Legal Studies, Grade 12, College Preparation (CLN4C)
The Ontario Curriculum Grades 11 and 12 Canada and World Studies (2015) – Curricular Links to the Holodomor and Ukraine
Curriculum Expectations Where the Holodomor, Canada’s First Internment Operations or Topics Ukrainian Issues May Apply
| Unit | Overall Expectation | Specific Expectation | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. The Inquiry Process and Skill Development in Legal Studies | A1. The Inquiry Process in Legal Studies: Use the legal studies inquiry process and the concepts of legal thinking when investigating law and legal issues. | A1.5: Use the concepts of legal thinking when analyzing, evaluating evidence about and formulating conclusions and/ or judgments regarding legal issues. | Sample question: “From a legal perspective, should Russia today be tried in an international court for their significant involvement in orchestrating and executing the Holodomor?” |
| A. The Inquiry Process and Skill Development in Legal Studies | A2. Developing Transferable Skills: Apply in everyday contexts skills developed through the study of law, and identify careers in which a background in law might be an asset. | A2.3: Use the concepts of legal thinking when analyzing current events related to legal issues in order to enhance their understanding of these events and their role as informed citizens. | Sample question: “Using the concept of legal thinking analyze the current Ukraine-Russia conflict. Consider concepts and information such as the Budapest Memorandum, sovereignty of a nation, constitutional and democratic values.” |
| B. Legal Foundations | B1. Purpose and Processes of Law: Explain purposes of law, legal structures and processes, and fundamental principles of justice in Canada. | B1.4: Explain the relevance of key principles of justice (e.g., equality, equity, judicial independence, the rule of law, due process, the presumption of innocence, open courts) to current legal issues and landmark cases in Canada. | Sample question: “Explain how the key principles of justice apply to Canada’s First Internment Operations during World War One?” |
| C. Rights and Responsibilities | C2. Rights and Responsibilities: Analyse from a legal perspective how the rights and responsibilities of individuals, groups, and governments are connected. | C2.3: Describe some harmful effects that people can experience when governments and the legal system do not recognize and protect rights and freedom. | Sample question: Describe why the detention of “enemy aliens”, mostly Ukrainians, can be considered to have been unlawful detention and imprisonment in Canada?”
Sample question: “Describe how and why the Soviet government failed to recognize and protect the human rights and freedoms of Ukrainian farmers during the Holodomor” |
| C. Rights and Responsibilities | C2. Rights and Responsibilities: Analyze from a legal perspective how the rights and responsibilities of individuals, groups, and governments are connected. | C2.5: Assess the level of consistency between government policies and actions and Canada’s stated commitment to the protection of human rights at home and abroad. | Sample question: “Explain how Canada’s recognition of the Holodomor exemplifies Canada’s commitment to the protection of human rights.” |
| C. Rights and Responsibilities | C3. Influences on Human Rights Issues: Analyze from a legal perspective the role of forces such as globalization, technological change, media influence, and evolving societal attitudes in strengthening or weakening protections for human rights in Canada and abroad. | C3.4: Explain how various political and social-economic factors can influence individual and group attitudes towards human rights issues. | November 2013 was the start of the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine, in which Ukrainian citizens protested against the authoritarian Ukrainian government and Russia’s heavy influence over Ukraine. Ukrainians stood up for their dignity and their rights and the promotion of democratic values.
Sample question: “Explain what political and social-economic factors influenced Ukrainians to stand up for their human rights in the November 2013 Revolution of Dignity.” |
| D. Contemporary Legal Issues | D3. Emerging Legal Issues: Explain the legal implications of a variety of current issues both in Canada and internationally. | D3.4: Describe the legal implications of various recent international political events, humanitarian crises, and environmental issues. | Sample question: “What are the legal implications of Canada’s current placement of sanctions on Russia for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’s sovereignty?” |