Close X
Sunday, September 22, 2024
ADVT 
National

Think you could pass the citizenship test? Poll shows most Canadians would flunk

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Jun, 2023 10:07 AM
  • Think you could pass the citizenship test? Poll shows most Canadians would flunk

Canadians' hearts may be brimming with pride as Canada Day approaches, but a new poll suggests their minds aren't full of the knowledge needed to pass a citizenship test.

In a survey of 1,512 Canadian adults, Leger found that only 23 per cent would pass the citizenship test, based on their answers to 10 randomly selected questions.

People who wish to become Canadian need to answer 20 questions about citizens' rights and responsibilities, as well as Canada's history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols.

They need to score at least 75 per cent to pass, but the average score of the Canadians who were surveyed was only 49 per cent.

The questions focused on things like famous Canadians (Who is John Buchan?), history (Who established the first European settlements in Canada?) and national symbols (Whose portrait is on the Canadian $10 bill?).

The correct answers, for those struggling along with most survey respondents, are: a popular governor general, the French and Viola Desmond.

History questions seemed to trip up respondents the most: For example, only 24 per cent knew that the House of Commons recognized in 2006 that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada.

Only 29 per cent knew the Constitutional Act granted legislative assemblies elected by the people, and only 41 per cent knew that English settlement began in 1610.

They fared slightly better when it came to national symbols and influential people: 49 per cent knew that Marjorie Turner-Bailey is an Olympian and descendant of black loyalists, and 42 per cent recognized Canada's motto, "From sea to sea."

Most Canadians were also in-the-know about the main groups of Indigenous Peoples in the country, with 79 per cent correctly identifying First Nations, Métis and Inuit.

People in Western Canada scored slightly better than their East Coast counterparts, with average scores in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia at 50 per cent.

Those in Atlantic Canada scored the lowest, with a 44 per cent on average.

When the results were broken down by political affiliations, People's Party of Canada supporters had the lowest average score at 47 per cent, while people who vote for the Bloc Québécois scored the highest, at 51 per cent.

There was one question most people seemed to have no problem answering: 81 per cent said they were proud to be Canadian.

The poll cannot be assigned a margin of error because online surveys are not considered truly random samples.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Air Canada to launch new Vancouver to Singapore flights

Air Canada to launch new Vancouver to Singapore flights
Flights will be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft featuring three cabins of service for customers to choose from, including Signature Class with lie-flat seats, Premium Economy and Economy Class.

Air Canada to launch new Vancouver to Singapore flights

City of Vancouver to expedite housing permits

City of Vancouver to expedite housing permits
Mayor Ken Sim says the introduction of the e-Comply program -- the first of its kind in Canada -- is a “game-changer” that is getting more homes built faster. City council also adopted Sim’s 3-3-3-1 campaign promise, with a commitment on permit approval timelines.

City of Vancouver to expedite housing permits

Canada halts activity at Asian development bank, looks to review its membership

Canada halts activity at Asian development bank, looks to review its membership
China founded the US$100-billion Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in late 2015 to provide other countries in the region access to capital for investments in projects in areas such as transportation, power and telecommunications.

Canada halts activity at Asian development bank, looks to review its membership

Home sales strong in May

Home sales strong in May
A statement from the association says nearly 92-hundred sales were recorded around B-C in May -- up nearly 10 per cent year-over-year -- while the average price climbed three per cent during the same period, to just over one-million dollars.

Home sales strong in May

BC Greens leader wants change in health care

BC Greens leader wants change in health care
Furstenau says the N-D-P government should start by reforming health-care leadership, bureaucracy, measurable patient outcomes and even how the province's health authorities spend their money.  

BC Greens leader wants change in health care

B.C. becomes first province to provide universal coverage for opioid treatments

B.C. becomes first province to provide universal coverage for opioid treatments
A statement from the Health Ministry says B-C will now provide universal coverage for eligible drugs -- which include methadone -- that are rated as opioid agonist treatment medications.

B.C. becomes first province to provide universal coverage for opioid treatments