Close X
Friday, November 15, 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

Sikh teacher in Canada charged with sexual offences involving kids

Sikh teacher in Canada charged with sexual offences involving kids
Bhupinder Singh Sonu, who made his first appearance at Surrey Provincial Court on Tuesday, has been charged with three counts each of sexual interference and sexual exploitation involving three different victims. 

Sikh teacher in Canada charged with sexual offences involving kids

Statistics Canada surplus of millions of dollars

Statistics Canada surplus of millions of dollars
Canada posted a merchandise trade surplus of 972-million-dollars in March as imports fell more than exports. Statistics Canada reports that was up from a revised deficit of 487-million-dollars in February. 

Statistics Canada surplus of millions of dollars

Public Service Alliance reaches deal ending strike

Public Service Alliance reaches deal ending strike
The federal government has reached a tentative four-year deal with 35-thousand striking workers at the Canada Revenue Agency. It mirrors several elements of the deal that the Public Service Alliance of Canada negotiated earlier this week with other striking civil servants.

Public Service Alliance reaches deal ending strike

Health services facility for DTES residents

Health services facility for DTES residents
The Vancouver Urban Health Centre is located at 219 Main Street and is open Monday to Friday from 9 a-m to 5 p-m. Dr. Brian Conway, the centre's medical director, says the goal is to build on the community pop-up clinics his team has offered on the Downtown Eastside for years.

Health services facility for DTES residents

BC to address non-consensual sharing of intimate images

BC to address non-consensual sharing of intimate images
Niki Sharma told the legislature in March that the government is proposing a law that would create new legal rights and remedies to stop the distribution of such images and to seek compensation for those who are harmed.  

BC to address non-consensual sharing of intimate images

B.C.'s Cache Creek becomes raging river as floodwaters rise: mayor

B.C.'s Cache Creek becomes raging river as floodwaters rise: mayor
B.C.'s River Forecast Centre has issued two flood warnings, its highest-level bulletin, while several lower-level flood watches and high streamflow advisories covered much of the province's northern, central and southern Interior on Wednesday.

B.C.'s Cache Creek becomes raging river as floodwaters rise: mayor