We’ve discussed the Social Contract that exists in a society, the agreed upon rules citizens and leaders accept to help keep the society running smoothly. Four of the essential elements to maintain that balance and structure are:

1. Freedom: practicing and protecting our freedoms
2. Order: trying to establish/maintain order in society
3. Equality: maintaining and fighting to keep equality among groups
4. Hierarchy:  the levels of responsibility some take on to provide for society

To get a better sense of what each of these provides for society, a list of events are compiled below. Consider each and decide which of the four essential elements of our Social Contract they fall under.

1. Read the title carefully
2. Skim the beginning of the article to get a sense of what the news article is informing readers about
3. Consider your four possible element options
4. Discuss with your partner(s) – what decision do you come to together?

News events/articles – samples of events in society that show evidence of the Freedom, Order, Equality, and Hierarchy that exists in Canada.

1. Teachers “warned off” from voicing concerns about pond where kindergarten student drowned 1 year ago (says lawyer)
2. Case of Toronto van attack suspect put over to May
3. B.C. stock promoter charged with tax evasion
4. Second Canadian judge suspends (blocks) Quebec’s face covering ban
5. Loblaw’s tax case goes to appeals court
6. Animal-rights group PETA’s beef with lobster industry comes to Canada 
7. Iranian Canadian woman says she’s trapped in her marriage
8. Coerced-sterilizations a “crisis” that needs a public inquiry
9. Canada has taken in almost 300 million extra in tariffs on US imports
10. Trump/Trudeau praise USMCA trade deal saying it will grow the middle class 
11. Ottawa prepares to squeeze US tech firms over loss of media revenue for Canadian news outlets
12. October 2020 will shape Canada’s immigration for years to come
13. Canada’s largest provinces seeking clamp down on social gathering as Corona wave spreads
14. Army commander orders Canadian troops to call out racism in the ranks
15. “Blind recruitment” would lead to a more diverse workplace