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Land-cession treaties - The desire by the government to obtain land held by Aboriginal peoples for the settlement of non-Aboriginal people was a primary goal for much of the policy directed towards Native peoples. Reservations were seen as a way to move Indians into agriculturally-based communities, both to assimilate them and also to free-up vast tracks of land for non-Aboriginal settlement. Further to this end, numerous treaties were signed between Indians and colonial officials between 1670 and 1923. It is these land treaties (in many cases, the lack of them) that are currently in dispute across the country today.

Learning theory - The main idea is that violence is a behaviour learned in childhood. Boys learn that it is okay to be violent, and girls learn that it is okay to be on the receiving end of violence - that is what relationships are about. This theory holds that all children are socialized to accept violence in our society and that this, coupled with the different roles that boys and girls are socialized into, supports and perpetuates abuse. Children who witness violence in the home are much more likely to become abusers or be abused.

Least restrictive approach - The least restrictive approach to child protection emphasizes the least disruptive course of action that will leave the child with his or her family, if at all possible.

Low Income Cut-off (LICO) - According to Statistics Canada, those who spend more than 55 percent of their earnings on basic needs are living under the LICO. A household that spends 20% more than the average household spends on food, clothing and shelter is below the LICO or in straightened circumstances. Although LICO is not put forth as an official poverty line, many analysts, including the United Nations, treat it as such. For example, the 2000 LICO for a family of four in a medium-sized city of 100,000-500,000 is $29,356. Some have called it a relative necessities approach.

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