"In Grade 9 social studies, you will encounter issues that have impacts on citizenship and identity. Issues present opportunities and challenges for building a society in which all Canadians belong, and in which everyone has a good quality of life. Opportunities and challenges arise because people in Canada respond to issues differently, based on their individual and collective identities.

Individual identity comes from your personal interests and experiences, and from the many roles you have — for example, as a sister, brother, or team member. There are as many individual identities in Canada as there are people! Your identity as an individual contributes to the decisions you make as a citizen.

Collective identity refers to a sense of belonging shared by a group of people, especially because of a common language, culture and history. Most people in Canada belong to one or more groups with a collective identity. This, too, contributes to the decisions you make as a citizen.

This year, you will explore how responding to issues affects your quality of life. You will also explore how it involves perspectives, points of view and rights. The issues at the centre of your investigation will come from two key questions:

• How does governance in Canada affect you and all Canadians?

• How does economic decision making in Canada affect you and all Canadians?"

- Lychak, P., Gerrits, D. A., Nogue, A., & Parsons, J. (2008). Issues for Canadians. Nelson Education.