, Prince Edward Island came in 1873 and Alberta in 1905.

Q127.Which two provinces were created in 1905?

• Alberta and Saskatchewan
• Manitoba and British Columbia
• Yukon and Nunavut
• Ontario and Quebec

Answer: Alberta and Saskatchewan became provinces in 1905. The Yukon Territory had been created in 1898, and Nunavut followed in 1999.

Q128.Which Montreal railway lawyer led Quebec into Confederation as Sir John A. Macdonald's close ally?

• Sir Wilfrid Laurier
• Louis Riel
• Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine
• Sir George-Étienne Cartier

Answer: Sir George-Étienne Cartier, a proud Canadien, was the main architect of Confederation in Quebec. He later helped bring Manitoba, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories into Canada.

Q129.Who drove the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885?

• Sir John A. Macdonald
• Sir Sandford Fleming
• Donald Smith
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier

Answer: On November 7, 1885, Donald Smith (later Lord Strathcona), a Scottish-born director of the CPR, drove the last spike. British and American investors paid for the line, and European and Chinese workers built it.

Q130.What was the Head Tax?

• A race-based entry fee charged to Chinese immigrants
• A fee every voter paid to cast a ballot
• A tax on each beaver pelt sold in Europe
• A charge for crossing the border to the United States

Answer: After Chinese workers helped build the CPR, Chinese immigrants faced discrimination, including the Head Tax, an entry fee based on race. The Government of Canada apologized for this policy in 2006.

Q131.Over 7,000 Canadians volunteered for which war, fought from 1899 to 1902?

• The Crimean War
• The War of 1812
• The Korean War
• The Boer War

Answer: Over 7,000 Canadians volunteered for the South African War (1899–1902), known as the Boer War, and more than 260 died. Victories at Paardeberg and Lillefontein in 1900 boosted national pride.

Q132.About how many Canadians served in the First World War, out of a population of about eight million?

• About 7,000
• About 60,000
• More than 600,000
• More than 6 million

Answer: More than 600,000 Canadians served, most of them volunteers. About 60,000 were killed and 170,000 wounded.

Q133.During and after the First World War, thousands of people were held in labour camps in Canada as 'enemy aliens'. Who were most of them?

• Ukrainian men
• Japanese families
• Italian merchants
• Chinese railway workers

Answer: From 1914 to 1920, more than 8,000 people who had been subjects of Austria-Hungary, most of them Ukrainian men, were interned in 24 labour camps, even though Britain advised against it.

Q134.Who commanded the Canadian Corps in the last hundred days of the First World War and is called Canada's greatest soldier?

• Sir Isaac Brock
• Sir Sam Steele
• John McCrae
• Sir Arthur Currie

Answer: General Sir Arthur Currie led the Canadian Corps through the war's final hundred days, starting with the Battle of Amiens on August 8, 1918, a day German commanders remembered as 'the black day of the German Army'. The war ended with the Armistice on November 11, 1918.

Q135.Who founded Canada's women's suffrage movement, the effort to win women the vote?

• Agnes Macphail
• Thérèse Casgrain
• Laura Secord
• Emily Stowe

Answer: The movement was founded by Dr. Emily Stowe, who was also the first Canadian woman to work as a doctor in Canada. In 1917 the federal government gave women the vote, first to nurses at the front, then to women with close relatives serving in the war.

Q136.Who became the first woman elected to the House of Commons, in 1921?

• Emily Stowe
• Agnes Macphail
• Mary Ann Shadd Cary
• Thérèse Casgrain

Answer: Agnes Macphail, a farmer and teacher, was elected in 1921 as Canada's first woman MP. Thanks to Thérèse Casgrain and others, women in Quebec won the right to vote in 1940.

Q137.Who wrote the poem 'In Flanders Fields', often recited on Remembrance Day?

• Robert W. Service
• John McCrae
• Stephen Leacock
• Pauline Johnson

Answer: Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian medical officer, wrote 'In Flanders Fields' in 1915. On Remembrance Day, November 11, Canadians wear a red poppy and keep a moment of silence.

Q138.What were the 'Dirty Thirties'?

• The boom years after the First World War
• The years of the Second World War
• The hard times of the Great Depression
• The Yukon Gold Rush of the 1890s

Answer: The stock market crash of 1929 led to the Great Depression, or 'Dirty Thirties'. By 1933, 27% of workers had no job, and Western farmers suffered most from low grain prices and drought. The 1920s, by contrast, had been the 'Roaring Twenties'.

Q139.In 1942, Canadian troops suffered heavy losses in a failed raid on which enemy-held port?

• Hong Kong
• Dieppe
• Juno Beach
• Amiens

Answer: The 1942 raid on Dieppe, on the French coast, failed with heavy Canadian losses. A year earlier, Canadians had fought bravely in the unsuccessful defence of Hong Kong against Japan.

Q140.What happened to Canadians of Japanese origin during the Second World War?

• They had to pay the Head Tax to stay in Canada
• They were forcibly relocated and lost their property
• They were all drafted into the Royal Canadian Navy
• They were the first Asian Canadians to vote

Answer: During the war, the federal government forced Canadians of Japanese origin to leave their homes and sold their property without compensation, although the military and the RCMP judged them to be little danger. Ottawa apologized in 1988 and paid compensation to the victims.

Q141.The era of rapid change in Quebec during the 1960s is known as:

• The Great Upheaval
• The Quiet Revolution
• Confederation
• The Dirty Thirties

Answer: In the 1960s Quebec went through a period of fast change called the Quiet Revolution.

Q142.Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best are celebrated for discovering what?

• The telephone
• Insulin
• The pacemaker
• Standard time zones

Answer: Banting and Best of Toronto discovered insulin, a hormone used to treat diabetes. It has saved millions of lives around the world.

Q143.Who invented the telephone (conceiving the idea at his summer home in Canada)?

• Thomas Edison
• Alexander Graham Bell
• Sandford Fleming
• Joseph-Armand Bombardier

Answer: Alexander Graham Bell came up with the idea for the telephone while at his summer home in Canada.

Q144.The sport of basketball was invented by which Canadian in 1891?

• James Naismith
• Wayne Gretzky
• Terry Fox
• Donovan Bailey

Answer: Canadian James Naismith invented basketball in 1891.

Q145.In 1980, who set out across Canada on the 'Marathon of Hope' to raise funds for cancer research?

• Rick Hansen
• Terry Fox
• Wayne Gretzky
• Chantal Petitclerc

Answer: Terry Fox, who had lost a leg to cancer, began his 'Marathon of Hope' in 1980 and became a national hero.

Q146.The Official Languages Act, which ensures federal government services in both English and French, was passed in:

• 1867
• 1931
• 1969
• 1995

Answer: The Official Languages Act was passed in 1969.

Q147.Sir Sandford Fleming is known for inventing what?

• The light bulb
• The worldwide system of standard time zones
• The snowmobile
• The pacemaker

Answer: Sir Sandford Fleming invented the worldwide system of standard time zones.

Q148.Canada belongs to NATO and (with the United States) to NORAD. What is NATO?

• A trade agreement
• A military alliance of democratic countries
• A peacekeeping fund
• An environmental treaty

Answer: Canada joined other Western democracies to form NATO, a military alliance, and partnered with the U.S. in NORAD for aerospace defence.

Q149.Which Canadian invention is a robotic arm developed for use on the U.S. space shuttle?

• The Canadarm
• The pacemaker
• The snowmobile
• The Avro Arrow

Answer: The Canadarm was a Canadian-built robotic arm used on the U.S. space shuttle, a symbol of Canada's contribution to space technology.

Q150.Lester B. Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for his role in helping to resolve which crisis?

• The Cold War
• The Suez Crisis
• The Korean War
• The October Crisis

Answer: Lester B. Pearson, later Prime Minister, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for helping resolve the Suez Crisis through UN peacekeeping, an idea he pioneered.

Q151.With which country does Canada jointly operate NORAD, the aerospace defence command?

• The United Kingdom
• France
• The United States
• Mexico

Answer: Canada and the United States jointly operate the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to defend North American airspace.

Q152.In what year was Canada's Constitution patriated and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms added?

• 1965
• 1969
• 1982
• 1999

Answer: In 1982 Canada patriated its Constitution from Britain and entrenched the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Q153.After being paralyzed in an accident, which Canadian circled the globe in a wheelchair in his 'Man in Motion' tour to support spinal cord research?

• Terry Fox
• Rick Hansen
• Steve Nash
• Marc Garneau

Answer: Rick Hansen, a 'Man in Motion,' wheeled more than 40,000 km around the world in 1985-87 to raise awareness and funds for spinal cord research.

Q154.Who was the first Canadian to travel into space?

• Chris Hadfield
• Marc Garneau
• Roberta Bondar
• Julie Payette

Answer: Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space in 1984; Roberta Bondar was the first Canadian woman in space.

Q155.Women across most of Canada won the right to vote in federal elections by 1918. Which province was the last to grant women the vote provincially, in 1940?

• Manitoba
• Ontario
• Quebec
• Nova Scotia

Answer: Women gained the federal vote during 1917-1918, but Quebec was the last province to grant women the provincial vote, in 1940.

Q156.True or False: Wayne Gretzky, nicknamed 'The Great One,' is considered one of the best hockey players ever.

• True
• False

Answer: True. Wayne Gretzky, 'The Great One,' played in the NHL from 1979 to 1999 and is widely considered the greatest hockey player ever.

Q157.At the 1996 Olympic Games, which Canadian sprinter won gold and set a world record in the 100-metre sprint?

• Donovan Bailey
• Ben Johnson
• Bruny Surin
• Andre De Grasse

Answer: Donovan Bailey won the 100-metre sprint and set a world record at the 1996 Olympic Games, becoming a Canadian sports hero.

Q158.Terry Fox's 1980 Marathon of Hope was a cross-country run to raise money for research into which disease?

• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Polio
• Heart disease

Answer: Terry Fox, who had lost a leg to cancer, ran his Marathon of Hope in 1980 to raise money for cancer research, inspiring the annual Terry Fox Run.

