Abstract This paper examines the local goth subculture in Montreal, and attempts to clarify the mood and character of the scene, while showing that media portrayals of participants have been grossly inflammatory. The paper includes interviews, photos, maps and a glossary.
Setting The Scene
Cast of Characters
On Location
The Nature of The Beast
Defining Goth
History of the Movement
The Heart of the Matter
Available Materials
Early Observations
Quiet Chats
The Fight Scene
The Aryans
The ARA
Showdown at the OK Corral
That's a Wrap
From the Paper "Attempting to define what "Goth" is was one of the most daunting tasks I was faced with. I came up with at least as many different definitions as there were people I asked. One thing that I noticed is that within the Goth community as a whole, there are many sub-categories based on look, musical taste, political view and personality. However, there were a few common themes which ran in virtually all the many definitions of Goth that I was exposed to."
Abstract This paper analyzes forestry as one of Canada's most important natural resources and focuses on the questions whether or not Canada's forest resources can supply the world's increasing demand for wood and wood products in a sustainable manner and what effect it will have on the Canadian economy.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. History
3. Spatial and Temporal Distribution of the Resource
4. Key Processes and Relationships of the Resource
5. Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Resource Demands
6. Factors Influencing Resource Demands
7. Resource Use Patterns and Management Systems
8. Biophysical, Social and Economic Impacts of Use
9. Use Sustainability.
From the Paper " The social impacts from the use of forests as a resource are also of major concern. There are many groups in Canadian society whose interests in the forest are based more on long term rather than short-term economic considerations. Included among such groups are aboriginal people, nature based tourism operators, rural water users, ranchers, trappers, small business owners in forest based communities, wilderness users, scientists, artists, educators and future generations of Canadians (Draper, 1998). Governments are expected to manage forests for the long term to benefit all of these people. If this does not happen the implications for these groups of people will be catastrophic. Already land settlement claims are pervasive throughout Canadian courts as aboriginal people attempt to claim the land they require to maintain their culturally distinct lives. "
Abstract This paper discusses the issue whether First Nations should have total control over their education in Saskatchewan and Canada. The author examines the advantages and disadvantages of having First Nations teach, guide, and overlook all of the aspects in each First Nations student's school career.
From the Paper "First Nation's education is based on traditional values, which put together the principles of wholeness, order, balance, and respect for the spiritual and natural world. They are taught to love and live in Mother Nature and what she brings to everyone's lifestyle. First Nation's students have the right to develop programs and services of the highest quality. They should have the same opportunities as each and every other student in Saskatchewan and Canada towards their future in this world. First Nation's communities, parents, Elders, and teachers expect high quality education and academic skills from their students."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the damages caused to First Nations families by residential schools even though the government at that time felt it was the right thing to do.
From the Paper "The government felt that by sending First Nations people to residential schools they were bettering themselves for the future ahead of them. They felt that their way, "the Indian way", of life was of a lesser quality than that of the European way of life and education. They wanted to make them equal to the white man. The federal government began to play a role in the development and administration of the residential school systems as early as 1874, done mainly to meet its obligation, under the Indian Act, to provide an education and lifestyle for the Aboriginal people."
Abstract This paper examines the reasons both for the proposed merger of a number of Canada's most important banks and the final rejection for that merger. The author discusses the economic and political factor that prevented those mergers from occurring.
From the Paper "While certainly national governments have an important role to play in designing and securing a country's economic strategy and security, governments cannot in any sense entirely plan a country's economy. Much of the power of the economic sector lies in the hands of private companies and especially of private financial institutions such as banks. If the control of such banks is not kept under strict scrutiny (and in the case of a relatively small country like Canada kept in large measure under domestic control) then the country's economic stability can be threatened. Such a threat would have seemed particularly realistic in 1998 given the economic destabilization caused by problems in Asian markets and the very shaky standing of the Canadian dollar in comparison to the U.S. dollar. "
Abstract This paper addresses the wide range of studies which indicate that rates of violent crime have increased signigicantly within Western society since the 1960s. The author argues that the fluid nature of violence over time are not taken into account in these studies and looks at possible reasons why.
From the paper:
"Open any newspaper, or tune in to any news broadcast today, and you will receive accounts of many incidents of violence. Over time these incidents will take on any number of forms. Any specific incident, which occurs, especially in the case of murder, will almost certainly be disseminated on the news. These incidents will include homicides, violence against women, violence by and against children, labour violence and violence in the workplace, violence perpetrated by police officers, and non-culpable forms of violence such as car accidents, and wars (Ross, 1995). This coverage is conducive in adding to the position held by many in the media that violence in Canada is more widespread than it was fifty years ago. They would argue that ?Canada of the early twenty-first century is a more violent place in which to live than Canada in the 1950s."
Abstract This paper is an examination of the two cases of Seaboyer and Gayme by the Supreme Court of Canada at rape shield legislation for sex assault witnesses. The author reveals the manner in which these cases were conducted and how the verdict raised public controversy.
