1. Go to the Atlas of Canada Web site located at atlas.gc.ca and click on the English button.

2. On the left hand side of the Atlas of Canada home page under Explore Our Maps, move your cursor over Reference Maps. In the pop-out menu that appears, move your cursor over Federal Elections and click. In the new page that appears click on the link to The 37^th Federal Election, 2000 Map or The 38^th Federal Election, 2004 Map. Using the blank outline map of Canada provided by your teacher, create your own Canada Elections map. Shade in the areas represented by the 5 political parties, as shown on the map on your screen. Be as accurate as possible and remember to include a legend and title on your map.

3. Looking at your Elections 2000 or 2004 map of Canada, describe the regional representation for each of the 5 major political parties.

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4. Refer to your map of Canada’s Election 2000 or 2004 results as you attempt to analyze the results in terms of income, population density and language.

a. In the Explore Our Maps menu, move the cursor over Economy. In the pop-out menu that appears, move your cursor over Income and click. In the new page that appears click on the link to the Median Income of Individuals (1995$) Map. Compare the map on your computer screen to your Canada Elections map. Describe the relationship between income and political party representation?

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b. In the Explore Our Maps menu, move the cursor over People & Society. In the pop-out menu that appears, move your cursor over Population and click. In the new page that appears click on the link to the Population Density, 1996 Map. Compare the map on your computer screen to your Canada Elections map. Describe the relationship between densely populated areas and political party representation?

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c. Describe the relationship between sparsely populated areas and political party representation?

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d. In the Explore Our Maps menu, move the cursor over People & Society. In the pop-out menu that appears, move your cursor over Official Languages and click. Click on each of the links to the maps in this section:

English – French Bilingualism Map
Knowledge of French Map
Knowledge of English Map
Mother Tongue (English) Map
Mother Tongue (French) Map

Examine the connections between language and political party representation. Record your observations below.

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5. With reference to the following factors, suggest reasons for the relationships between:

a. income and political representation in Canada

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b. population density and political representation in Canada

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c. language and political representation in Canada

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6. Return to the Atlas of Canada’s 37^th Federal Election, 2000 Map or 38^th Federal Election, 2004 Map. Click on the Read more about this map link located in the small text box on the map or at the end of the abstract..

a. How many electoral districts are found in

i. Canada: _____________________________________

ii. Saskatchewan: ___________________________________


b. Using the Get Info from Map tool, above the map, click on one electoral district in Saskatchewan and compare the Total Number of Electors on the Lists, with the Number of Valid Votes. Give reasons for this discrepancy and explain how the Canadian government might encourage more Canadians to take advantage of their right and responsibility to vote in federal elections. (Consider Australia’s policy of making it a federal offence if a voter does not vote in a federal election.)

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