Regional Issues East vs West

Regional Disparity Disparity = inequality Causes of Canadian Regional Disparity Physical features – affects on agriculture, tourism Climate – affects on agriculture Resources- affects on imports, jobs Location – attracting migrants, cost to transport Urbanization – jobs, pollution, lost farmland Transportation – access to markets (waterway) Technology – efficiency vs cost Labour force – quality of education

Signs of Regional Disparity Wages – why higher in Alberta than Manitoba? Unemployment – what job opportunities are there? Education – how many have post-secondary? Standard of living – are people’s needs being met? Migration – how many people are moving in or out?

Equalization Payments Effort to reduce regional disparities The Federal Government takes a look at how strong the economy is in each province every year. Strong = “have” province Weak = “have not” province The government then takes some of the tax revenue from the have provinces and gives it to the have- not provinces Alberta’s concern: we have been a “have” province for a long time and see much of our money going to provinces who then are able to give their citizens better services

Who has had it worse?

Settlement of the West

Sir Clifford Sifton Immigration Minister administration of the Yukon during the gold rush “His promotion of immigration was an immense success. Taking advantage of a strong economic recovery that made farming in the West more attractive, he established a vigorous organization to seek out settlers in the US, Britain and - most controversially - east-central Europe. Against attacks by nativists, he defended the "stalwart peasants in sheep-skin coats" who were turning some of the most difficult areas of the West into productive farms.” (Canadian Encyclopedia)

The Reform Party “The West Wants In” – Albertans feeling alienated More right-wing ideology not being represented in Ottawa Gained in popularity through the 1980s and 1990s – eventually took over the Conservative Party

Reviewing Assignment You are to create a pamphlet or propaganda poster that explains your position on the following question Who has had worse treatment being in Canada – Quebec or the West Your pamphlet must include specific reasons for your position, as well as be engaging and eye-catching

Alberta Not represented in legislature (population and unequal Senate) Most government projects go to Central Canada Banks are headquartered in Central Canada and often set interest rates that hurt the western economy Ottawa spends a lot of time trying to keep Quebec in Canada, but seems to ignore Alberta’s interests The West is treated as a source of natural resources, and the federal government does little to change this (less money is made on natural vs. manufactured)

Alberta (cont.) Federal government took away control of natural resources through programs like the National Energy Program that controls oil, and after WWII selling grain at below cost to England Historically tariffs in place to protect manufactured goods of the East, but not resources of the West Government cuts often hurt the West more – e.g. the cancellation of the Crow Rate Alberta pays more to the federal government than they get back in transfer payments, while Quebec gets more than it pays.

Francophones – Quebec Conquest of 1759 (British defeat the French) Lord Durham’s report – assimilation of French Colonies of Canada government – not based on representation by population until the English outnumbered the British Inability for French Canadians to participate in government of the colonies for a long time English invade Red River area = Metis/Riel Rebellion

Francophones – Quebec (cont.) Ignoring rights by closing French, Roman Catholic schools = Manitoba schools question Conscription – blamed for conscription during WWI and WWII despite the fact that other groups, like farmers, also didn’t enlist (sign up) to join the war effort Quiet Revolution – the federal government initially opposed steps for French to regain control in business and government from the more powerful Anglophone minority Constitution – all provinces signed in a back room deal without Quebec present