From the paper:
"In the case of Seaboye and Gayme, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered a decision which was divisive, not only among members of the court, but also within the nation itself. In delivering this verdict, the court became the target of accusations that it had ignored the interests of women. It had shown disregard for the victimization which women have been subject to in the process of sexual assault trials. As well, the court introduced procedural rules which made women's experience in sexual assault trials more of an ordeal than the process had been under the common law (Bowland, 1994)."
Abstract This paper provides an historical overview and an in-depth look at one of the most famous murder cases of all times. The author of the life after prison for Evelyn Dick. Many photos are also included.
From the Paper "The Torso murder case is one of the most sensationalized and talked about murder cases in Canadian history. At the time the story was a journalist's dream, a story of scandal, mystery and the bizarre. The case became front-page material for months on end. Not only the public, but also the journalistic and publishing communities, were enthralled by the case. Now more than half a century after the crime was committed, the Evelyn Dick case still arouses much public interest. It seems, however, the public remains largely unaware of what the details of the case actually were and what transpired legally after the dismembered body of John Dick was recovered."
Abstract The paper examines the Social Union Framework Agreement (SUFA), also known as the Calgary Declaration, and the effect it will have on fiscal federalism. It argues that the SUFA is a realization that modern federalism is not sufficient to govern a complex and highly decentralized modern welfare state. The paper also includes charts, figures and graphs.
From the Paper "The manifest purpose of SUFA is to manage intergovernmental relations in the area of social policy, given the high degree of interconnectedness between federal and provincial social programs. These intergovernmental relations include not only the social programs by each level of government, but also, the management of transfer payments from the federal government to the provinces. It is these transfer payments which permit a high degree of program decentralization given centralization of taxation powers; in theory, this type of arrangement ought to be economically efficient by allowing program delivery to be customized to local circumstances, but maintaining national taxation standards to avoid taxation policies which would promote factor flight, resulting in an inefficient allocation of labour and capital. Increasingly, however, revenues available to the provinces through taxation and transfers are inadequate to meet their program needs. This "vertical fiscal imbalance", though disputed by the federal government, is a serious long-term problem for provincial governments and a major motivation behind the "Calgary Declaration" which led to SUFA. On analysis, though, SUFA does not restrain the spending power of the federal government the way the provinces had intended, and will not have any meaningful impact on vertical fiscal imbalance."
Abstract This paper summarizes an article and discusses some possible solutions for preparing the current Canadian Medicare system for the aging baby boom population. It focuses on the reasons why a privitized health care system would not be beneficial to the majority of Canadians, and the alternatives that could be adopted to end the Medicare crisis.
From the Paper "The possibility of the aging baby boom flooding the health system, and rendering it impossible to fund has been a topic of particular interest recently. Medicare has been the pride of the Canadian welfare state, and concerns for it's future have led to many propositions. It is predominantly a publicly financed, privately delivered health care system that combines the entire country's insurance plans (Macionis 346). One extreme is to abandon Medicare altogether, and replace it with a privatized system. Conflict theorists, who feel that it would only benefit profit-seekers, the wealthy, and a small minority of powerful capitalists, have criticized this suggestion. The majority of theorists, particularly functionalists, seek solutions that are less radical, and could include the present Medicare system, but improve it's efficiency, and availability (Manga 182). Research has shown that an aging population does not pose a threat to the present health care system, but changes could be made to reduce the risk of Medicare becoming increasingly costly in the future (Poplin 49). The imposition of a private health care system would not be to the advantage of most Canadians, but reforms could improve the efficiency of the current system. "
Tags: aging, baby, boom, canadian, care, health, medicare, sociology
Abstract This essay deals with four areas which are causing Canadian National Parks to disappear--extreme government cut-backs, identity crisis, improper management and ecosystem destruction. It also suggests ways in which the government can change its polices to save these parks.
From the Paper "Canadians look at the infamous National Park's landscape and see a vast and beautiful range of Canada at it's best. Unfortunately, what one sees is often deceiving. The truth is that the state of Canada's National Parks is alarming. Entire species are disappearing, vegetation is being destroyed by development and urbanization, and the pristine lakes and rivers are being contaminated by pollution. The Canadian Government has not been fulfilling its managerial role in protecting the essential resources that are comprised in Canada's National Parks. The problems that have generated in the Park's system have often dismissed due to their seemingly insignificant characteristics. Unfortunately, all of the insignificant problems joined together to create a devastating picture of dyfunctionality of the National Parks. There are four pivotal points that have caused the Park's disastrous spiral aimed at oblivion. Extreme cuts to the Parks Canada's budget has forced them to compromise their principles on how the parks should be run, and resorted to doing what they could. Parks Canada has found itself in an extreme identity crisis, as financial pressures are pitting conflicting philosophies against one another. The Canadian Government is the root which many, if not all of the posing threats the National Parks has emerged from. Their improper management and mentality has potentially shattered any chance of Canada's ecosystem to flourish. Until the Canadian Government stops seeing the nation's national Parks yet another way to generate a clever income for their institution, the parks will continue to lose their ecological integrity until they fade from man's sight completely."
