Page 558 - THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 11 AND 12 | Canadian and World Studies

THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 11 AND 12 | Canadian and World Studies
atmosphere. A gaseous mass of air surrounding a celestial body, such as Earth.
band. Defined by the Indian Act, in part, as
“a body of Indians ... for whose use and benefit in common, lands ... have been set apart”. Each band has its own governing band council, usually consisting of a chief and several councillors. The members of the band usually share common values, traditions, and practices rooted in their language and ancestral heritage. Today, many bands prefer to be known as First Nations. See also First Nations.
band councils. See band.
Basel Convention. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements
of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal is a United Nations convention, adopted in 1989, to protect human health and the environment against adverse effects of hazardous waste
by reducing hazardous waste generation and restricting and regulating its cross-border movement.
bias. An opinion, preference, prejudice, or inclination that limits an individual’s or group’s ability to make fair, objective, or accurate judgements.
bioaccumulation. The process by which chemicals (e.g., mercury, chemicals from pesticides) collect in organisms in progressively higher concentra- tions towards the top of the food chain.
biodiversity. The variety of species (types) of organisms at all levels of classification in an ecosystem, and the variety of ecosystems, globally or within a specific geographic region. See also ecosystem.
biosphere. The portion of Earth (air, land, water) that supports living organisms.
birth rate. The number of live births per thousand people in one year.
black market. Economic activity outside of the legal government-regulated system; the illegal buying and selling of goods, services, and/or currencies.
boreal forest. A zone dominated by coniferous trees. Canada’s largest biome, occupying
35 per cent of the total Canadian land area and 77 per cent of Canada’s total forest land, is boreal forest.
branch plant. Historically, a factory or office established in Canada by an American parent company whose head office remained in the United States. Branch plants were created primarily to avoid tariffs. See also multinational corporation.
branches of government. In Canada, the three branches – executive, legislative, and judicial – that make up the federal and provincial governments. See also executive branch; judicial branch; legislative branch.
built environment. Features of the human environment that were created or altered by people (e.g., cities, transportation systems, buildings, parks, recreational facilities, landfill sites). See also human environment.
bylaw. A law or rule passed by a municipal council and applicable to that municipality.
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A part of the Constitution Act, 1982, the Charter guarantees Canadians fundamental freedoms as well as various rights, including democratic, mobility, legal, and equality rights. It recognizes the multicultural heritage of Canadians, and protects official language rights and the rights of Aboriginal Canadians.
Canadian Shield. A vast landform region
that extends from the Great Lakes and the
St. Lawrence River to the Arctic Ocean, covering almost half of Canada. It is characterized by Precambrian rock that is rich in minerals.
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