Q159.Which wheelchair athlete is celebrated as one of Canada's most decorated Paralympians in track?

• Chantal Petitclerc
• Silken Laumann
• Catriona Le May Doan
• Clara Hughes

Answer: Chantal Petitclerc is a celebrated Canadian wheelchair racer who won numerous Paralympic gold medals and was later appointed to the Senate.

Q160.Which life-saving heart device that regulates the heartbeat was pioneered by Canadian researchers?

• The artificial pacemaker
• The insulin pump
• The defibrillator
• The artificial heart

Answer: The cardiac pacemaker, which uses electrical pulses to regulate the heartbeat, was pioneered by Canadian researchers including John Hopps.

Q161.Which group of painters, founded in 1920, is known for its paintings of Canada's rugged wilderness?

• Les Automatistes
• The Group of Seven
• The Hudson River School
• The Impressionists

Answer: The Group of Seven, founded in 1920, created its own style to paint Canada's wild, rugged landscapes. Emily Carr is known for her paintings of West Coast forests and Aboriginal art, and Quebec's Les Automatistes, such as Jean-Paul Riopelle, were pioneers of abstract art in the 1950s.

Q162.What event in 1947 began Canada's modern energy industry?

• The completion of the CPR
• The opening of the Rideau Canal
• The Yukon Gold Rush
• The discovery of oil in Alberta

Answer: Oil found in Alberta in 1947 launched Canada's modern energy industry. After the war, freer world trade under agreements such as GATT (now the World Trade Organization) helped bring record prosperity.

Q163.In what year did the federal government introduce unemployment insurance, now called employment insurance?

• 1867
• 1914
• 1927
• 1940

Answer: Unemployment insurance began in 1940. Old Age Security dates back to 1927, while the Canada Pension Plan and the Quebec Pension Plan began in 1965.

Q164.Which war, from 1950 to 1953, saw Canadians serve in a United Nations operation, with about 500 killed?

• The Second World War
• The Vietnam War
• The Korean War
• The Suez Crisis

Answer: In the Korean War (1950–53), Canadians fought under the United Nations to defend South Korea; 500 were killed and 1,000 wounded. Canada has since served in many UN peacekeeping missions.

Q165.Which international association did Canada help found in 1970?

• NATO
• The United Nations
• The Commonwealth
• La Francophonie

Answer: La Francophonie, a worldwide association of French-speaking countries, was founded in 1970 with Canada's help. Earlier, Canada had helped form NATO and had joined the United Nations.

Q166.In 1956, Canada welcomed about 37,000 refugees fleeing Soviet tyranny in which country?

• Poland
• Vietnam
• Hungary
• Czechoslovakia

Answer: About 37,000 Hungarians found refuge in Canada after 1956. After the Communist victory in Vietnam in 1975, more than 50,000 Vietnamese also came to Canada.

Q167.Which artist was a pioneer of modern Inuit art, known for prints and soapstone carvings?

• Kenojuak Ashevak
• Emily Carr
• Louis-Philippe Hébert
• Jean-Paul Riopelle

Answer: Kenojuak Ashevak led the way in modern Inuit art with her etchings, prints and soapstone sculptures. Louis-Philippe Hébert sculpted historical figures, Emily Carr painted the West Coast and Jean-Paul Riopelle was a pioneer of abstract art.

Q168.What is Paul Henderson remembered for?

• Inventing basketball in 1891
• Winning Olympic gold in the 100-metre sprint
• Scoring the winning goal against the Soviet Union in 1972
• Starring with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s

Answer: Paul Henderson's goal won the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union. Known as 'the goal heard around the world', it is still a celebrated moment in Canada's sporting and cultural history.

Q169.What did Joseph-Armand Bombardier invent?

• The electric light bulb
• The cardiac pacemaker
• The telephone
• The snowmobile

Answer: Joseph-Armand Bombardier gave the world the snowmobile, a light vehicle for winter travel. The first electric light bulb was invented by Mathew Evans and Henry Woodward, who sold the patent to Thomas Edison.

Q170.Which famous invention came from Research in Motion (RIM), the company of Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie?

• The BlackBerry
• The Canadarm
• The electric light bulb
• The first radio

Answer: The wireless company Research in Motion, led by Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, became famous for the BlackBerry. Reginald Fessenden sent the world's first wireless voice message, an early step toward radio.

Q171.Which three terms describe Canada's system of government?

• It is a republic, a democracy, and a federation
• It is a constitutional monarchy, a federal state, and a parliamentary democracy
• It is a monarchy, a dictatorship, and a union
• It is a colony, a province, and a territory

Answer: Canada is a constitutional monarchy, a federal state and a parliamentary democracy.

Q172.What are the three parts of Parliament?

• The Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and the courts
• The Sovereign (King), the House of Commons, and the Senate
• The federal, provincial, and municipal governments
• The Governor General, the Premier, and the Mayor

Answer: Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (King or Queen), the Senate, and the House of Commons.

Q173.Who is Canada's Head of State?

• The Prime Minister
• The Governor General
• The Sovereign — currently King Charles III
• The Speaker of the House

Answer: Canada's Head of State is the Sovereign. As of 2026 this is King Charles III. (The study guide, printed earlier, refers to Queen Elizabeth II.)

Q174.What is the difference between the Head of State and the Head of Government?

• They are the same person
• The Sovereign is Head of State; the Prime Minister is Head of Government and runs the country
• The Governor General runs the country; the King is Head of Government
• The Premier is Head of State; the Mayor is Head of Government

Answer: There is a clear distinction: the Sovereign is the Head of State, while the Prime Minister is the Head of Government and actually runs the country.

Q175.What is the role of the Governor General?

• To run the federal government day-to-day
• To represent the Sovereign in Canada
• To lead the Opposition
• To serve as Canada's top judge

Answer: The Governor General represents the Sovereign in Canada. The Sovereign appoints the Governor General, usually for five years, on the Prime Minister's advice.

Q176.How does a bill become a law in Canada?

• The Prime Minister signs it alone
• It must pass the House of Commons and the Senate, then receive royal assent
• The Governor General writes it
• A national referendum approves it

Answer: A bill becomes law only after the House of Commons and the Senate have both passed it and the Governor General has given it royal assent for the Sovereign.

Q177.What are the three branches of government?

• Federal, provincial, and municipal
• Executive, Legislative, and Judicial
• Senate, House, and Crown
• Police, courts, and prisons

Answer: The three branches of government are the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial.

Q178.What are the three levels of government in Canada?

• Executive, legislative, and judicial
• Federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal
• King, Senate, and House of Commons
• Local, regional, and national police

Answer: The three levels of government are federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal (local).

Q179.How many provinces and territories does Canada have?

• 10 provinces and 3 territories
• 12 provinces and 2 territories
• 9 provinces and 4 territories
• 13 provinces and 0 territories

Answer: Canada has ten provinces and three territories.

Q180.Who selects the Cabinet ministers in the federal government?

• The Governor General
• The Prime Minister
• The Senate
• Voters directly

Answer: The Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet ministers, most of them MPs, and is in charge of the government's operations and policies.

Q181.In a province, the Sovereign is represented by the:

• Premier
• Lieutenant Governor
• Mayor
• Senator

Answer: Each province has a Lieutenant Governor who represents the Sovereign. The Governor General appoints them on the Prime Minister's advice.

Q182.What is the title of the head of a provincial government?

• Prime Minister
• Premier
• Governor
• Mayor

Answer: The Premier leads a provincial government, much as the Prime Minister leads the federal one.

Q183.What does it mean that Canada is a 'constitutional monarchy'?

• The King can make any law he wishes
• The Head of State is a hereditary Sovereign whose reign follows the Constitution
• Canada has no monarch
• The Prime Minister is crowned

Answer: In a constitutional monarchy the Head of State inherits the throne and must reign within the Constitution and the rule of law.

Q184.Senators in Canada are:

• Elected by voters every four years
• Appointed on the Prime Minister's advice by the Governor General, serving until age 75
• Chosen by provincial premiers
• Appointed for life

Answer: The Governor General appoints senators on the Prime Minister's advice. They may serve until they turn 75.

Q185.Which is an area of federal (national) responsibility?

• Education
• Health care delivery
• National defence and citizenship
• Highways

Answer: The federal government handles matters of national concern such as defence, foreign policy, citizenship, criminal law, and currency. Provinces handle education, health, highways, and natural resources.

Q186.What does the legislative branch of government do?

• Interprets the law in the courts
• Makes the laws (Parliament: the Sovereign, Senate, and House of Commons)
• Carries out and enforces the law
• Commands the armed forces

Answer: The legislative branch — Parliament, made up of the Sovereign, the Senate, and the House of Commons — is responsible for making the laws.

Q187.What does the executive branch of the federal government consist of?

• The Supreme Court and lower courts
• The Sovereign (represented by the Governor General), the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet
• The Senate alone
• The provincial premiers

Answer: The executive branch carries out the business of government and includes the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General), the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet.

Q188.In which year did Confederation create the Dominion of Canada under the British North America Act?

• 1776
• 1812
• 1867
• 1931

Answer: The Constitution Act, 1867 (first called the British North America Act) joined the founding provinces as the Dominion of Canada, which came into being on July 1, 1867.

Q189.Which area is a responsibility of provincial (rather than federal) governments?

• National defence
• Citizenship
• Education
• Foreign policy

Answer: Provinces are responsible for matters such as education, health care, and highways, while defence, citizenship, and foreign policy are federal.

Q190.Once a bill has passed the House of Commons and the Senate, what final step makes it law?

• A national referendum
• Royal assent, given by the Governor General for the Sovereign
• Approval by the Supreme Court
• A vote of the provincial premiers

Answer: Once both chambers have passed a bill, the Governor General gives it royal assent in the Sovereign's name, and it becomes law.

Q191.When a bill goes through the House of Commons, what happens at the committee stage?

