Chapter 5 Videos with Critical Thinking Exercises

Canada's Economic Face

Video 1:  Serapio, Michael (host). News in Review, “Goodbye NAFTA, Hello CUSMA: Did Canada Get a Fair Trade Deal?” [video]. Toronto, ON: CBC/Radio-Canada; 2018.

Link       https://curio.ca/en/video/goodbye-nafta-hello-cusma-did-canada-get-a-fair-trade-deal-19532/.

  • Registration and login required for access. Curio is free to most faculty and students of Canadian post-secondary institutions.

Length  12 minutes 32 seconds

Short summary/description

  • This video reviews steps in signing the economic trade agreement between Canada, the US, and Mexico. After more than a year of negotiations, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico finally have a new trade agreement – the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement. CUSMA (or USMCA as named by former President Trump) replaced NAFTA and maintains the elimination of many tariffs between the three countries, to facilitate the free flow of goods. Many argue that the Trudeau government had to make concessions.

Critical Thinking Questions

  1. What is Chapter 19 in CUSMA and why has it been so important at the negotiating table for the Canadian government?
  2. What three areas were key ‘sticking points’ for Canada with respect to CUSMA?

 

Video 2: Consumer News and Business Channel. What is the fourth industrial revolution? [video] Englewood Cliffs, NJ: CNBC; 2019 Jan 22.

Link       https://youtu.be/v9rZOa3CUC8

                https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/digital-economy-in-canada (In original context)

Length 4 minutes 18 seconds

Short summary/description

  • This video explains Klaus Schwab’s term “fourth industrial revolution” and summarizes the earlier three industrial revolutions and where economies are headed.

Critical Thinking Questions

  1. Explain the term “fourth industrial revolution”.
  2. The “fourth industrial revolution” may lead to increasing inequality in Canadian society. Discuss.

 

Video 3: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Manufacturing adapts to keep up with demand during pandemic. The National [video]. Toronto, ON: CBC/Radio-Canada; 2020.

Link       https://curio.ca/en/video/manufacturing-adapts-to-keep-up-with-demand-during-pandemic-25025/.

  • Registration and login required for access. Curio is free to most faculty and students of Canadian post-secondary institutions.

Length 3 minutes 30 seconds

Short summary/description

  • This video focuses on manufacturing adaptations in the wake of COVID-19.  CBC host Ian Hanomansing goes behind the scenes in the production facilities of Lush Cosmetics and Que Pasa chips to see how they had to adapt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Critical Thinking Questions

  1. Manufacturing facilities had to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in some cases, products changed too - for example, distilleries began producing hand sanitizer. Describe changes in manufacturing facilities that have evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss whether you think the pandemic has fueled innovation in manufacturing in Canada in some way.  
  2. What kind of manufacturing innovations can you think of that would enable facilities to operate safely and help businesses get back to work should another pandemic occur? For example, could disinfecting robots be part of Canada’s future?

 

Video 4: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Wave energy industry growing [video]. Toronto, ON: CBC/Radio-Canada; 2015 Aug 18.

Link       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qICMqYR2nd8.

Length  12 minutes 8 seconds

Short summary/description

  • This video showcases wave energy and electricity produced from this industry. This renewable energy involves harnessing the power of ocean waves and has considerable potential as a clean energy form in Canada.

Critical Thinking Questions

  1. Where is wave energy being harnessed in Canada?
  2. Provide other examples of Canada’s push toward cleaner energy.
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