Regional Integration and Atlantic Canada Douglas Brown St Francis Xavier Pols 322 November 2010

Regional Integration and Atlantic Canada – Topics Covered Defining Region, Regionalism and Regionalization Defining Region, Regionalism and Regionalization Defining Integration Defining Integration Options and Layers of Atlantic Integration Options and Layers of Atlantic Integration Integration Issues Integration Issues

Region and Regionalism Region is a flexible concept…it always indicates a specific territory (even if boundaries are fuzzy) but can be organized around ecology, economy, political sovereignty, etc. Region is a flexible concept…it always indicates a specific territory (even if boundaries are fuzzy) but can be organized around ecology, economy, political sovereignty, etc. Regionalism is the forming of an identity and the organization of society/politics around a specific region Regionalism is the forming of an identity and the organization of society/politics around a specific region Regionalization is the process of creating a new regional identity, or strengthening an old one. Regionalization is the process of creating a new regional identity, or strengthening an old one.

Integration Integration is a process of coming together, disintegration is a process of coming apart. Integration is a process of coming together, disintegration is a process of coming apart. Aspects of integration… Aspects of integration… –Social….an intermixing of social categories, e.g. class, race, gender, ethnicity, etc. –Economic….creation or spontaneous formation of a larger market –Political…expanding the scope of political sovereignty, or pooling sovereignty, to achieve shared rule and common institutions.

“Regional Integration” The process of integration, or the intensification of integration, within a specific region. The process of integration, or the intensification of integration, within a specific region. Its meaning depends greatly on the region context…e.g.: Its meaning depends greatly on the region context…e.g.: –North American region –Halifax Regional Municipality –Atlantic region –Northeast (cross-border) region

Types of Political Integration in the History of Atlantic Canada Aboriginal nations in treaty-based confederacies (to about 1763) Aboriginal nations in treaty-based confederacies (to about 1763) French and English trading outposts, colonies ( ) French and English trading outposts, colonies ( ) Self-governing Colonial Governments of British North America ( ) Self-governing Colonial Governments of British North America ( ) Provinces of the Dominion of Canada, 1867 onwards Provinces of the Dominion of Canada, 1867 onwards Separate Dominion of Newfoundland until 1934 (Commission Government, ) Separate Dominion of Newfoundland until 1934 (Commission Government, ) Dominions as essentially independent within British Empire/ Commonwealth, 1926 onwards Dominions as essentially independent within British Empire/ Commonwealth, 1926 onwards

More Recent Types of Political Integration affecting Atlantic Canada –Newfoundland (and Labrador) joins Canada as tenth province, 1949 –had other options –Atlantic Economic Council, founded 1953 –Maritime Union Study, 1970: not adopted –Council of Maritime Premiers, established also other Maritime joint institutions –Maritime economic integration program, 1990s –Council of Atlantic Premiers

Economic/Political Integration with New England – Historic Background Aboriginal nations’ traditional trading and intermarriage patterns Aboriginal nations’ traditional trading and intermarriage patterns Trade and migration between New England colonies and Nova Scotia, Newfoundland Trade and migration between New England colonies and Nova Scotia, Newfoundland US-BNA Trade reciprocity, US-BNA Trade reciprocity, Proposed US-Nfld (Bond-Blaine) Treaty 1904 Proposed US-Nfld (Bond-Blaine) Treaty 1904 Increasing degrees of free trade under the GATT ( ) Increasing degrees of free trade under the GATT ( )

Economic/Political Integration with New England – Contemporary New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Conferences, 1973 to present New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Conferences, 1973 to present Canada-US Free Trade Agreement, 1989 Canada-US Free Trade Agreement, 1989 North American Free Trade Agreement, 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, 1994 “Atlantica” proposal for greater economic cooperation with New England, 2004 “Atlantica” proposal for greater economic cooperation with New England, 2004

Some Key Differences Federal Political Integration, Canada Federal Political Integration, Canada –Economic union –Monetary union –Labour integration and full mobility –Fiscal union and redistribution –Social programs –Common political institutions, representation NAFTA, Canada and USA NAFTA, Canada and USA –Common trade and investment rules –Large degree of market integration –Business travel mobility only –No monetary, fiscal or social union –No common political institutions (i.e. democratic deficit)

Types of economic integration process Negative….ensuring that governments do not intervene to stop the free flow of goods, capital or labour: typically takes form of a trade treaty (between states) or a Constitutional provision (within states). Negative….ensuring that governments do not intervene to stop the free flow of goods, capital or labour: typically takes form of a trade treaty (between states) or a Constitutional provision (within states). Positive….ensuring that there are harmonized rules regulating economic activity, including joint decision- making institutions or other devices for harmonization Positive….ensuring that there are harmonized rules regulating economic activity, including joint decision- making institutions or other devices for harmonization European Union: started with negative integration, but increasing adopted positive means European Union: started with negative integration, but increasing adopted positive means NAFTA: still mainly uses negative process. NAFTA: still mainly uses negative process.

Integration Issues Has free trade been good or bad for the Atlantic provinces? Has free trade been good or bad for the Atlantic provinces? How do you decide the best size for a political unit? Should it always match the unit of economic integration? How do you decide the best size for a political unit? Should it always match the unit of economic integration? What are the pro’s and con’s of greater political integration with New England/ USA? Would we need more “positive integration” to achieve it? What are the pro’s and con’s of greater political integration with New England/ USA? Would we need more “positive integration” to achieve it?

More Integration Issues What would it take to create a single Atlantic or Maritime province? Would it be worth it? What would it take to create a single Atlantic or Maritime province? Would it be worth it? If Quebec were to secede from Canada, what kind of continuing integration would make sense for Atlantic Provinces… If Quebec were to secede from Canada, what kind of continuing integration would make sense for Atlantic Provinces… –With Quebec –With rest of Canada –Among themselves