• The bill is printed and read for the first time
• Members debate the principle of the bill
• A committee examines the bill in detail, clause by clause
• The bill receives royal assent

Answer: A bill has a first reading (it is printed), a second reading (members debate its principle), a committee stage (a committee examines each clause), a report stage (more amendments can be made) and a third reading (a final debate and vote). The Senate then goes through similar steps, and royal assent makes the bill law.

Q192.At which stage do members of the House of Commons debate the principle of a bill?

• First reading
• Second reading
• Report stage
• Royal assent

Answer: At first reading the bill is simply printed. Members debate its principle at second reading; a committee then studies it clause by clause, the report stage allows further amendments, and third reading ends with a final debate and vote.

Q193.After a bill passes third reading in the House of Commons, what happens next?

• It becomes law on the same day
• The provinces vote to approve it
• It goes to a national referendum
• The Senate studies it in a similar way

Answer: A bill needs the approval of the House of Commons and of the Senate. The Senate takes it through steps much like those in the House, and only royal assent, granted by the Governor General for the Sovereign, makes it law.

Q194.In Parliament, what is a bill?

• A proposal for a new law
• A tax paid by every citizen
• A list of voters in a riding
• A decision of the Supreme Court

Answer: A bill is a proposed law. The House of Commons and the Senate both study and review bills, and a bill becomes law only after both have passed it and it has received royal assent.

Q195.Over which two areas do the federal and provincial governments share responsibility?

• Defence and foreign policy
• Agriculture and immigration
• Education and highways
• Currency and criminal law

Answer: The Constitution gives some areas to the federal government (such as defence, foreign policy, currency and criminal law) and others to the provinces (such as education and highways). Agriculture and immigration are shared by both.

Q196.Which level of government is responsible for Canada's currency?

• The federal government
• The provincial governments
• Municipal governments
• The territorial governments

Answer: National and international matters belong to the federal government. Besides currency, they include defence, foreign policy, trade and communications between provinces, navigation, criminal law and citizenship.

Q197.Which level of government is responsible for municipal (local) government?

• The federal government
• The Senate
• The provinces
• The Governor General

Answer: Under the Constitution, municipal government is a provincial responsibility. The provinces are also responsible for health, education, highways, natural resources, and property and civil rights.

Q198.How does federalism benefit Canada's provinces?

• They can print their own money
• They can run their own foreign policy
• They can write their own criminal laws
• They can tailor policies to their own people

Answer: Federalism lets each province adopt policies suited to its own population and gives provinces room to experiment with new ideas. Money, foreign policy and criminal law are federal matters.

Q199.Canada's three northern territories do not have the status of provinces. What is true of their governments?

• They are run directly by the Senate
• They carry out many of the same functions
• They have no elected assemblies at all
• They are governed by the United Kingdom

Answer: Because of their small populations, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are territories rather than provinces. Still, their governments and elected assemblies perform many of the same functions as provincial ones.

Q200.What two parts make up a provincial legislature?

• The Lieutenant Governor and the elected Assembly
• The Premier and the Senate
• The Governor General and the House of Commons
• The mayor and the city council

Answer: Parliament is made up of the Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons. In the same way, each provincial legislature is made up of the Lieutenant Governor, who represents the Sovereign, and the Assembly elected by the people.

Q201.Besides passing laws, what are the elected members of Parliament and of the provincial and territorial legislatures responsible for?

• Appointing the judges of the Supreme Court
• Choosing the Governor General every five years
• Approving spending and holding the government to account
• Running the police forces and the courts

Answer: Canadians elect representatives to the House of Commons and to their provincial or territorial legislature. These representatives pass laws, approve and keep an eye on government spending, and hold the government accountable.

Q202.Which part of Parliament is elected by the people?

• The Sovereign
• The Senate
• The House of Commons
• The Governor General

Answer: Parliament has three parts. The Sovereign inherits the throne, senators are appointed, and members of the House of Commons are elected by Canadians, traditionally every four years. That is why the House of Commons is called the representative chamber.

Q203.What role does the Sovereign play in Parliament?

• Leading the party that holds the most seats
• Writing and presenting the federal budget
• Casting the deciding vote when the House is tied
• A non-partisan focus of citizenship and allegiance

Answer: The Sovereign is part of Parliament but above party politics. New citizens pledge allegiance to the Sovereign, who is a symbol of Canadian sovereignty and a guardian of constitutional freedoms; this role is most visible during royal visits.

Q204.The Sovereign is Head of the Commonwealth. What do the Commonwealth's member countries cooperate to advance?

• Building one army under a single command
• Social, economic and cultural progress
• Using one currency across all members
• Electing one parliament for all members

Answer: The Commonwealth is an association of independent countries, linked through the Sovereign as its Head, that work together for social, economic and cultural progress.

Q205.Which of these countries is also a constitutional monarchy, like Canada?

• The United States
• France
• Japan
• Mexico

Answer: Canada shares this system with countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Japan. The United States, France and Mexico are republics.

Q206.Who appoints a province's Lieutenant Governor?

• The Premier, after a vote of the legislature
• The Governor General, on the Prime Minister's advice
• The Chief Justice of the province's highest court
• The voters, in a province-wide election

Answer: The Sovereign is represented in each province by a Lieutenant Governor. The Governor General appoints the Lieutenant Governor on the advice of the Prime Minister, normally for five years.

Q207.For how long is the Governor General usually appointed?

• Two years
• Five years
• Ten years
• For life

Answer: The Governor General represents the Sovereign in Canada. The Sovereign appoints the Governor General on the Prime Minister's advice, usually for five years.

Q208.Who represents the federal government in each of the three territories, in a mainly ceremonial role?

• The Lieutenant Governor
• The Premier
• The Speaker
• The Commissioner

Answer: In each province, a Lieutenant Governor represents the Sovereign. In Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, a Commissioner represents the federal government in a mainly ceremonial role, while the territorial premier leads the government.

Q209.What is the name of Quebec's provincial legislature?

• The National Assembly
• The Legislative Assembly
• The House of Assembly
• The Provincial Parliament

Answer: Quebec's legislature is the National Assembly, so its members are called members of the National Assembly (MNAs). Depending on the province or territory, members of the legislature may instead be called MLAs, MPPs or MHAs.

Q210.Which law first divided powers between the federal government and the provinces?

• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• The Quebec Act, passed in 1774
• The Official Languages Act of 1969
• The British North America Act, 1867

Answer: The British North America Act, now called the Constitution Act, 1867, divided responsibilities between the federal government and the provinces when Canada was created. The Charter was added to the Constitution in 1982.

Q211.How are Members of Parliament (MPs) chosen?

• Appointed by the Prime Minister
• Elected by voters of their local riding (constituency)
• Chosen by the provincial premiers
• Appointed by the Governor General

Answer: MPs are elected by the voters in their local electoral district, also called a riding or constituency. The candidate with the most votes wins.

Q212.Who is eligible to vote in a Canadian federal election?

• Anyone living in Canada
• A Canadian citizen aged 18 or older on voting day who is on the voters' list
• Only property owners
• Permanent residents over 18

Answer: To vote in a federal election you must be a Canadian citizen, be 18 or older on voting day and be on the voters' list. If your name is not on the list, you can still register, even at the polling station.

Q213.In Canada, are you obliged to tell anyone how you voted?

• Yes, you must tell your employer
• Yes, you must tell election officials
• No — the ballot is secret and no one can make you reveal your vote
• Only if you are asked by police

Answer: Canadian law guarantees a secret ballot. No one — not family, employers, or union reps — has the right to insist you reveal how you voted.

Q214.After a federal election, which party usually forms the government?

• The party chosen by the Senate
• The party that wins the most House of Commons seats
• The party with the most votes nationally regardless of seats
• The party selected by the Governor General's preference

Answer: Usually the Governor General invites the party that wins the most House of Commons seats to form the government, and its leader becomes Prime Minister.

Q215.What is the difference between a majority and a minority government?

• A majority government has a female PM
• A majority government holds at least half the seats in the House of Commons; a minority holds fewer
• A minority government is appointed, not elected
• There is no difference

Answer: If the governing party holds at least half the seats in the House of Commons it is a majority government; if it holds fewer than half, it is a minority government. (With 343 seats, a majority means at least 172.)

Q216.An electoral district in Canada is also known as a:

• Province
• Riding or constituency
• Municipality
• Ward only

Answer: An electoral district — the area represented by one MP — is also called a riding or a constituency.

Q217.Under fixed-date legislation, federal general elections are scheduled for which day?

• The first Monday in July
• The third Monday of October, every four years
• January 1 every five years
• Any day the Senate chooses

Answer: Federal elections are set for the third Monday of October every four years, but the Prime Minister can ask the Governor General to call one sooner.

Q218.What is the name of the independent agency that runs federal elections and maintains the voters' list?

• Statistics Canada
• Elections Canada
• The Senate
• The RCMP

Answer: Elections Canada is the neutral agency of Parliament that runs federal elections and maintains the National Register of Electors.

Q219.What is the role of the opposition parties?

• To run the government departments
• To peacefully oppose and try to improve government proposals
• To appoint the Cabinet
• To count the votes

Answer: Opposition parties challenge government proposals peacefully or work to improve them. The largest is the Official Opposition (His Majesty's Loyal Opposition).

Q220.When you arrive to vote at your polling station, what do you do?

• Announce your choice aloud
• Go behind a screen and mark an X next to the candidate of your choice on a secret ballot
• Hand cash to the official
• Vote by show of hands

Answer: You go behind a screen to mark your secret ballot with an X beside your chosen candidate, then deposit it in the ballot box.

Q221.Besides federal elections, at which other levels of government do Canadians elect representatives?

• Only municipal
• Provincial/territorial and municipal (local) governments
• Only the Senate
• International bodies only

Answer: Canadians vote in three kinds of elections: for federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal (local) governments.

Q222.What is the minimum voting age in a Canadian federal election?

• 16 years old
• 18 years old
• 19 years old
• 21 years old

Answer: You can vote in a federal election if you are a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older on election day.

Q223.What is a by-election?

