RegionalismRegionalism

November 1, 2001November 1, 2001

Regions – What are They?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?Regions – What are They?

different conceptions of regions– five regions (geographical proximity)

Atlantic Canada/the Maritmes Quebec Ontario the West the North

Different Conceptions of RegionDifferent 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

Different Conceptions of RegionDifferent 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

Different Conceptions of RegionDifferent 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)

Regions – What are They?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

Economic Basis of Regional Economic Basis of Regional Discontent 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

Economic Basis of Regional Economic Basis of Regional Discontent 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

Political Basis of RegionalismPolitical 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)

Economic Basis of Regionalism 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)

Economic Basis of Regionalism 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

Fiscal Relations -- EqualizationFiscal 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

Atlantic RegionalismAtlantic 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

Western AlienationWestern 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

Western AlienationWestern 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