Chapter 8 - Western Canada

1. Chapter 8 - Western Canada City of Saskatoon & South Saskatchewan River • Physiographic Regions • Historical Determinants of Western Regionalism • Population and Economy (Rural restructuring) • Centralist/Decentralist & Western Alienation • NEP 1980 • Kyoto • Quebec

2. Physiographic Regions • A more densely-populated agricultural/industrial core on Interior Plains • Northern Forested hinterland on Canadian Shield Chinese Centre - Calgary Riding Mountain, Manitoba

3. Western Provinces Physiographic Regions composed of: • Northern Boreal Forest underlain with Podzolic Soils • Interior Plains with 2 Natural Vegetation Zones • - Parkland transition zone with black Chernozemic soils • - Grassland with dark brown, brown Chernozemic soils • - from Brandon to Saskatoon to Edmonton • - Tall Grassland – the Fertile Belt • - closer to US border, higher evaporation, • Short Grassland- the Dry Belt

4. Precipitation is an obvious determinant of regional characteristics Note the dry Palliser’s Triangle in South

5. Prairie Water Shortages • Palliser’s Triangle had no net flow even in the mid 20th century – all its water comes from the Rockies but Alberta’s pop. & industry increasing 7x Canada’s 6% /an. • Athabaska & Saskatchewan Glaciers both receded 1.5km (1933-1993) • Bow Glacier receded 50% • Saskatchewan River flow at 20% of 1910 flow • Since 1998, continuous drought in S. Prairies (lake levels down 1-1.5m below norm – incr. salinity) • Expansion of croplands in AB 6x (ie. Forests <6x) farmers wells going dry – phosphorus input incr 2x to compensate for crops • Cattle ranchers in AB avg. 3000ha =tremendous manure spreading, Lethbridge cattle capital is driest place. Total P release 500,000 tonnes/an (Chambers et al 2001) • Tar Sands production 1M barrels /day and goals is 3M barrels/day. It takes 6 barrels H20 per barrel oil produced • Wetlands sponge over Tar Sands being removed daily • Lake Winnipeg (size of Lake Erie, but drainage basin 12x larger

6. The mixing of Air Masses also determines regional characteristics Many factors impact on the Primary Sector: Agriculture

7. Drainage determines agricultural potential Drainage flows northward and eastward from the Foothills toward Hudson Bay and the Gulf of Mexico

8. Prairie agriculture has developed crops adapted for short season, high yields

9. Historical Overview • Prior to 1869, the inhabitants of the Interior Plains were primarily Indians and Métis. • Pop. of Red River Colony ~12,000 (1867) • Rebellion of 1869 Ottawa negotiated guaranteed ownership of land, recognition of French, permission for RC schools • BY 1870s buffalo practically extinct & Indians forced to sign numbered treaties to acquire reservations, cash gratuities, annual payments in perpetuity, promise of education and agricultural assistance. • Before the arrival of CPR (1885) all freight to Manitoba had to go by ferry through Fargo, ND even to Toronto • The “Iron Civilizer” brought 1) settlers 2) transportation • Farmers settled no more than 15km from railway • In 1910 Marquis Wheat strain developed with short maturation period • Until WWI, wheat prices low, machinery expensive – farmers developed United Grain Growers co-ops and the Wheat Pool • Alberta and Saskatchewan join Canada 1905 but did not have control over own resources as ON, QC, NB, NS did (beginning of “western alienation”

11. Conversion of Class1 & 2 lands to urban and to continuous cropping as opposed to fallow farming (I.e. strip farming leaving alternate strips In grass led to dependency on fertilizer for high yield crops.

12. Present agricultural practices have reduced or ceased “fallow farming” methods that retained and augmented natural soil fertility This has increased the necessity of Fertlizer use (quantity and types) To this, has been added the development of, and dependency on oil and its challenges for agriculture ie. Less human resources, greater dependency on technology, call to urban areas, increased transportation costs and dependency on trucks

13. A Prairie winter in the foothills - notice the lack of snow in February

14. The growth of Prairie irrigation from necessity

15. Prairie farmers open to change that benefits them. The Depression 1920-30s saw wheat prices drop, drought, locusts, topsoil blown in the wind. Feds repeal Crow and fixed wheat prices lost trust in Ottawa/eastern Canada. Adopting GMOs, fallow farming and “pulse” that rejuvenate soil nutrients.

16. Alberta lumber now supplies BC after shortfall caused by overharvesting

17. The northern part of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have considerable forests (both Boreal coniferous and Mixed hardwood) and these Provinces are substantial suppliers of lumber and forestry products. They seek “value added” from forestry practice by manufacturing products made from wood themselves instead of exporting so that others make the products which must then be bought back at higher costs Although settlement came initially through agriculture, the economy of the Interior Plains has greatly diversified. Logging accounts for 13% of Canada’s total timber harvest.

