How could you divide this room into regions'

1
Welcome!

• How could you divide this room into regions.
• Why might you want to do this?

2
Because were talking about REGIONALISM!
3

• Take a look in the section you are sitting in.
• Think about what resources you have, and which
  ones you lack.
• Is there a section that has an advantage? Which
  section is the most disadvantaged?

4
Regionalism

• A social and psychological attachment to a
  particular place
• 3 Components
• Importance of region in an individual's sense of
  identity
• The degree to which individual identifies with
  his/her region
• Strength of commitment to region
• Region is a way of defining identity, values and
  interests.
• Strong sense of regional attachment vote on
  basis of regional interests

5
Regionalism

• What Causes Regionalism to develop?
• Geographic/physiographic
• Rockies, Prairies, Mississippi River
• Urban vs. rural
• GTA, Chicago-New York-Washington Triangle
• Cultural/linguistic
• French/English, Aboriginals, Visible Minorities
• Historical
• US (North/South, Red/Blue)
• Canadian settlement

6
Regionalism in CanadaHistorical Development

• Pre-Confederation
• Great Lakes/St. Lawrence
• Upper vs. Lower Canada
• Post Confederation
• National Policy
• Manitoba and British Columbia (CPR)
• Western Settlement
• The Last 30 Years
• Quebec
• Western Alienation
• Atlantic Canada

Note Unlike the United States gradual Westward
expansion, Canadas proceeded in patches.
Different areas were settled at different times
by different groups using different technologies
and creating differing economies.
7
Regionalism in CanadaCurrent Trends

• Newfoundland 1975 onwards
• Western alienation II, 1970s onwards
• http//archives.cbc.ca/politics/parties_leaders/cl
  ips/15455/
• The revenge of the centre Ontario regionalism,
  1990 onwards
• Big city governments and First Nations
  governments new regional players?

8
Dealing with Regional Alienation

• From the centre (federal government)
• Better representation
• Better intergovernmental relations
• Better federal administration
• From the region
• Building up provincial power
• Economic development self-reliance

9
Specific Tools for Addressing Regional Issues

• First Ministers Meetings
• Provincial leaders meet with PM
• Mayors Meeting
• 2004 Mayors from Canadas 10 largest CMAs
  gathered to discuss economic and social issues
• Equalization Payments
• Funding is given to have-not provinces so that
  they can provide services on par with others
  across Canada (think health care ideals)
• Caucus Meetings

10
Final Thought

• Over the course of its history, the powers of the
  provinces have grown. Whereas traditional
  regional divides have been overcome due to
  advances in transport and communication
  technologies, the new regionalism is now defined
  by provincial ties. Is the solution to overcoming
  regionalism greater decentralization, or greater
  centralization?

11
What is a Caucus Meeting?

• All the elected members of a party meet to
  formulate policy, which will in turn become the
  platform they bring back to their particular
  legislature.
• If party has a majority, this policy agenda can
  easily become legislation. If party has a
  minority, or is the opposition, then they have to
  work to get their policy ideas heard/enacted.
• While all who attend a caucus meeting are from
  the same party, each has their own agenda, based
  on their region and their constituents.

12
Who Wants to be a Canadian Politician?

• This simulation places each of you as an MP of
  the ruling Federal Party.
• Each MP comes from a specific region, and
  therefore has certain policy goals which may
  differ from other regions.
• The Prime Minister, though coming from his/her
  own region, must also think of the party and the
  good of the nation.
• Note Just like in real liFe, there are
  consequences to choosing (or not choosing) a
  particular pathso be prepared for a scandal or
  two!
• The goal of the simulation is to formulate a
  policy agenda
• The goal of each MP is to represent his/her region

Canadian Politician?
13
Time Line
TODAY

• Receive assignments
• Receive/study policy cards
• Library Research your policies
• Engage your peers broker some deals, stab some
  backs
• PM CHAIRS CAUCUS MEETING, VOTE ON POLICIES
• Debrief

TOMORROW
FRIDAY
14
Your Government

• North MP (2)
• Ontario MPs (9)
• Quebec MPs (7)
• Atlantic MP (3)
• Prairie MP (4)
• Pacific MP (6)
• PRIME MINISTER (1)

15
Debrief

• What challenges did you face in getting your
  policies agreed upon?
• Where there any regional patterns/alliances at
  work? Why?
• What aspects of this game compare to real life?
  What aspects differ?
• Does the policy agenda created today reflect the
  values of Canada? Why/why not?
• If there was one change you would make to the
  simulation, it would be