Page 191 - THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9 AND 10 | Canadian and World Studies

multiculturalism. The acceptance of cultural pluralism as a positive and distinctive feature
of society. In Canada, multiculturalism is govern- ment policy, and includes initiatives at all levels of government to support cultural pluralism.
multinational corporation/transnational corporation. A corporation that has its head- quarters in one country and manages production or delivers services in other countries.
municipal government. In Canada, one of the levels of government below that of the provinces. The constitution gives the provinces jurisdiction over municipal affairs.
municipal region. A local area that has been incorporated for the purpose of self-government.
NAFTA. See North American Free Trade Agreement.
nationalism. The ideology that promotes devotion to the collective interests and cultural identity of a nation.
NATO. See North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
natural disaster. A catastrophic event caused by Earth’s physical processes that affects human settlement. Examples include the North American ice storm of 1998, the Indian Ocean tsunami
of 2004, and Hurricane Sandy in 2012. See also natural hazard.
natural hazard. A natural event or feature, created by Earth’s natural processes, that poses a threat to human safety. Examples of natural hazards include blizzards and ice storms; earth- quakes; floods; landslides; tornadoes, cyclones, and hurricanes; tsunamis; icebergs; and volca- noes. See also natural disaster.
natural phenomena. Physical processes and events pertaining to things such as weather, wave action, soil build-up, or plant growth.
natural resource. Something found in nature that people find useful or valuable. See also flow resource; non-renewable resource; renewable resource.
non-governmental organization (NGO). An organization that operates independently of governments, typically providing a social or public service (e.g., Doctors without Borders, Free the Children, Nature Conservancy).
non-renewable resource. A resource that is limited and cannot be replaced once it is used up (e.g., coal, oil, natural gas).
NORAD. See North American Air Defense Command.
North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). A joint Canadian-American organiza- tion established in 1958 to monitor and defend airspace and to issue warnings regarding threats to North America from missiles and other aero- space weapons. Later renamed the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). A trade agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico that became law in 1993. The main purpose of NAFTA is to facilitate
and increase trade among the three countries.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). A political and military alliance among 28 European and North American nations, including Canada, whose primary goal is the collective defence of its members and peace in the North Atlantic region.
Numbered Treaties. Agreements made in the years 1871–1921 between the Crown and First Nations and Métis peoples, the Numbered Treaties cover parts of British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northern Ontario. The treaties are numbered 1 to 11.
opinion. A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.
parliamentary democracy.* A British system
of government in which the executive (prime minister/premier and cabinet) sit in the elected chamber (House of Commons/Legislature) and are accountable to the elected representatives of the people. Canada is a parliamentary democracy.
GLOSSARY
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