• A second vote held to break a tie
• An election in a single riding to fill a seat that became vacant between general elections
• A vote held only in the Senate
• A recount ordered by the courts

Answer: A by-election is called to fill a vacancy in a single electoral district (riding) when a seat opens up between general elections.

Q224.What is the card called that Elections Canada mails to tell registered voters when and where to vote?

• A ballot
• A voter information card
• A passport
• A census form

Answer: If you are on the voters' list, Elections Canada mails you a voter information card telling you when and where to vote.

Q225.What can you do if your name is not on the voters' list when an election is called?

• You are not allowed to vote that year
• You can register, including at your polling station
• You must wait for the next election
• You must write to the Prime Minister

Answer: If you are not on the voters' list you can still register to vote, including at the advance polls or on election day at your polling station.

Q226.What are 'advance polls'?

• Opinion surveys taken before an election
• Polling stations open on set days before election day for those who cannot vote that day
• A way to vote twice
• Polling stations run by political parties

Answer: Advance polls let voters cast their ballots on designated days before official election day if they are unable to vote on that day.

Q227.How is the winning candidate in each riding determined in a Canadian federal election?

• The candidate must win more than half of all votes
• The candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority
• The candidate chosen by the other parties wins
• The two top candidates share the seat

Answer: In each electoral district the candidate who receives the most votes wins the seat, whether or not that is more than half the votes cast.

Q228.True or False: Canadians vote directly for the person they want to be Prime Minister.

• True
• False

Answer: False. Voters elect a Member of Parliament for their riding; the leader of the party with the most seats normally becomes Prime Minister.

Q229.Who may ask the Governor General to call a federal election?

• The Chief Electoral Officer
• The Prime Minister
• The Speaker of the House
• The Senate

Answer: The Prime Minister can ask the Governor General to call an election, even before the fixed date set in law.

Q230.True or False: A voter's choice on the ballot is private and protected by a secret ballot.

• True
• False

Answer: True. The secret ballot means how you vote is private; no one has the right to watch you vote or demand to know your choice.

Q231.Who may run as a candidate in a federal election?

• Only members of a political party
• Any permanent resident aged 21 or older
• Only people who own property in the riding
• Any Canadian citizen aged 18 or older

Answer: Any Canadian citizen who is at least 18 can be a candidate in a federal election. A riding can have many candidates, and whoever gets the most votes becomes its member of Parliament.

Q232.What is the National Register of Electors?

• A list of every member of Parliament since 1867
• A permanent list of Canadians eligible to vote
• A record of how each Canadian has voted
• A list of people waiting for citizenship

Answer: Elections Canada keeps the National Register of Electors, a permanent database of Canadian citizens aged 18 or older who may vote in federal elections. The voters' lists for federal elections and referendums come from it.

Q233.Besides when and where to vote, what does the voter information card tell you?

• Which candidate is expected to win your riding
• How the other people in your home voted
• The number to call if you need an interpreter
• Which party you voted for in the last election

Answer: When an election is called, every elector in the National Register receives a voter information card from Elections Canada by mail. It says when and where to vote and gives a number to call if you need an interpreter or other special services.

Q234.What should you do if you did not receive a voter information card?

• Call your local elections office to check the list
• Accept that you cannot vote in this election
• Ask a family member to vote in your place
• Wait and register for the next election

Answer: If no card arrives, call your local elections office, or Elections Canada, to make sure your name is on the voters' list. You can also be added to the list at any time, even on election day.

Q235.If you cannot vote on election day, which two other ways to vote are available?

• Voting by phone or by text message
• Advance polls or a special ballot
• Asking a friend to vote for you twice
• Voting online through social media

Answer: Voters who cannot make it on election day, or prefer not to, may use the advance polls or a special ballot instead. The voter information card gives the dates and places.

Q236.What should you bring to your polling station on election day?

• Your passport and your most recent tax return
• A letter of support from your member of Parliament
• Nothing, because giving your name is enough
• Your voter information card and ID with your address

Answer: On election day, go to the polling station shown on your voter information card. Bring the card along with proof of your identity and address.

Q237.After you hand your folded ballot to the poll official, what does the official do before you put it in the ballot box?

• Tears off the ballot number and returns the ballot
• Unfolds it to check that you voted correctly
• Writes your name on the back of the ballot
• Keeps it and counts it right there on the spot

Answer: Behind the voting screen, you put an X in the circle beside the candidate you choose, fold the ballot and give it to the poll officials. The official tears off the ballot number and returns the ballot, which you then put in the ballot box yourself.

Q238.When are the ballots counted in a federal election?

• A month after election day
• Only when a candidate asks for a recount
• As soon as the polling stations close
• Before the polls open

Answer: Counting starts as soon as the polls close: election officers count every ballot, and the results are then made public on television, on the radio and on the Elections Canada website.

Q239.Which kind of vote in the House of Commons is treated as a matter of confidence?

• A vote to rename a post office
• A vote on a motion to honour a famous athlete
• A vote to choose the Speaker
• A vote on a key issue like the budget

Answer: The governing party and its leader stay in power only while a majority of MPs support them, which is called having their confidence. A vote on a major question, the budget for example, is a matter of confidence.

Q240.What usually happens if a majority of MPs vote against a major government decision, such as the budget?

• The Senate takes over running the government
• The government falls, and an election is usually called
• The Governor General writes a new budget instead
• Nothing changes until the fixed election date

Answer: Losing a vote of confidence defeats the party in power. The Prime Minister then usually asks the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call an election.

Q241.What are Cabinet ministers responsible for?

• Running federal government departments
• Judging cases in the Supreme Court
• Counting ballots on election day
• Leading the provincial governments

Answer: Ministers of the Crown are picked by the Prime Minister, usually from among the MPs. Each minister is in charge of running federal government departments.

Q242.Who prepares the federal budget and proposes most new laws?

• The Senate
• The Supreme Court
• The Cabinet
• The Governor General

Answer: The Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers together form the Cabinet. They make important decisions about how Canada is governed, draw up the budget and put forward most new laws.

Q243.Which party becomes the Official Opposition?

• The party that came second in the popular vote, whatever its seats
• The opposition party holding the most seats
• The party chosen by the Senate
• The smallest party in the House

Answer: Parties outside government form the opposition. The largest of them in the House of Commons becomes the Official Opposition, also known as His Majesty's Loyal Opposition.

Q244.What are the laws passed by a municipal council called?

• Acts of Parliament
• Royal proclamations
• Charters
• By-laws

Answer: Municipal councils make local laws known as by-laws, which apply only within their community.

Q245.Who usually heads a municipal government?

• A mayor or reeve
• A premier
• A senator
• A Lieutenant Governor

Answer: A municipal council is usually made up of a mayor (or reeve) and councillors, sometimes called aldermen. Premiers lead provincial governments.

Q246.Which of these is usually the responsibility of a municipal government?

• National defence
• Foreign policy
• Snow removal
• Citizenship

Answer: Municipalities usually look after local services such as snow removal, garbage removal, firefighting, public transit, recreation facilities and streets. Defence, foreign policy and citizenship are federal.

Q247.True or False: Provincial, territorial and municipal elections follow exactly the same rules as federal elections.

• True
• False

Answer: False. Provincial, territorial and municipal elections also use a secret ballot, but their rules differ from the federal ones, so it is worth finding out how to vote in each.

Q248.On First Nations reserves, who has major responsibilities such as housing and schools?

• The RCMP
• The provincial Premier
• The Governor General
• Band chiefs and councillors

Answer: First Nations have band chiefs and councillors with major responsibilities on reserves, including housing, schools and other services. Aboriginal organizations also speak for First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples in their dealings with governments.

Q249.Whom does a member of Parliament represent?

• Only the voters who chose them
• Their riding, and all Canadians as well
• Only the members of their party
• Only their province's government

Answer: Each electoral district elects one MP. The MP represents the people of that district in the House of Commons, and all Canadians too.

Q250.Who can question the decisions of the Cabinet?

• All members of the House of Commons
• Only the Prime Minister
• Only members of the governing party
• No one, as Cabinet decisions are final

Answer: The Cabinet makes major decisions about how Canada is governed, but its decisions can be questioned by every member of the House of Commons. This keeps the government accountable.

Q251.What is the highest court in Canada?

• The Federal Court
• The Supreme Court of Canada
• The Court of King's Bench
• The House of Commons

Answer: The Supreme Court of Canada is the country's highest court. It has nine judges appointed by the Governor General.

Q252.Canada's justice system rests on the presumption of innocence. What does this mean?

• Everyone is guilty until proven innocent
• Everyone is innocent until proven guilty
• Only citizens get a trial
• Judges decide guilt before trial

Answer: In criminal cases, everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This presumption is a foundation of our justice system.

Q253.In which two provinces does the RCMP NOT serve as the provincial police force?

• Alberta and British Columbia
• Ontario and Quebec
• Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
• Manitoba and Saskatchewan

Answer: The RCMP serves as the provincial police in every province and territory except Ontario and Quebec, which have their own provincial forces.

Q254.In Canada, are you allowed to ask questions about a police officer's service or conduct?

• No, that is illegal
• Yes — almost all police forces have a process for raising concerns
• Only with a lawyer present
• Only if you are a citizen

Answer: Yes. You may ask questions about the service or conduct of the police, and almost all police forces have a way to raise concerns and seek action.

Q255.What principle means that the law applies equally to everyone, judges, politicians and police included?

• Federalism
• The rule of law
• Habeas corpus
• Responsible government

Answer: The rule of law is a founding principle: laws govern both individuals and governments, and no person or group stands above the law.

Q256.What role do the courts play in Canada?

• To make laws
• To settle disputes and apply the law fairly
• To enforce laws on the street
• To collect taxes

Answer: The courts settle disputes and apply the law; the police enforce the law; and elected representatives make the laws.

Q257.What is the role of the police in Canada?

• To make the laws
• To keep people safe and enforce the law
• To settle lawsuits between citizens
• To collect federal taxes

Answer: The police keep people safe and enforce the law; they are there to protect people and their property.

