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Regionalism

Regionalism. November 1, 2001. Regions – What are They?. different conceptions of regions six regions (geographical proximity) Atlantic Canada/the Maritmes Quebec Ontario Prairies British Columbia the North. Regions – What are They?. different conceptions of regions

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Regionalism

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  1. Regionalism November 1, 2001

  2. Regions – What are They? • different conceptions of regions • six regions (geographical proximity) • Atlantic Canada/the Maritmes • Quebec • Ontario • Prairies • British Columbia • the North

  3. Regions – What are They? • different conceptions of regions • five regions (geographical proximity) • Atlantic Canada/the Maritmes • Quebec • Ontario • the West • the North

  4. Different Conceptions of Region • five/six regions (geographical) • core-periphery/metropolis-hinterland/heartland hinterland (economic/political relations) • central Canada • Ontario • Quebec • Outer Canada • Atlantic Canada • the West

  5. Different Conceptions of Region • five/six regions (geographical) • core-periphery/metropolis-hinterland/heartland hinterland (economic/political relations) • have vs. have nots (fiscal relations) • haves • Ontario • Alberta • British Columbia • have nots • Newfoundland/PEI/Nova Scotia/New Brunswick • average • Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec

  6. Different Conceptions of Region • five/six regions (geographical) • core-periphery/metropolis-hinterland/heartland hinterland (economic/political) • have vs. have nots (fiscal) • French vs. English (linguistic) • Quebec and the Rest of Canada (ROC)

  7. Regions – What are They? • what makes regions regions? • must have some substantive underpinnings • geographic proximity, economic/political, fiscal, cultural, linguistic similarities • region most clearly defined where these cleavages overlap rather than cross-cut • “regions of the mind” • “imagined communities” • regional identities must be created • internally created or externally imposed • regional discontent • regional discontent must be mobilized

  8. Economic Basis of Regional Discontent • economic basis of regionalism • different factor endowments central to regionalism • natural resources • labour • land • access to markets • economic basis of regional discontent goes beyond different factor endowments • economic basis of regional discontent • disparities in factor endowment have been reinforced and widened by operation of politico-economic system

  9. Economic Basis of Regional Discontent • north-south geographical orientation • how to sustain an east-west economy?? • pulling against gravity • east-west economy as a political decision • did not develop naturally

  10. Political Basis of Regionalism • domination of political institutions by central provinces • representation by population • allows central provinces to dominate federal political institutions • lack of mechanisms for regional representation with central government • exacerbates sense of regional grievance • electoral system • allows for entire regions not to be represented within governing party • (not a regional grievance per se)

  11. Economic Basis of Regionalism • north-south geographical orientation • how to sustain an east-west economy?? • pulling against gravity • east-west economy as a political decision • did not develop naturally • economic policy geared towards interests of central provinces • National Policy (1879)

  12. Economic Basis of Regionalism • National Policy • settlement of west • railroad • ship grain out • ship manufactured products in • tariff policy • higher price for manufactured products • 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

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