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Regionalism

Regionalism. November 6, 2001. Economic Basis of Regionalism. economic development policies reinforced economic patterns central Canada as diversified manufacturing base outer Canada as natural resource hinterland instability, dependence on world price for commodities.

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Regionalism

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  1. Regionalism November 6, 2001

  2. Economic Basis of Regionalism • economic development policies reinforced economic patterns • central Canada as diversified manufacturing base • outer Canada as natural resource hinterland • instability, dependence on world price for commodities

  3. Fiscal Relations -- Equalization • What is it? • explicit vs. implicit equalization • federal tax collection • Unemployment Insurance • Equalization program • second-round effects • equalization buoyed up demand in poorer regions for manufactured goods produced in central Canadian provinces • served to stem in-migration of Atlantic Canadians into more prosperous regions

  4. Atlantic Regionalism • Atlantic region has managed to wield political power disproportionate to its population base • strong contingent of Atlantic MPs in governing party • strong regional ministers from Atlantic Canada • have not managed to address issue of economic dependence on central Canada • transfer programs have forestalled economic adjustment (Courchene) • issue perception • right to earn a decent living in home region/province (considering people from other regions subsidize this) • vs. argument that economic development policy aggravated situation of regional dependence and there is some responsibility to contribute to rectifying the situation

  5. Western Alienation • has achieved moderate to high levels of economic prosperity • perception in western Canada that it has not achieved proportional political power within federal government

  6. Western Alienation • central claim: “The West wants in.” • history (myth?) of western rejection • Trudeau Liberal government • National Energy Program (NEP) • Mulroney government • Reform • belief that party had to appeal to Ontario voters to have impact • Canadian Alliance rejected by Ontario voters

  7. Cleavage and Context • regionalism and... • the constitution • Canadian political culture • the international context

  8. Canadian Federalism: Mobilizing Regional Discontent • connection between region and province • region does not equal province • HOWEVER, regions have no institutionalized existence • no voice • provinces often tap into regionalist sentiment • provinces reinforce regionalist sentiment

  9. Regionalism and the Constitution • the constitutional framework and regionalism • federalism • the Charter of Rights and Freedoms • emphasizes pan-Canadian rights of individual citizens • regionalism and the constitution • constitutionalization of the principle of equalization • tension

  10. Regionalism and Political Culture • changing political culture • more restrained role for government • eases tensions associated with Western alienation • why??? • government intervention in the economy usually benefits central Canadian interests because they dominate the political process • less government = less central Canadian domination

  11. Regionalism and Political Culture • changing political culture • more restrained role for government • generates tensions associated with Atlantic Canadian regional interests • federal policy has made them dependent on federal programs including unemployment insurance and equalization • now the federal government wants to pull back

  12. Regionalism and North American Integration • continental free trade as restraining federal government • eases some regional tensions • worsens other regional tensions • creates new regional tensions

  13. Regionalism and North American Integration • Ontario regionalism • from heartland to North American region-state (Courchene) • as Ontario becomes more integrated in North American economy... • Ontario regionalism will grow • association with Canada will diminish • support for equalization will decline

  14. Attachment to Canada/Province (Ontario)

  15. Attachment to Canada/Province (Quebec)

  16. Ontario Regionalism??? • from heartland to North American region-state (Courchene) • as Ontario becomes more integrated in North American economy... • Ontario regionalism will grow • association with Canada will diminish • support for equalization will decline • hasn’t happened yet...but perhaps it will...

  17. Regionalism and the International Context • regionalization and continental economic integration • regionalization and globalization • undermines territorial attachments • economically • culturally • reinforces attachment to community

  18. “To which of these groups would you say you belong, first of all...” (1990)

  19. “To which of these groups would you say you belong, first of all?”

  20. Attachment to Canada/Province (30+)

  21. Attachment to Canada/Province (under 30)

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