Q258.If you are arrested or detained in Canada, what is one of your rights?

• To be told only after 24 hours why you were arrested
• To know promptly why you were arrested and to get a lawyer
• To leave whenever you wish
• To refuse to give your name forever

Answer: If arrested, you have the right to be told promptly the reason, to retain and instruct a lawyer without delay, and to be informed of that right.

Q259.What is the full name of Canada's national police force, the RCMP?

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Royal Canadian Military Police
• Regional Canadian Mounted Patrol
• Royal Crown Municipal Police

Answer: The RCMP stands for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada's national police force.

Q260.True or False: In Canada you can be detained or imprisoned by the government without a fair hearing.

• True
• False

Answer: False. Canadians are guaranteed the right not to be arbitrarily detained or imprisoned, and to a fair and public hearing by an independent court.

Q261.At which level of government are most municipal (local) police forces organized?

• The federal government
• The city or town
• The United Nations
• The Supreme Court

Answer: Many cities and towns have their own municipal police forces serving the local community, alongside provincial and federal policing.

Q262.In a Canadian criminal trial, who must prove that the accused is guilty?

• The accused person
• The defence lawyer
• The state (the prosecution)
• The jury

Answer: Because of the presumption of innocence, the burden is on the state to prove a person's guilt; the accused does not have to prove innocence.

Q263.What does it mean that Canada has an independent, impartial judiciary?

• Judges are elected by voters
• Judges decide cases free from political interference
• Judges also write the laws
• Judges report to the Prime Minister

Answer: An independent judiciary means judges apply the law impartially, free from political pressure, ensuring fair treatment for all.

Q264.Who is responsible for making (passing) the laws in Canada?

• The police
• The courts and judges
• Elected representatives in Parliament and the legislatures
• The RCMP Commissioner

Answer: Elected representatives in Parliament and the provincial and territorial legislatures pass the laws; courts apply them and police enforce them.

Q265.True or False: Canadian law treats men and women as equals.

• True
• False

Answer: True. Women and men have the same rights under Canadian law and are entitled to equal treatment by governments and in society.

Q266.Which of these is a responsibility of citizens that helps the justice system work?

• Serving on a jury when called
• Appointing judges
• Writing new criminal laws
• Commanding the police

Answer: Serving on a jury when called is a responsibility of citizenship; it makes the justice system work, as people are tried by a jury of their peers.

Q267.In addition to enforcing the law, what else are the police expected to do?

• Decide criminal sentences
• Treat everyone fairly and according to the law
• Pass municipal bylaws
• Choose Supreme Court judges

Answer: The police keep people safe and must themselves obey the law; they are expected to treat everyone fairly.

Q268.Which founding principle holds that there is one law for all, and that society is based on ordered liberty rather than the whims of those in power?

• Free enterprise
• The rule of law
• Multiculturalism
• Bilingualism

Answer: The rule of law means society runs on orderly rules everyone must follow, including those who govern, not the arbitrary will of rulers.

Q269.How many judges sit on the Supreme Court of Canada?

• Five
• Seven
• Nine
• Twelve

Answer: The Supreme Court of Canada is the final court of appeal and has nine judges.

Q270.Where would a minor dispute, such as a small traffic violation, most likely be handled?

• The Supreme Court of Canada
• A provincial or territorial court
• The House of Commons
• The Senate

Answer: Provincial and territorial courts handle most everyday matters; the Supreme Court is reserved as the final court of appeal for the most important cases.

Q271.If you need a lawyer but cannot afford one, where can you usually get help?

• Legal aid services, free or at low cost
• A judge of the Supreme Court of Canada
• Your member of Parliament's office
• The front desk of a police station

Answer: Lawyers can advise you on legal problems and represent you in court. In most communities, people who cannot pay a lawyer can get legal aid at no cost or for a small fee.

Q272.What does the principle of due process mean?

• Every citizen must vote in every election
• Everyone must pay their taxes within thirty days
• Government must respect all of a person's legal rights
• Courts must decide every case within a month

Answer: Due process means the government must respect all the legal rights a person has under the law. In criminal matters, for example, everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Q273.Which court hears cases involving the federal government?

• A provincial small claims court
• The Federal Court of Canada
• A provincial family court
• A municipal traffic court

Answer: The Federal Court of Canada hears matters that involve the federal government. The Supreme Court of Canada is the country's highest court, and the provinces also have family, traffic and small claims courts.

Q274.Which court handles civil cases about small amounts of money?

• The Supreme Court of Canada
• The Federal Court of Canada
• A traffic court
• A small claims court

Answer: Small claims courts handle civil cases about small amounts of money. The provinces also have courts for lesser offences, family courts and traffic courts.

Q275.In most provinces, what are the two main courts?

• A senate court and a people's court
• A military court and a church court
• An appeal court and a trial court
• A federal court and a city court

Answer: Most provinces have an appeal court and a trial court; the trial court is sometimes called the Court of King's Bench or the Supreme Court of the province. Lesser offences, family matters, traffic cases and small claims go to other provincial courts.

Q276.Besides serving as the provincial police in most provinces, what does the RCMP do?

• Enforces federal laws throughout Canada
• Writes Canada's criminal laws
• Runs the Supreme Court of Canada
• Elects the members of Parliament

Answer: The RCMP enforces federal laws in every part of Canada. It also acts as the provincial police in every province and territory except Ontario and Quebec, which have their own provincial forces, and in some municipalities.

Q277.In which of these situations should you ask the police for help?

• You want to apply for a Canadian passport
• Someone you know has gone missing
• You need to renew your health card
• You want to file your income tax return

Answer: The police keep people safe and enforce the law. You can ask them for help after an accident, a theft or an assault, if you witness a crime, or when a person close to you is missing.

Q278.What does the blindfold on the statue of Lady Justice represent?

• That judges work only at night
• That trials are always held in secret
• That justice should take its time
• That laws are applied impartially

Answer: The blindfolded Lady Justice stands for the impartial way Canada's laws are administered: blind to everything except the facts.

Q279.Which of these is a purpose of Canada's laws?

• To keep order and settle disputes peacefully
• To protect the government from criticism
• To give judges the power to make new laws
• To make sure every citizen earns the same income

Answer: Canada's laws, written rules made by elected representatives, are meant to keep order in society and to let people settle disputes peacefully. They also reflect what Canadians value and believe.

Q280.Which principle is part of the heritage on which Canada's legal system is based?

• Rule by royal decree
• Trial by combat
• Freedom under the law
• Secret laws

Answer: Canada's legal system draws on a long heritage: freedom under the law, the rule of law, democratic principles and due process, which means the government must respect a person's legal rights.

Q281.What is the name of Canada's national anthem?

• God Save the King
• O Canada
• The Maple Leaf Forever
• True North

Answer: 'O Canada' became the official national anthem in 1980, a hundred years after its first performance in Québec City (1880).

Q282.What is Canada's national motto, 'A mari usque ad mare'?

• 'Strong and free'
• 'From sea to sea'
• 'Peace, order and good government'
• 'God keep our land'

Answer: The motto 'A mari usque ad mare' is Latin for 'from sea to sea.'

Q283.What is Canada's best-known symbol?

• The beaver
• The maple leaf
• The loon
• The fleur-de-lys

Answer: No symbol of Canada is better known than the maple leaf. It has appeared on uniforms and insignia since the 1850s and is on the national flag.

Q284.On which Canadian coin does the beaver appear?

• The one-cent coin
• The five-cent coin (nickel)
• The ten-cent coin (dime)
• The one-dollar coin (loonie)

Answer: The industrious beaver — a symbol from the fur trade — appears on the five-cent coin.

Q285.What is the Royal Anthem of Canada, played to honour the Sovereign?

• O Canada
• God Save the King
• The Maple Leaf Forever
• Rule Britannia

Answer: The Royal Anthem is 'God Save the King' (it was 'God Save the Queen' during Queen Elizabeth II's reign). It can be played on occasions honouring the Sovereign.

Q286.In what year was the current Canadian flag (the red-and-white maple leaf flag) first raised?

• 1867
• 1921
• 1965
• 1982

Answer: Today's red-and-white maple leaf flag was first raised in 1965.

Q287.What is Canada's official national winter sport?

• Curling
• Ice hockey
• Skiing
• Lacrosse

Answer: Ice hockey is Canada's national winter sport and most popular spectator sport. (Lacrosse is the official summer sport.)

Q288.What is Canada's official national summer sport?

• Soccer
• Baseball
• Lacrosse
• Canadian football

Answer: Lacrosse, a game first played by Aboriginal peoples, is Canada's official summer sport, while soccer has more registered players than any other sport.

Q289.What are the two official colours of Canada?

• Blue and white
• Red and white
• Red and gold
• Green and white

Answer: Red and white have been Canada's national colours since 1921, when they were assigned by King George V.

Q290.The Order of Canada, created in 1967, is part of Canada's system of:

• Taxes
• Honours that recognize outstanding citizens
• Military ranks
• Courts

Answer: In 1967, the hundredth anniversary of Confederation, Canada created the Order of Canada and began its own system of honours for outstanding citizens.

Q291.The fleur-de-lys is a symbol most associated with which heritage?

• British
• French
• Aboriginal
• Scottish

Answer: The fleur-de-lys (lily flower) was a symbol of French royalty for centuries and appears on the flag of Quebec, adopted in 1948.

Q292.What does Victoria Day celebrate?

• The end of WWI
• The Sovereign's birthday
• Confederation
• The founding of Quebec

Answer: Victoria Day (the Monday before May 25) celebrates the Sovereign's birthday.

Q293.What is the name of the central tower of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa?

• The CN Tower
• The Peace Tower
• The Clock Tower
• The Victoria Tower

Answer: The Peace Tower stands at the centre of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa and honours Canadians who died in the First World War.

Q294.Since about which decade has the maple leaf been used on Canadian uniforms and insignia?

