The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9-12 - Ministère de l'éducation ...

BUSINESS STUDIES, GRADES 9 AND 10 (2006) AND
GRADES 11 AND 12 (2006)
See the Preface for important information on the organization of the following material.
The business studies curriculum identifies two critical areas of learning that can be connected with
environmental education. These are: (1) “ethical, moral, and legal considerations in business” –
i.e., “the understanding and/or determination of social and environmental consequences of business
practices on the local, national, and global levels” and (2) “business skills” – i.e., “the knowledge
and skills necessary for success in business”, when considered within an environmental context
(see page 5 of the policy documents for Grades 9 and 10 and Grades 11 and 12). In addition,
business courses cover one of the fundamental principles of business and economics – that is, the
role of business enterprises in responding to people’s needs and wants. This topic offers rich
opportunities for making environmental connections, in that responding to “wants” can conflict
with meeting “needs”, including the need to protect the environment.
The expectations in each course that address these areas are identified below.
Introduction to Business, Grade 9 or 10, Open (BBI1O/BBI2O)
Business Fundamentals
• demonstrate an understanding of how businesses respond to needs, wants, supply,
and demand
• demonstrate an understanding of ethics and social responsibility in business
– explain the concepts of ethics and social responsibility as they apply to business (e.g.,
workplace safety, antidiscrimination issues, accessibility issues for people with
disabilities, environmental responsibility, respect for labour laws, fair trade)
– explain controversial business issues from a local, national, and international perspective
(e.g., accounting scandals, environmental impact of some business practices, insider
trading, fraud)
• demonstrate an understanding of the benefits and challenges for Canada in the field of
international business
– explain the potential benefits (e.g., access to markets, cheaper labour, increased quality
and quantity of goods, access to resources) and social costs (e.g., outsourcing, human
rights or labour abuses, environmental degradation) of international business for domestic
and foreign partners
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