18. Millar-Western: A Unique Approach to Resource Management • By end 1980s most Aspen forests AB, SK, MB land long-term leased to 5 pulp & paper companies (incl. Japanese firms) • Local AB firm est. lease with SK Norsask to build pulp mill with internal process releasing no toxics to rivers/lakes. • Norsask (owned by Meadow Lake Tribal Council & employees of local sawmill) guarantee to supply logs

19. The Prairie Provinces have developed a mix of economic activities so essential for long- term survival Alberta coal exports highest in Canada (4th in world) Saskatchewan exports Potash (world’s largest) and Uranium Manitoba mines and exports zinc/copper from Flin Flon and nickel from Thompson SK and MB have achieved economies of scale by restructuring, mass production hog raising

20. Canada’s Constitution assigns provincial responsibility for resources management

21. Western Canada has 70% of oil reserves at $30B (1996)

22. National Energy Program • 1980s • Trudeau attempted to achieve: • energy security • greater Cdn ownership of oil • gr. wealth from oil revenues Diefenbaker created dual market for oil: Western market of western oil from Vancouver to Toronto Eastern Market from Ottawa to Halifax (oil from Mid East & Venezuela) (purpose was to expand market for western oil in the National interest) But, it cost 10-15% more than foreign oil refined Montreal

23. After 1970s embargos, Ottawa saw NEP (1980-84) as less dependency on foreign oil & Ottawa would have greater share of oil profits • Alberta saw larger, expanded domestic market • AB/SK/BC objected seeing this as means of keeping oil cheaper for East/Central Canada • Quebec saw its foreign-based market drop considerably • Western alienation also spawned by its need for Social programs – were introduced by west for benefit of all • Social programs are sole provincial responsibility, but Ottawa provides the funding: Employment Insurance, Pension Plan (CPP) as well as Transfer Payments (Equalization Payments) and Block Cash Transfers for health and post-secondary education that allows ALL provinces to provide similar public social services • Healthcare, shorter work week obtained through efforts of Social Credit, a Party governing AB debt-free & income-tax free 1935-1971 encouraging local ownership hospitals, schools, utilities

24. Perhaps the solution is blowing in the wind

26. Sources of Western Alienation • 1920s social reforms needed leading to formation of Progressive Party to become Progressive Conservatives • 1930s economic collapse & drought led to formation of the Co-Operative Comonwealth Federation (CCF) in Calgary under J.S.Woodsworth. During WWII, divided between western pacifists and pro-war. In 1945, T.C. Douglas leads to 28 federal CCF MP’s (14.5% of national vote) During Cold War, changed image by merging with CLC (Cdn Labour Congress) under David Lewis to become NDP.

27. British Engineer, Major C.H. Douglas, taught that economic hardships resulted from an inefficient capitalist economy which failed to provide people with sufficient purchasing power to enjoy the fruits of a well-developed production. The distribution of money, or “social credit,” would allow people to purchase the goods and services produced by capitalist enterprise. The party grew under Alberta’s Aberhart (56 of 63 Prov. Seats and 17 Fed. Seats in 1935) and later Ernest C. Manning who won 9 successive prov. elections until 1971. From 1952-1975, BC elected Socred Governments under W.A.C. & W.R. Bennett And Bill Vanderzalm in 1986. In Quebec, the party led by Réal Caouette formed the Creditistes until 1980. It ran in Alberta until 1993.

28. In 1985, westerners created the Reform Party to promote federal and centralist reforms, such as an elected and equal senate to give the west more influence in Ottawa. • In 2000, reform became the Alliance Party to entice unity with the PC’s gaining 66 of 88 western federal seats and form the official Opposition. • Alberta alone paid $145B more than it received from Ottawa (1961-88), yet QC received ~50% of Fed. Transfer Payments and Western Canada 15% • Constitution accords QC 75 MP’s irregardless of relative population. • Railway, National Policy, NEP, Kyoto all contribute to feelings of under-valuing West in Canada

29. Prairie unemployment is lowest in the nation Winnipeg has declined in economic importance, but Calgary-Edmonton is rising

30. Western Economic Growth • Saskatchewan has diversified into the high technology sector and is expanding since the 1990s and is advertising for people with such skills to come to an area with high salaries and low housing costs. • Saskatchewan has been offering very low house prices for decades to encourage retirees to settle there.

31. Tourism potential unlimited

32. Banff, Kananaskis & Stoney First Nation

33. Canmore example of developing retirement & resort regions

34. Alberta - world’s largest dinosaur discovery

35. Tar Sands – largest oil reserve known

36. Manitoba becomes Polar Bear Capital

37. Four Canadian cities among top 10 cities in world - 2005 West Edmonton Mall Wave Pool Westerners are proud of their accomplishments in a challenging environment Oil has been a great source of revenue for diversification from agricultural roots.