• The 1750s
• The 1850s
• The 1920s
• The 1960s

Answer: French-Canadians adopted the maple leaf as a symbol in the 1700s. Since the 1850s it has been part of Canadian uniforms and insignia, and in 1965 it became the centre of the national flag.

Q295.True or False: Canada's national flag is sometimes referred to as the Maple Leaf flag.

• True
• False

Answer: True. The red-and-white national flag, featuring a single red maple leaf, was first raised in 1965 and is commonly called the Maple Leaf flag.

Q296.Why was the beaver chosen as an early emblem of Canada?

• It is the largest Canadian animal
• Its fur was central to the early fur-trade economy
• It appears on the national flag
• It is Canada's national winter sport

Answer: The hardworking beaver became an emblem of Canada because its pelts drove the fur trade that was central to the country's early economy.

Q297.Which Canadian coin shows a common loon, the bird that gives the coin its nickname?

• The 'toonie'
• The 'loonie'
• The 'nickel'
• The 'penny'

Answer: The one-dollar coin shows a common loon and is popularly known as the 'loonie'; the two-dollar coin is nicknamed the 'toonie.'

Q298.What does the Latin motto 'A mari usque ad mare' on Canada's coat of arms refer to geographically?

• Canada's mountain ranges
• Canada stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean
• Canada's many lakes
• The border with the United States

Answer: 'A mari usque ad mare' means 'from sea to sea,' reflecting that Canada stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Q299.In Canada, what does the Crown represent?

• A symbol of the state, shared by all Canadians
• A single political party
• Canada's largest bank
• The capital city of Canada

Answer: The Crown is a symbol of the state and of Canada's parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, shared across the Commonwealth.

Q300.In what year did 'O Canada' officially become Canada's national anthem?

• 1867
• 1931
• 1965
• 1980

Answer: Though written and sung long before, 'O Canada' was proclaimed the official national anthem of Canada in 1980.

Q301.Which trophy, donated by a Governor General in 1892, is the championship prize of the National Hockey League?

• The Grey Cup
• The Stanley Cup
• The Clarkson Cup
• The Memorial Cup

Answer: Lord Stanley, then Governor General, gave the Stanley Cup in 1892. The Grey Cup, given by Lord Grey in 1909, goes to the Canadian Football League champions, and the Clarkson Cup, created in 2005 by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, is awarded in women's hockey.

Q302.Where does the red-white-red pattern of Canada's flag come from?

• The flag of the Royal Military College in Kingston
• The flag of the Hudson's Bay Company
• The colours of the first Parliament in Ottawa
• The uniforms of the North West Mounted Police

Answer: The Maple Leaf flag, first raised in 1965, borrows its red-white-red pattern from the Royal Military College's flag; the college, in Kingston, was founded in 1876. Red and white have been Canada's national colours since 1921.

Q303.Which flag is Canada's official Royal Flag?

• The Canadian Red Ensign
• The fleur-de-lys flag
• The Maple Leaf flag
• The Union Jack

Answer: The Union Jack is Canada's official Royal Flag. The Maple Leaf flag has been the national flag since 1965, and before that the Canadian Red Ensign served as Canada's flag for about 100 years.

Q304.For about how long did the Canadian Red Ensign serve as Canada's flag?

• About 10 years
• About 50 years
• About 100 years
• About 300 years

Answer: The Canadian Red Ensign was Canada's flag for about a century, until the Maple Leaf flag was raised in 1965. Its design included the fleur-de-lys, and veterans have officially carried it since 2005.

Q305.In Canada, the Crown symbolizes government. Which institutions does it stand for?

• Parliament, the courts, the police and the Canadian Forces
• Only the Royal Family and its homes in Britain
• Only the Senate and the Governor General's office
• Private banks, businesses and trade unions

Answer: The Crown has stood for the Canadian state for some 400 years. It represents government in all its forms: Parliament, the provincial legislatures, the police, the courts and the Canadian Forces.

Q306.Since when has Canada been a constitutional monarchy of its own, rather than a colony?

• Since Quebec City was founded in 1608
• Since the Royal Proclamation of 1763
• Since Confederation in 1867
• Since the First World War ended in 1918

Answer: Canada became a constitutional monarchy of its own at Confederation in 1867, in the reign of Queen Victoria. Before that, New France and then British North America were colonies.

Q307.Which symbol is carved into the headstones of Canada's fallen soldiers, in Canada and overseas?

• A fleur-de-lys
• A maple leaf
• A beaver
• A Union Jack

Answer: The maple leaf, Canada's best-known symbol, is carved into the headstones of Canadian soldiers who died in service, whether they are buried at home or abroad. Since the 1850s it has also been used on Canadian uniforms and insignia.

Q308.Quebec's flag, adopted in 1948, is based on which symbols?

• The maple leaf and the beaver
• The lion and the unicorn
• The crown and the anchor
• The cross and the fleur-de-lys

Answer: The fleur-de-lys was a symbol of the French kings for more than a thousand years, including in New France. In 1948 Quebec adopted a flag that combines a cross with the fleur-de-lys.

Q309.Besides red maple leaves, Canada's coat of arms includes symbols of which countries?

• England, Spain, Portugal and France
• France, Italy, Germany and Spain
• England, France, Scotland and Ireland
• Scotland, Wales, Norway and Denmark

Answer: After the First World War, as a sign of national pride, Canada adopted an official coat of arms with the motto 'A mari usque ad mare'. The arms combine symbols of England, France, Scotland and Ireland with red maple leaves.

Q310.Where can Canada's coat of arms be seen today?

• Only in museums and history books
• On government documents and public buildings
• Only on the Prime Minister's official car
• On every provincial and territorial flag

Answer: Canada's coat of arms, adopted after the First World War, appears on official papers such as government documents and on public buildings across the country. Each province and territory has its own flag.

Q311.Which part of the original Parliament Buildings survived the fire of 1916?

• The Peace Tower
• The House of Commons chamber
• The Library
• The Senate chamber

Answer: An accidental fire destroyed the Centre Block in 1916, and it was rebuilt by 1922. Only the Library remains from the original building. The Peace Tower, completed in 1927, is a memorial to the First World War.

Q312.What is kept in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa?

• The original Constitution
• The Crown Jewels
• The first Canadian flag
• The Books of Remembrance

Answer: The Books of Remembrance, kept in the Peace Tower's Memorial Chamber, record the names of members of the armed forces who lost their lives serving Canada, in wartime or on duty.

Q313.Which sport was introduced to Canada by Scottish pioneers?

• Lacrosse
• Baseball
• Canadian football
• Curling

Answer: Curling, a game played on ice, came to Canada with Scottish pioneers and is popular across the country. Lacrosse was first played by Aboriginal peoples and is Canada's official summer sport.

Q314.The beaver appears on the coats of arms of which two provinces?

• Ontario and Quebec
• Saskatchewan and Alberta
• Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
• British Columbia and Prince Edward Island

Answer: The beaver was a symbol of the Hudson's Bay Company for centuries, and in 1834 it was chosen as an emblem by a French-Canadian patriotic association, the St-Jean-Baptiste Society. Today you can see it on the five-cent coin, on the arms of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and on those of Toronto and Montreal.

Q315.Which is one of the three main goals of the Official Languages Act?

• Equality of English and French in federal institutions
• Requiring all Canadians to speak both languages
• Making English the only language of the courts
• Ending French-language schools outside Quebec

Answer: The Official Languages Act dates from 1969. Its goals are to make French and English equal in Parliament, in federal institutions and across Canadian society, and to support English and French minority communities.

Q316.True or False: French-speaking and English-speaking Canadians sing different words to 'O Canada'.

• True
• False

Answer: True. 'O Canada', first sung in Québec City in 1880 and proclaimed the national anthem in 1980, has a French version and an English version with different words.

Q317.What is the highest honour available to Canadians?

• The Order of Canada
• The Stanley Cup
• The Governor General's Award
• The Victoria Cross

Answer: The Victoria Cross is Canada's highest honour. It recognizes the most conspicuous bravery or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy, and Canadians have received it since 1854. The Order of Canada, created in 1967, recognizes outstanding citizens.

Q318.Who was the first Black recipient of the Victoria Cross?

• Billy Bishop
• Filip Konowal
• William Hall
• Paul Triquet

Answer: William Hall, a sailor from Horton, Nova Scotia, whose parents had been enslaved in the United States, received the Victoria Cross for his role at the Siege of Lucknow in 1857. Billy Bishop, Filip Konowal and Paul Triquet also received it, in the two World Wars.

Q319.When is Thanksgiving Day in Canada?

• The second Monday of October
• The first Monday of September
• The fourth Thursday of November
• The last Monday of May

Answer: Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday of October. Labour Day is the first Monday of September, and the fourth Thursday of November is Thanksgiving in the United States.

Q320.What is celebrated in Quebec on June 24?

• The Fête nationale
• Remembrance Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Victoria Day

Answer: June 24 is Quebec's Fête nationale, held on the Feast of St. John the Baptist. By contrast, Victoria Day is the Monday before May 25, Thanksgiving is the second Monday of October, and Remembrance Day is November 11.

Q321.What are the three main types of industries in Canada's economy?

• Farming, fishing, and mining
• Service, manufacturing, and natural resources
• Banking, oil, and tourism
• Public, private, and charity

Answer: Canada's economy has three main types of industries: service industries, manufacturing industries, and natural resources industries.

Q322.Roughly what share of working Canadians have jobs in service industries?

• About 25%
• About half
• More than 75%
• Less than 10%

Answer: Over 75% of Canadians with jobs now work in service industries such as transportation, education, health care, finance, retail and tourism.

Q323.Who is Canada's largest trading partner?

• The United Kingdom
• China
• The United States
• France

Answer: The United States is Canada's biggest trading partner: more than three-quarters of Canada's exports go there, making it the largest two-way trade relationship in the world.

Q324.Canada first signed a free trade agreement with the United States in 1988. Which country joined in 1994 to form NAFTA?

• Mexico
• Brazil
• Japan
• The United Kingdom

Answer: In 1994 Mexico joined, and the wider agreement became the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Q325.Which of the following is a 'natural resources' industry?

