Library and Archives Canada
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Institutional links
ARCHIVED - A Nation's Chronicle: The Canada Gazette
Archived Content
This archived Web page remains online for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. This page will not be altered or updated. Web pages that are archived on the Internet are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats of this page on the Contact Us page.
Handout 2.2
Collecting the Facts
Name: _____________________________________________________
Using the Library and Archives Canada website, A Nation's Chronicle: The Canada Gazette, along with the sites listed in the Activity Resources section, answer the questions below about the Irish Potato Famine and the challenges it presented both internationally and to Canada.
1. What were the problems the Irish immigrants faced?
2. What were the challenges the Canadian government faced?
3. What was the actual official Canadian response to the influx of contagious Irish immigrants?
See the references to the Potato Famine in the Canada Gazette listed below:
Proclamation for the Renewal of Quarantine Regulations at Québec
Canada Gazette, No. 287, March 27, 1847, pp. 4086—4088
(Page 4086-4088 [PDF 2,064 KB])
"An Act to make better provision with respect to Emigrants…" Canada Gazette: No. 342, April 15, 1848, pp. 5271—5274
(Page 5271-5274 [PDF 2,593 KB])
"An Act … to make further provision respecting Emigrants" Canada Gazette, No. 397, May 5, 1849, pp. 6386—6389
(Page 6386-6389 [PDF 2,645 KB])
(Page 6389 [PDF 663 KB])
4. What are your thoughts on the official response of the governmental authorities? Could the response have been more effective? How could it have been different?
5. Who were the people affected in Canada, and how were they affected? (Use your imagination.)
6. Revisit the following questions that you had discussed when you examined the SARS crisis in Activity 1.5 in Lesson 1 (listed below.) Have your answers changed since then?
a) Should any citizens' rights be compromised to protect their health? Which, if any? Why?
b) How far should the government go in order to protect the health and safety of its citizens? How should this be decided? Who should have the final say?
c) What if someone in Canada isn't a citizen? Would this change how they are treated during times of epidemics, and other crises? Should it? Why, or why not?