Abstract This essay examines the continued existence of female genital mutilation and the arguments presented in favour of discontining the practice and for enforcing legislation against it.
From the Paper "There are two things that female genital mutilation (FGM) is not. It is neither an African problem, nor is it a third world problem. This infringement of women's rights has occurred all over the world, including here in Canada. Female genital mutilation is therefore a global problem, which can no longer be ignored, postponed, or buried in the international community's agenda. Secondly, it is not a debate on morality. Instead the debate should be posed as a question of a woman's individual right to be free of circumcision versus the tribal groups? right to maintain its tribal identity through the practice of female circumcision, without state interference. Debating the morality of another culture is an unfair judgement due to the difficulty of shedding one's western values and taking on another. Analysing cultural values of people through different cultural filters creates misinterpretations and inaccurate assumptions that take away from the seriousness of the issue. With two million girls between the age of eight days and young adulthood at risk of having to endure this practice in primarily unsanitary conditions with no anaesthetic, or antibiotics, this topic could not be more severe (Dorkenoo 294). These practicing cultures have the potential to change this tradition, as the Chinese chose to do with their custom of footbinding (Mackie). Not only does this practice go against all international conventions put into place to protect women and children, but also there is no enforcement by the respective states. Also proponents of FGM point to arguments such as religion and tradition to support the continuation of this custom, it is obvious that those defences are no longer sufficient to combat global human rights grievances."
Tags: eastern, human, perspective, religion, rights, tradition, western, women
Abstract This paper takes an in-depth look at the educational system in Canada with emphasis on the public school system. The writer compares it with other like system and shows how they differ. Topics discussed are curriculum, tuition and standards. The question of which government body is responsible for the education system is also raised.
From the Paper "Two of the major goals of education are to provide society with the skills and knowledge required for growth, and to give each individual the opportunity for personal development and achievement. The pursuit of these two aims can sometimes conflict, so the Canadian approach to the public education system is founded on coordination, in an attempt to provide education that is diversified, comprehensive, and available to all. The public education system in Canada differs from most countries in that it is composed of ten provincial and three territorial systems, which in addition to controlling public education, is also responsible for denominational schools and private education. The legalities of attendance are common to all thirteen systems, and children are legally required to begin school at the age of six or seven, and must attend until they reach the age of sixteen or seventeen. In order to facilitate this obligation, all public education in Canada, from kindergarten through to grade twelve, is publicly funded and free to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents until the end of secondary school. Post secondary and higher education differs, in that it relies on the payment of tuition fees in all but a handful of cases, such as in Quebec where the general and vocational colleges (CEGEPs) remain publicly funded (Manzer 1994)."
Abstract This paper provides a general history of mental illness and treatment thereof and then focuses on the treatment of mental patients in Western Canada in 1812-1914. It explains that one of the main sources for this information was from The Alberta Heritage Digitization Project which is a website documenting Canada's history. It examines the efficiency of such a source and the accuracy of the information.
From the Paper "Mental illness can be defined as "a disease of the mind which incorporates any illness, disorder or abnormal condition which impairs the human mind and its functioning, excluding however self-induced states of alcohol or drugs as well as transitory mental states such as hysteria or concussion" (Saunders, 1996). Mentally handicapped people and the challenges that they experience can be found under section 16 of the Criminal Code. One can see that the definition makes it clear that for an accused to be mentally challenged he/she must not be able to think clearly at the time of the offense and so had no idea about the nature of the act that he/she was committing. This explanation can be extended to other walks of life where mentally handicapped people often carry out tasks that are deemed unsuitable by the society but they have no idea about the inappropriate nature of those acts. In Canada the law requires that the accused persons should have fully knowledge of the act and that what they did was inherently against the law. It has often been assumed that those people suffering from a mental disorder usually turn out to be criminals."
The following paper discusses the climate of the U.S.A. and Canada, with respect to the climate classifications, its effects on farming and other activities.
Abstract This essay discusses how climate governs the entire ecological structure of the planet earth. The author examines how climate, in relation to the topography and latitudinal location, determines the vegetative types, the hydrology, soil, agriculture, and various human activities.
From the Paper "Climate represents a long term average of various weather features such as temperature and precipitation. The World Meteorological Organization uses 30-year averages to define climatological "normals" for these various features. Climate determines how resources such as water and vegetation are distributed and, until the onset of technology, climate also determined where people lived and worked. Many factors, such as topography, proximity to large bodies of water, and latitude affect a particular location's long-term climate. It is important to note that because a region's climatology is a 30-year average, significant year to year variability is likely. For example, a particular location may have a dry, warm winter one year and a record snowfall the next year"