• Banking
• Forestry, fishing, and mining
• Retail
• Tourism

Answer: Forestry, fishing, agriculture, mining and energy are natural resource industries, and they have been central to Canada's development.

Q326.Canada is a member of which group of leading industrialized democracies?

• The G7
• The European Union
• OPEC
• The Warsaw Pact

Answer: Canada is one of the world's largest economies and a member of the G7 group of leading industrialized democracies. (The guide refers to the 'G8'; Russia was suspended in 2014, leaving the G7.)

Q327.In 2018 Canada, the United States, and Mexico signed a new trade agreement to replace NAFTA. By what acronym is it known in Canada?

• CETA
• CUSMA
• TPP
• WTO

Answer: The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) replaced NAFTA as the trade agreement among the three North American countries.

Q328.Which Canadian province is especially known for its oil and gas industry?

• Prince Edward Island
• Alberta
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick

Answer: Alberta is known for its large oil and gas industry, including the oil sands, a major part of Canada's energy sector.

Q329.Fishing has long been a major industry along which Canadian coast?

• The Atlantic coast
• The shores of the Great Lakes only
• The Arctic coast only
• Hudson Bay only

Answer: The Atlantic provinces have a long history of fishing, an important natural-resource industry on Canada's east coast.

Q330.The Prairie provinces are best known for which type of industry?

• Forestry
• Agriculture (farming)
• Auto manufacturing
• Banking

Answer: Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, the Prairie provinces, are among the most important farming regions, producing grain and other farm products.

Q331.Roughly what share of Canada's exports does trade with the United States represent?

• About one-quarter
• About half
• About three-quarters
• Almost none

Answer: About three-quarters of Canada's exports go to the United States, reflecting how important trade is to Canada's prosperity.

Q332.Manufacturing industries are especially concentrated in which two provinces?

• Ontario and Quebec
• Nova Scotia and PEI
• Yukon and Nunavut
• Saskatchewan and Manitoba

Answer: Manufacturing is centred in central Canada; Ontario and Quebec are the leading manufacturing provinces, including the automobile industry.

Q333.Which of these is an example of a service industry?

• Coal mining
• Banking and finance
• Commercial fishing
• Logging

Answer: Service industries include retail, education, health care, finance, transportation, and tourism, and they employ most working Canadians.

Q334.British Columbia is well known for which natural-resource industries?

• Forestry and mining
• Auto assembly and steel
• Wheat and cattle
• Banking and insurance

Answer: British Columbia's economy includes important forestry and mining industries, along with fishing and tourism.

Q335.True or False: Trade with other countries is important to Canada's wealth and prosperity.

• True
• False

Answer: True. Trade has always mattered to Canada: it is essential to the country's prosperity and standard of living.

Q336.Canada and the European Union signed a major free trade agreement. What is it called?

• NAFTA
• CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement)
• CUSMA
• NORAD

Answer: CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, is a free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union.

Q337.The vehicles and parts produced by Canada's automobile industry are mainly an example of which type of industry?

• Service industry
• Manufacturing industry
• Natural resources industry
• Agricultural industry

Answer: Building automobiles and their parts is a manufacturing industry, one of the three main types in Canada's economy.

Q338.Mining of metals and minerals is best classified as which type of industry?

• Service industry
• Manufacturing industry
• Natural resources industry
• Financial industry

Answer: Mining extracts metals and minerals from the earth and is a natural-resources industry, alongside forestry, fishing, agriculture, and energy.

Q339.What does it mean to call Canada a 'trading nation'?

• Canada produces everything it needs and avoids imports
• International trade has always been important to Canada's economy
• Canada only trades with Europe
• Canada bans foreign goods

Answer: Canada has always been a trading nation; commerce with other countries has been central to the economy since its earliest days.

Q340.Which level of government in Canada is generally responsible for natural resources within its borders?

• The provinces
• The municipalities
• The United Nations
• Foreign governments

Answer: Under Canada's federal system, the provinces have significant responsibility for natural resources such as mining, forestry, and energy within their boundaries.

Q341.Which of these is made by Canada's manufacturing industries?

• Aerospace technology
• Tourism and retail services
• Fish and lobster catches
• Crude oil from wells

Answer: Manufacturing industries make goods to sell in Canada and abroad: automobiles, aircraft and aerospace technology, machinery, high-tech equipment, paper, food and clothing.

Q342.Nova Scotia's identity has long been tied to which activities?

• Cattle ranching and the oil sands
• Fruit orchards and wine making
• Gold mining and the fur trade
• Shipbuilding, fishing and shipping

Answer: Nova Scotia's identity is tied to the sea: shipbuilding, fisheries and shipping. Coal mining, forestry and farming also go back a long way there, and today there is offshore oil and gas exploration.

Q343.What does the Peace Arch at Blaine, Washington, on the Canada–U.S. border, stand for?

• The two countries' close ties and shared interests
• A Canadian victory in the War of 1812
• The signing of the first free trade deal
• The highest point on the border

Answer: The arch bears the words 'children of a common mother'. It stands for the close friendship and shared interests of Canada and the United States.

Q344.What is the border between Canada and the United States traditionally called?

• The world's most heavily guarded border
• The world's longest undefended border
• The oldest border in the Americas
• The longest wall in North America

Answer: Millions of Canadians and Americans cross it safely every year, which is why it is traditionally called the world's longest undefended border.

Q345.How does Canada's economy compare with others in the world?

• It is one of the ten largest
• It is the largest in the world
• It is one of the smallest
• It ranks about fiftieth

Answer: Canada's economy ranks among the world's ten biggest, and Canada belongs to the G7, a group of leading industrialized democracies.

Q346.Which of these makes up a large share of Canada's exports?

• Movies, music and video games
• Clothing, shoes and textiles
• Banking and insurance services
• Natural resource commodities

Answer: Natural resources industries, such as forestry, fishing, agriculture, mining and energy, shaped Canada's history, and many regions still depend on them. A large share of Canada's exports are natural resource commodities.

Q347.Saskatchewan has the world's richest deposits of potash. What is potash used for?

• Fertilizer
• Jewellery
• Cement
• Batteries

Answer: Potash is used to make fertilizer. Saskatchewan also has the world's richest uranium deposits, produces oil and natural gas, and grows more grain and oilseeds than any other province.

Q348.Manitoba's economy is based on which activities?

• Fishing, shipbuilding and ocean shipping
• Oil sands, forestry and film production
• Banking, insurance and aerospace work
• Farming, mining and hydro-electric power

Answer: Manitoba's economy rests on agriculture, mining and hydro-electric power. Winnipeg is its most populous city.

Q349.What contributes a large part of Newfoundland and Labrador's economy today?

• Offshore oil and gas
• Cattle and dairy farming
• Potash and uranium mining
• Vineyards and wine making

Answer: Fishing has long been central in Newfoundland and Labrador, but today offshore oil and gas make up a large part of its economy. Labrador also has huge hydro-electric resources.

Q350.In which cutting-edge industries are Quebecers leaders?

• Oil sands and pipelines
• Fishing and shipbuilding
• Potash and uranium mining
• Pharmaceuticals and aeronautics

Answer: Using the resources of the Canadian Shield, Quebec built forestry, energy and mining industries, and Quebecers are leaders in pharmaceuticals and aeronautics.

Q351.What is the capital city of Canada?

• Toronto
• Ottawa
• Montreal
• Vancouver

Answer: Ottawa, on the Ottawa River, is the capital of Canada. It was chosen as the capital by Queen Victoria in 1857.

Q352.Canada is the world's ____ country by area.

• Largest
• Second largest
• Fifth largest
• Tenth largest

Answer: Only Russia is bigger: Canada covers about 10 million square kilometres, making it the world's second-largest country.

Q353.Which three oceans border Canada?

• Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian
• Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic
• Atlantic, Arctic, and Southern
• Pacific, Arctic, and Caribbean

Answer: Three oceans border Canada: the Pacific (west), the Atlantic (east), and the Arctic (north).

Q354.Which provinces are the Atlantic Provinces?

• Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta
• Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador
• British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba
• Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, and PEI

Answer: The four Atlantic Provinces are Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Q355.Which provinces are the Prairie Provinces?

• Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta
• Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba
• Alberta, British Columbia, and Yukon
• Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Alberta

Answer: The Prairie Provinces are Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta — rich in farmland and energy resources.

Q356.Which two provinces make up 'Central Canada'?

• Manitoba and Ontario
• Ontario and Quebec
• Quebec and New Brunswick
• Ontario and Alberta

Answer: Central Canada — the manufacturing heartland — is made up of Ontario and Quebec, where more than half of Canadians live.

Q357.What is the capital of Ontario?

• Ottawa
• Toronto
• Hamilton
• Kingston

Answer: Toronto is the capital of Ontario. It is also Canada's largest city and main financial centre. (Ottawa is the national capital.)

Q358.What is the capital of Quebec?

• Montreal
• Québec City
• Laval
• Gatineau

Answer: Québec City is the capital of the province of Quebec. Montreal is the province's largest city.

Q359.What is the capital of British Columbia?

• Vancouver
• Victoria
• Kelowna
• Surrey

Answer: Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. Vancouver is the province's largest city and busiest port.

Q360.What are Canada's three territories?

• Yukon, Nunavut, and Alberta
• Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut
• Nunavut, Labrador, and Yukon
• Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Newfoundland

Answer: Canada's three territories are Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

Q361.What is the capital of Nunavut?

• Yellowknife
• Whitehorse
• Iqaluit
• Churchill

Answer: Iqaluit is the capital of Nunavut, a territory created in 1999 whose name means 'our land' in Inuktitut.

Q362.Which province is the smallest and is known as the 'Birthplace of Confederation'?

• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador

Answer: Prince Edward Island is the smallest province and is known as the birthplace of Confederation. It is linked to the mainland by the Confederation Bridge.

Q363.Which province is Canada's largest producer of oil and gas?

