Chapter 7 vocabulary

1. Environmental Legislation :international treaties (conventions), statutes, regulations, and common law or national legislation (where applicable) that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity.

2. Health and Safety Legislation; Laws regarding health and safety.

3. income assistance: In general, citizens who are unable to meet their basic needs for food, shelter and clothing receive assistance, paid for by taxes. The eligibility rules vary from province to province.

4. marketing legislation: Laws created to regulate marketing by advertising companies. The consumer is protected by these laws.

5. pensions; At age 65, all citizens who have lived in Canada for at least 10 years automatically qualify for a monthly pension, paid for by taxes (legislation: Old Age Security Act).

6. tax base: all the economic activity in a society, taxed by government to pay for services

7. tax evasion: misrepresenting what you earn to avoid paying taxes

8. taxation :governments collect taxes to pay for the services it provides to citizens, such as social programs

9. Tommy Douglas: A premier of Saskatchewan, first leader of the New Democratic Party, Baptist minister, politician (born 20 October 1904 in Falkirk, Scotland; died 24 February 1986 in Ottawa, ON). Douglas led the first socialist government elected in Canada and is recognized as the father of socialized medicine. He also helped establish democratic socialism in the mainstream of Canadian politics.

10. boycott: a decision by consumers to stop buying a product or service as a way to bring about change.

11. Canada Health Act: A federal law that sets out five principles for heath care in Canada. Health care must be: Publicly administered (run by the gov't with no profit). Comprehensive (for care provided by hospitals, physicians and surgeons). Universal (available for everyone). Portable (available everywhere in Canada, no mater where you live). Accessible (available within reasonable time and distance).

12. GDP: Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP measures the amount of wealth a country's economy generates.

13. GST :(GST) a federal sales tax in Canada.

14. Political Platform: a list of the values and actions which are supported by a political party or individual candidate, in order to appeal to the general public, for the ultimate purpose of garnering the general public's support and votes about complicated topics or issues. "Plank" is the term often given to the componentry of the political platform, in terms of the opinions and viewpoints about individual topics, as held by a party, person, or organization.

15. social programs: All government programs designed to give assistance to citizens outside of what the market provides.

16. income tax: tax based on a percentage of a person's income (you make more, they take more)

17. prosperity: A successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, especially in financial respects; good fortune.