POLB56 LEC9SUM

Regions

Defined as territories with a distinct population that identifies as a community connected to the space. The classification of Canadian regions is debated, with some aligning with provincial borders and others cutting across or within them.

• Regional Differences: Factors that distinguish one region from another, such as geography, resource distribution, economic conditions, or political/institutional factors.

• Regionalism: A shared perspective recognizing regional distinctions, often tied to ideological or political views on Canada's geography, economy, and governance. It influences ideas about how politics and governance should function.

  • Imagine Canada is like a big family, and each part of Canada is like a different sibling. Each sibling has their own likes, dislikes, and special talents. For example:

    • One sibling might really like farming and growing food (like Saskatchewan).

    • Another might love fishing (like Newfoundland and Labrador).

    • Another might be great at making things in factories (like Ontario).

    Sometimes, these siblings feel like they're not being treated the same. Maybe one feels like they have to share too much of their allowance, or another thinks their voice isn’t being heard when decisions are made for the family. Regionalism is when those siblings speak up and say, “Hey, don’t forget about me! I have special needs too!”

    It’s a way of saying that different parts of the country need different kinds of attention because they’re not all the same.

    4o

drivers of regionalism: space

• Canada's vast geography divides regions, with unique physiographic features influencing settlement, regional economies, and government programs.

• Immense distances challenge east-west connections and foster regional distinctions.

drivers of regionalism: population distribution

• Settlement patterns shape regional identities, with dense populations along the southern border facilitating north-south linkages.

• Early European colonization concentrated culturally similar groups in different areas, while recent immigration (~7.5 million in 30 years) has diversified demographics, especially outside major urban hubs ("MTV": Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver)

drivers of regionalism: economic activity and specialization

1. Economic Activity and Specialization:

   • Economic development rooted in resource exports (Staples Theory) created long-lasting regional economic differences:

     • Atlantic: Seasonal industries with lower GDP/capita.

     • Quebec: Diversified economy, below average GDP/capita.

     • Ontario: Service-driven economy, high GDP/capita.

     • Prairies: Resource-reliant industries, high GDP/capita.

     • British Columbia: Diversified economy with key export/port activities, high GDP/capita.

drivers of regionalism: political/instituinalism

• Policies (e.g., National Policy, National Energy Policy) and federalism reinforce regional divisions.

• Political actors often play on regional differences, making "national" politics highly regional.

national policy (1879) -snapshot

• Introduced by: Conservative government of John A. Macdonald.

• Goals: Promote national unity and economic development.

• Core components:

  • Trade tariffs – Protect domestic industries.

  • Transportation links – Build a transcontinental railway.

  • Population growth – Increase immigration.

• Outcomes:

  • Unified Canada and opened the West for transportation and development.

  • Created regional differences through immigration and settlement patterns.

  • Promoted economic specialization, transitioning from agriculture.

  • Reinforced inter-regional dependencies (primary, secondary, and tertiary industries).

  • Led to discontent between central and peripheral regions, contributing to "western alienation."

national energy program (1980) -snapshot

• Context:

  • Oil prices surged in the 1970s due to OPEC's artificial inflation.

  • Federal pricing and tax policies initially benefited western provinces but shifted to favor consumers in central provinces as prices rose.

• Introduced by: Liberal PM Pierre Trudeau in 1980.

• Key Features:

  • New federal taxes and an increased federal share of oil revenue.

  • Creation of Petro-Canada (a crown corporation to control fuel prices).

  • Focus on increasing offshore oil production (under federal jurisdiction).

• Impact:

  • Strained Ottawa-Alberta and Central-Western relations.

  • Became a central factor in "western alienation."

  • Significant electoral consequences for the Liberal Party, contributing to the regionalization of Canada’s party system

electoral politics and parties -snapshot

• Role of Regionalism:

  • Shapes and reflects regional differences in Canadian politics.

  • Key factor in the evolution of the party system.

• Historical Development:

  • Shift from two-party system due to regional grievances (e.g., CCF/NDP and Social Credit).

  • Emergence of a multiparty system in the 1990s (e.g., Reform Party and Bloc Québécois reflected regionalism/nationalism).

• Current Dynamics:

  • National party support remains highly regionalized.

  • Clear support bases:

    • Conservatives: Western Canada.

    • Liberals: Central urban centers.

    • Bloc Québécois: Quebec.

• Challenges and Trends:

  • Regionalized support undermines Canada’s traditional “brokerage” politics.

  • Questions arise about the emergence of new “urban” regions as a key political dynamic.

equalization program -snapshot

• Context:

  • Significant regional disparities in economic potential and government revenue due to differences in economic activity and population size/distribution.

• What is Equalization?

  • A federal program established in 1957, enshrined in the Constitution in 1982.

  • Provides funds to provinces with lower "fiscal capacity" to bring them up to the national average.

  • Approx. $18 billion transferred in 2018.

• Fiscal Capacity Calculation:

  • Based on revenue sources (e.g., taxes, natural resources).

  • Adjusted over time using different formulas, accounting for provinces with very high or low fiscal capacities.

    • The federal government calculates how much money each province can raise using its own resources, such as taxes and natural resource revenues.

    • Provinces with very high revenues (e.g., Alberta from oil) don’t get equalization, while provinces with lower revenues (e.g., Quebec) do.

    • The formula is updated regularly to reflect changing economic conditions.

• Regional Grievances:

  • Oil-producing provinces (e.g., Alberta, Newfoundland) have contested the inclusion of non-renewable resources in the formula.

  • Alberta politicians claim they subsidize other provinces, especially Quebec, which has been a long-time recipient of equalization payments.

    • Some provinces, particularly oil-rich ones like Alberta and Newfoundland, feel the system is unfair.

    • Their argument: Including non-renewable resource revenues (like oil) in the calculations means they end up "subsidizing" other provinces.

    • Example: Alberta politicians often criticize that Quebec, a long-time recipient, benefits while Alberta contributes disproportionately.

western alienation

• Regional discontent in Western Canada, often directed at the federal government.

Core Grievances:

• Federal government perceived as favoring central Canada.

• Rooted in historical issues like the National Policy, National Energy Program (NEP), and equalization.

• Other grievances include CF-18 contracts, the Wheat Board, and cabinet formation.

• Oil and gas disputes remain a recurring theme (pricing historically; environmental regulation today).

Key Demands:

• Greater representation for the West in federal decision-making.

• Advocacy for Senate reform (Triple E Senate: Equal, Elected, Effective).

Timeline and Trends:

• Alienation lessened during PM Harper’s tenure.

• Resurfaced strongly under PM Justin Trudeau.

• Growing calls for provincial and regional autonomy (e.g., WEXIT, Alberta “firewall”)

regionalism as a significant factor in canadian politics and government

• Reflects real regional differences: Economic, social, and cultural variations across the country.

• Also reflects politically constructed differences: Political narratives and actions can emphasize regional divisions.

• Political system reinforces regionalism: The federal system itself, with its division of powers, can exacerbate regional tensions.

• Irony: Some government policies aimed at national unity have inadvertently strengthened regionalism.

• Western Alienation: A prominent example of regionalism today, with historical roots in early government decisions.