• Saskatchewan
• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Ontario

Answer: Alberta produces more oil and gas than any other province, and its oil sands are a major energy source. It also has famous cattle ranches and Banff National Park.

Q364.The Bay of Fundy, home to the highest tides in the world, is located in which region?

• The West Coast
• The Atlantic Provinces (Nova Scotia/New Brunswick)
• The North
• The Prairies

Answer: The Bay of Fundy, between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, has the highest tides in the world.

Q365.Which is Canada's largest city?

• Montreal
• Toronto
• Vancouver
• Calgary

Answer: Toronto, in Ontario, is Canada's biggest city and its main financial centre.

Q366.What is the capital of Alberta?

• Calgary
• Edmonton
• Red Deer
• Banff

Answer: Edmonton is the capital of Alberta; Calgary is the province's largest city.

Q367.What is the capital of Manitoba?

• Regina
• Winnipeg
• Brandon
• Saskatoon

Answer: Winnipeg is the capital of Manitoba. Its Exchange District includes the famous intersection of Portage and Main.

Q368.Which province is Canada's largest producer of hydro-electricity and pulp and paper?

• Ontario
• Quebec
• British Columbia
• Manitoba

Answer: Quebec, with its huge supply of fresh water, is Canada's largest producer of hydro-electricity and its main producer of pulp and paper.

Q369.Outside of Quebec, which province has the largest French-speaking population?

• New Brunswick
• Ontario
• Manitoba
• Nova Scotia

Answer: Ontario has the largest French-speaking population outside Quebec. New Brunswick, the only officially bilingual province, has the highest share: about one-third of its people.

Q370.Which Prairie province was once called the 'breadbasket of the world' and holds the world's richest deposits of potash?

• Manitoba
• Alberta
• Saskatchewan
• British Columbia

Answer: Saskatchewan, the 'wheat province,' is Canada's largest grain producer and holds the world's richest potash and uranium deposits. Regina hosts the RCMP training academy.

Q371.What is the capital of Nova Scotia?

• Halifax
• Sydney
• Charlottetown
• Fredericton

Answer: Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia and is home to Canada's largest east-coast naval base.

Q372.Which province, the farthest east in North America, has a time zone of its own?

• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• New Brunswick

Answer: Newfoundland and Labrador is the most easterly part of North America and has its own (half-hour) time zone.

Q373.What is the capital of Saskatchewan?

• Saskatoon
• Regina
• Winnipeg
• Calgary

Answer: Regina is the capital of Saskatchewan and home to the RCMP's training academy. Saskatoon is the province's largest city.

Q374.What is the capital of New Brunswick?

• Saint John
• Halifax
• Fredericton
• Charlottetown

Answer: Fredericton is New Brunswick's historic capital. Saint John is the province's main port and manufacturing centre.

Q375.What is the capital of Prince Edward Island?

• Charlottetown
• St. John's
• Halifax
• Fredericton

Answer: Charlottetown is the capital of Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province, which is linked to the mainland by the Confederation Bridge.

Q376.What is the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador?

• Saint John
• Charlottetown
• St. John's
• Halifax

Answer: St. John's is the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador. Don't confuse it with Saint John, a port city in New Brunswick.

Q377.What is the capital of Yukon?

• Yellowknife
• Iqaluit
• Victoria
• Whitehorse

Answer: Whitehorse is Yukon's capital. In 1900 the White Pass and Yukon Railway linked it to Skagway, in neighbouring Alaska; today the line carries tourists over steep mountain passes.

Q378.Which city is known as the 'diamond capital of North America'?

• Whitehorse
• Yellowknife
• Iqaluit
• Sudbury

Answer: Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, has earned the nickname 'diamond capital of North America'. Gold, lead, copper and zinc are also mined in the North.

Q379.Canada is divided into five regions. Which of these is one of them?

• The Great Lakes
• The Rocky Mountains
• The West Coast
• The St. Lawrence Valley

Answer: Going from west to east and north, the five regions are the West Coast (British Columbia), the Prairie Provinces, Central Canada, the Atlantic Provinces and the Northern Territories.

Q380.Which is Canada's second-largest city?

• Vancouver
• Montreal
• Calgary
• Ottawa

Answer: Montreal, in Quebec, is Canada's second-largest city after Toronto. It is famous for its cultural diversity.

Q381.Which of the Great Lakes is the largest freshwater lake in the world?

• Lake Ontario
• Lake Erie
• Lake Huron
• Lake Superior

Answer: Five Great Lakes lie between Ontario and the United States: Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan (entirely in the U.S.) and Superior, which is the world's largest freshwater lake.

Q382.About what share of Canadians live in Ontario?

• About one-tenth
• About one-fifth
• More than one-third
• More than two-thirds

Answer: More than one-third of all Canadians live in Ontario. Its capital, Toronto, is Canada's largest city and main financial centre.

Q383.Ontario's Niagara region is known for what?

• Vineyards, wine and fruit crops
• Oil sands and cattle ranches
• Potash and uranium mines
• Fishing villages and lighthouses

Answer: Niagara, in southern Ontario, is famous for its vineyards, wine and fruit growing. Elsewhere in the province, farmers raise cattle and poultry and grow vegetables and grain.

Q384.Which is the most populous of the Atlantic Provinces?

• Newfoundland and Labrador
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island

Answer: Nova Scotia has more people than any other Atlantic province. Its capital, Halifax, is Canada's largest east coast port and home to its largest naval base.

Q385.The St. John River system, one of the biggest on North America's Atlantic side, is in which province?

• Nova Scotia
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Prince Edward Island

Answer: New Brunswick, in the Appalachian Range, was founded by the United Empire Loyalists. Its St. John River system is the second-largest on North America's Atlantic coast.

Q386.Which city is the main centre of New Brunswick's Francophone Acadians?

• Fredericton
• Saint John
• Halifax
• Moncton

Answer: Moncton is the main centre of New Brunswick's Francophone Acadians. About one-third of the province's people live and work in French, and New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province.

Q387.Which province is known for its beaches, red soil and potatoes?

• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Manitoba

Answer: Prince Edward Island, the smallest province, is known for its beaches, its red soil and its farms, especially potatoes. It is the setting of Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery's story of a red-haired orphan girl.

Q388.Which province was once the oldest colony of the British Empire?

• Nova Scotia
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Quebec
• Prince Edward Island

Answer: Newfoundland and Labrador, the British Empire's oldest colony, was a prize much fought over early in Canada's history. It is famous for its fisheries, its fishing villages and its distinct culture.

Q389.Which province has the highest share of Aboriginal people of any province?

• Saskatchewan
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• Ontario

Answer: Aboriginal people make up more than 15% of Manitoba's population, a bigger share than in any other province. Ukrainian culture also has a strong presence in Manitoba.

Q390.St. Boniface, home to Western Canada's largest Francophone community, is part of which city?

• Winnipeg
• Edmonton
• Regina
• Saskatoon

Answer: St. Boniface, Winnipeg's French Quarter, has the largest Francophone community in Western Canada.

Q391.What is the largest city in Saskatchewan?

• Regina
• Moose Jaw
• Saskatoon
• Prince Albert

Answer: Saskatoon is Saskatchewan's largest city, the headquarters of its mining industry and a centre for education, research and technology. Regina is the capital.

Q392.Alberta and Lake Louise were both named after whom?

• A daughter of Queen Victoria
• The wife of Sir John A. Macdonald
• A French explorer's daughter
• The mother of Queen Elizabeth II

Answer: Both were named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Queen Victoria's fourth daughter. Lake Louise is in the Rocky Mountains.

Q393.Alberta's Badlands are famous for what?

• Hot springs and glaciers
• Fossils and dinosaur remains
• Diamond and gold mines
• Vineyards and fruit orchards

Answer: Alberta's rugged Badlands are among the richest places on earth for prehistoric fossils and dinosaur bones. The province also has five national parks, including Banff, established in 1885.

Q394.Which is Canada's largest and busiest port?

• The Port of Halifax
• The Port of Montreal
• The Port of Vancouver
• The Port of Saint John

Answer: Vancouver's port is the biggest and busiest in Canada. Billions of dollars' worth of goods pass through it, and it is Canada's gateway to Asia and the Pacific.

Q395.The Okanagan Valley, known for its fruit orchards and wine, is in which province?

• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• British Columbia
• Nova Scotia

Answer: The Okanagan Valley is in British Columbia, which is also known for forestry, mining and fishing. Ontario's Niagara region is another wine-growing area.

Q396.Why is the North often called the 'Land of the Midnight Sun'?

• In summer, it can stay light for 24 hours
• Its sunsets are brighter than anywhere else
• The sun never sets there all year
• Its people mostly work at night

Answer: At the height of summer, daylight in the North can last a full 24 hours. In winter the sun disappears for about three months.

Q397.What is the tundra?

• A thick forest of pine and spruce trees
• A mountain range along the Pacific coast
• A huge freshwater lake in the North
• A vast, rocky Arctic plain where no trees grow

Answer: The tundra covers much of Canada's North. Because the Arctic climate is so cold, no trees grow there and the ground stays frozen all year.

Q398.What brought thousands of miners to the Yukon in the 1890s?

• The fur trade
• The Gold Rush
• The new railway
• An oil discovery

Answer: In the 1890s the Gold Rush drew thousands of miners to the Yukon, a story the poet Robert W. Service wrote about. Mining is still important to the territory's economy.

Q399.Where is Mount Logan, Canada's highest mountain?

• In Alberta
• In British Columbia
• In Yukon
• In Nunavut

Answer: Mount Logan, Canada's highest mountain, is in Yukon. It is named after Sir William Logan, a world-famous geologist who founded the Geological Survey of Canada. Yukon also holds Canada's record for the coldest temperature ever recorded: -63°C.

Q400.The Mackenzie River, North America's longest river system after the Mississippi, is in which part of Canada?

• Yukon and Alaska
• Nunavut
• Northern Quebec and Labrador
• The Northwest Territories

Answer: The Mackenzie River, about 4,200 kilometres long, runs through the Northwest Territories; its basin covers some 1.8 million square kilometres.