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Citizenship 9 — Current Issues & Civic Engagement Audit

Mr. Waugh • Room 8 • Bicentennial Junior High (2026–2027)
Social Studies / CIT9
Citizenship 9 — Canadian Civics, Law & Current Affairs
Why We Do This: Citizenship 9 is not about memorizing dusty textbook definitions—it is about understanding how power, law, economics, and rights affect real people today. This audit gauges your familiarity with current headlines so we can customize our debates, legal simulations, and policy investigations to what you actually care about.
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1. Current Events Familiarity Meter
For each headline issue below, rate your honest level of familiarity. There are no right or wrong answers—this shows us what we should dive into and what needs background briefing.
Trade & Economy Global Economics, Trade & Cross-Border Sovereignty
01 The Canada–U.S. Trade War & Tariff Retaliation (2026)
The U.S. imposed 25%–50% tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and autos. In response, Canada placed $27.6B in retaliatory tariffs (15%–50%) on U.S. imports (dairy, appliances, electronics) while strategically protecting cross-border automotive supply chains.
02 Port of Halifax, Supply Chains & Local Economic Security
Global shipping rerouting, railway disputes, and Halifax’s role as Atlantic Canada's deep-water container hub—highlighting how global trade disruptions directly impact local prices, shelf stock, and jobs in our municipality.
Tech & Labor AI, Future Employment & Youth Digital Rights
03 Generative AI, Automation & Your Future Job Prospects
Rapid adoption of AI across coding, customer support, trade drafting, and creative industries. Raises major questions about what careers will look like when Grade 9s graduate high school and post-secondary.
04 Social Media Algorithmic Bans & Age Limits for Minors
Legislation proposed in Canada, the UK, and Australia to prohibit algorithmic feeds or mandate age verification (16+) for social media platforms to protect youth mental health vs. protecting freedom of expression and privacy under Charter Section 2(b).
Law & Housing Rights, Justice, Housing & Youth Economics
05 Housing Crisis, Rent Inflation & Homelessness Encampments in HRM
Soaring rent and near-zero vacancy in Halifax/Dartmouth, municipal park encampment policies, evictions, and the growing fear that young people will not be able to afford independent housing when they finish school.
06 Cost of Higher Education vs. Immediate Workforce / Trades Entry
University tuition inflation and student debt vs. NSCC, skilled trades subsidies, apprenticeships, and the question of what post-secondary pathway actually guarantees financial stability.
07 Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) & Age of Responsibility
Public debate over youth sentencing, bail conditions, and repeat offences. Should the law focus primarily on youth rehabilitation and privacy, or should serious violent offences carry adult penalties?
Environment & Climate Climate Reality, Energy Costs & Green Transition
08 Climate Change, Power Rates & Nova Scotia's Energy Transition
Extreme weather events (wildfires, floods, hurricanes) in NS alongside rising Nova Scotia Power electricity bills, phasing out coal by 2030, offshore wind projects, and carbon tax policy debates.
Treaty Rights & Governance Mi'kmaw Sovereignty, Treaty Rights & Public Systems
09 Indigenous Treaty Rights, Resource Governance & Consultation in NS
Mi'kmaw moderate livelihood fisheries, on-reserve cannabis jurisdiction disputes with the NS government, and First Nations' legal constitutional right to be consulted on major infrastructure and resource developments.
10 Healthcare Crisis & Federal vs. Provincial Responsibility
Emergency room wait times and family doctor shortages across Nova Scotia, debates over private clinic delivery vs. public Medicare, and who is ultimately accountable (Ottawa funding vs. Halifax provincial management).
2. News Habits & Information Diet
How do you actually find out when big world events, local emergencies, or major political controversies happen? Be 100% honest—there is no judgment.

Click any source that plays a role in how you learn about current events:

📱 TikTok / Reels / Shorts (Short-form video feeds)
💬 Instagram Stories / DMs / Meme accounts
👻 Snapchat Stories / Group chats / Discover
📺 TV Newscasts (CBC 6pm/10pm, CTV, Global, CNN)
📻 Radio / Car Radio (hourly 2-minute news updates)
📰 Printed Newspapers or Magazines
🌐 Online News Websites & Apps (CBC News, BBC, etc.)
🗣️ Family / Parents talking at home
👥 Friends / Classmates in person
🎮 Discord Servers / Gaming Voice Chats / Reddit
🎙️ Long-form Podcasts / Video Essays on YouTube
🔔 Push Notifications on phone lockscreen
🛑 I don't follow news at all unless someone tells me

When you see a wild or dramatic headline on social media, what do you usually do?

3. Public Figures Recognition Scale
For each person listed below, rate how familiar you are with their name. No definitions are provided—just your honest initial recognition:
01 Anne Murray
02 Tim Houston
03 Mark Carney
04 Charles Mountbatten-Windsor
05 Pierre Poilievre
06 Doug Ford
07 Wab Kinew
08 Andy Fillmore
09 Sam Austin
10 Viola Desmond
11 Donald Marshall Jr.
12 Barack Obama
13 Gavin Newsom
14 Mitch McConnell
15 Elon Musk
16 Jeff Bezos
17 JD Vance
18 Gord Downie
4. Civic Understanding & Core Dilemmas
Help Mr. Waugh gauge how our government systems are understood, and where you stand on key rights and legal dilemmas:
Government Systems A. Canadian Governance & Legal Mechanics
01 Federal vs. Provincial vs. Municipal Powers
I understand which level of government is responsible for things like the military, hospitals, schools, garbage collection, and transit in Nova Scotia.
02 How Elections & Leaders Work in Canada
I understand how MPs/MLAs are elected in ridings, and how a Prime Minister or Premier takes power (parliamentary democracy vs. U.S. presidency).
03 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
I understand what the Charter is, what rights it guarantees (speech, equality, mobility, legal rights), and that rights have legal limits (Section 1).
04 Criminal Law vs. Civil Law & The Courts
I understand the difference between criminal charges (Crown prosecution) and civil lawsuits (disputes between individuals/organizations).
Debate Stances B. Where Do You Stand on These 4 Big Dilemmas?
01 Individual Freedom vs. Public Safety Mandates
Should the Canadian government have the legal power to limit personal freedoms (such as movement, phone tracking, or public mandates) if it protects community health and safety?
02 Youth Justice: Rehabilitation vs. Adult Accountability
If a 14- or 15-year-old commits a serious, violent criminal offence, should they be sentenced strictly under youth rehabilitation rules, or receive adult prison sentences?
03 Economic Jobs vs. Environmental Protection in NS
If a major new development (mining, offshore energy, industrial port) creates hundreds of well-paying local jobs but risks local ecosystems, should government approve it?
04 Free Expression vs. Regulating Online Disinformation
Should governments legally force social media platforms to delete posts deemed "misinformation" or "harmful speech", or does that lead to dangerous censorship?
Debate Interests C. Classroom Debate Topic Appetite
5. How You Learn Best & Teacher Note
Room 8 is an active, discussion-driven classroom. Help Mr. Waugh design learning formats that respect your time and intelligence:
🗣️ Formal Parliamentary Debates
⚖️ Mock Court & Legal Trials
🎮 Decision Simulations & Role-Play
🎥 Real News & Documentary Autopsies
📜 Analyzing Real Laws & Charters
🎙️ Podcast / Audio Deconstructions
💡 Collaborative Problem-Solving
📝 Independent Policy Briefs
❌ No Poster Projects (Universal)
All submissions save directly to Mr. Waugh's master database and sync cross-device.