An analysis of the implications of and factors contributing to the process of Ontario disengaging from its previous role in the Canadian federation and re-defining itself as a North American regionstate.
Abstract This paper critically examines the process of Ontario disengaging from its previous role in the Canadian federation and re-defining itself as a North American regionstate, due to a consequence of a range of political, economic, and social factors. The paper discusses Ontario's origins and features, as well as its future implications. The paper then argues that the primary causal factors behind this process have been the policy rift between the Ontario provincial government and the federal government, a North-South economic realignment supplanting intra-provincial trade relations, and the phenomenon of globalization.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
What is a "RegionState"?
Ontario and the ROC: Fraying Economic Ties
Ontario and Ottawa: Policy Differences
Ontario as a Globalized RegionState
From the Paper "In terms of Ontario as a region state, we can currently see this region-international process underway in terms of the growing region to region trade between Ontario and key economic regions of the United States. Consider, for example, Ontario's trade relationship with Michigan - the automotive production region of the United States - in which in 2005 Ontario enjoying a remarkable trade surplus exporting goods and services worth over CAN $55 billion and importing goods and services worth over CAN $25 billion. While the trade relationship with Michigan is clearly an exceptional case given the important industrial significance of the automotive industry that links Michigan and Ontario, such large scale trading relationships can be seen between Ontario and major American regions. For example, in 2005 Ontario also enjoyed a trade surplus with the state of New York, to which it exported over CAN $11 billion in goods and services, and imported over CAN $10 billion."
Abstract Regional Geography studies certain regions within the confines of this planet. It is extremely descriptive and specific. This research paper explores the regional geography of Canada. The paper examines Canada's physical, social, political and cultural issues, which includes the regional geography of Canada. Canada has six geographic regions: Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Western Canada, Atlantic Canada and the Territorial North. The paper focuses on two regions: Quebec and Ontario.
Abstract Biodiversity or biological diversity is the study of living organisms in relation to the environment. This paper explains that, because Ontario has significant natural resources, there is a growing concern to protect the ecosystems that support all life in the region. Plants animals birds and insects are dependant on the land and waterways within Ontario, and it is up to the current social order to ensure that these elements of the environment are protected.
Abstract This paper discusses the landscape of southern Ontario and its history over the last fifty years. The paper notes that over this period, all of the forests in the region have been managed through sustainable management practices. These practices allow for the commercial development of the forests in a way that produces products but does not destroy the forests, sustaining the natural habitat and making it more accessible to the public.
From the Paper "The landscape of Southern Ontario matches most of Ontario in that it is forested, in this case by deciduous trees. Over the past fifty years, all of the forests have been managed through sustainable management practices to allow for the commercial development of the forests in a way that produces products but does not destroy the forests. The southern region is the most densely populated area of the province, home to more than 90 percent of the ten million people in the province. Because of this, the area has been cleared to a great extent, first by early settlers who wanted to use the rich soil and moderate climate for crops."
This paper on the Canadian political economy states that Canada is seen as a thriving post-modern economy but, at the same time, sufferers from problems of political identity disintegration and economicregionalization.
Abstract This paper states that Canadians are overwhelmed with uncertainties about the capacity of their political system to achieve their economic goals. The author believes that the federal state is moving towards neoliberal control, which downgraded economic tasks to lower levels of governance and raised power to the global and continental tiers. The paper describes the many changes that have taken place in the role and organization of the Canadian government to achieve this neoliberal economic policy.
From the Paper "Since the Canadian government settles trade treaties but can execute them only in areas of its own constitutional jurisdiction, provincial participation has been necessary to realize what are understood to be the profit of liberalized trade. For this reason, Ottawa has encouraged improved provincial participation since the 1970s. In contradiction, an increased provincial function in trade policy has resulted in diminished provincial capability for industrial policy."
Abstract This paper discusses the 2003 power outage in Ontario and how it might have affected Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and the investment of MNEs. The paper then considers how the current strike by power workers might harm both in the near future. It concludes that investment might indeed be harmed so that ending the strike must be pursued vigorously to avoid any reduction in the economic strength of the province.
From the Paper "Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) can be a major source of investment capital and suggests that outside observers see a healthy economy that will give them a return on their investment in some form. An event like the power outage that affected Ontario and large portions of the northeastern United States in 2003 can reduce the rate of return in an economy like that of Ontario, given that business and industry need power to operate and that an outage at best reduces production time and causes delays that can affect the bottom line. This can be especially true in a time when several problems strike at once, as was true in 2003."
Abstract This paper takes a balanced position with regards to the impact of regionalism on the international economic order (IEO). Regionalism can undermine and enhance the IEO. The paper first defines the terms regionalism and the international economic order. Second, the paper outlines key arguments that address the "building block vs. stumbling block" question on regionalism. Third, the paper turns to the empirical evidence to weigh the two sides of the argument. The final section provides concluding remarks.
From the Paper "The paper borrows the definition of regionalism from Winters (1997) as "loosely any policy designed to reduce trade barriers between a subset of countries regardless of whether those countries are actually contiguous or even close to each other." Furthermore, paper includes in the scope and coverage of regional trade agreements (RTA), both symmetric and asymmetric, free trade areas (FTA) and custom unions (CU). Regionalism and RTAs will be used interchangeably, while accounting for the considerable difference in scope, configuration, and timing of RTAs. The international economic order entails a multilateral arrangement to achieve trade liberalization and stable financial markets. One purpose of the order is to proximate free trade among all nations. Therefore an enhancement is further global liberalization, underlined by a most favored nation (MFN) principle. The means to this end are rule-based multilateral organizations such as the World Trade Organization. It emerges clearly from the definitions that precisely because RTAs are both a subset of liberalization and an exception to the MFN principle, regionalism can both enhance and undermine the IEO. How these elements play out is what will be explored below."
The author of the paper examines the economic expansion paradigm as proposed by Jane Jacobs in her book "Cities and the Wealth of Nations: Principles of Economic Life"
Abstract In Jane Jacob's "Cities and the Wealth of Nations: Principles of Economic Life", she explores the five economic forces of city-region expansion. These five forces are markets, jobs, transplants, technology, and capital. Jacobs posits that in order to be a successful city-region, the city-region must have an import-replacement economy where all five forces work harmoniously. In order to determine why cities and city regions fail and/or do not expand; the author of this paper explores the principles of Jacob's economically successful import-replacement paradigm and uses Los Angeles county as an example to illustrate his points.
From the Paper "Second, let us suppose that technological advances in agricultural production further displaced agricultural workers of Los Angeles. Let's say for examples sake that people were no longer needed for fruit harvesting (orange harvesting to follow from the previous example). While import-replacement city-regions would not have as large of a setback due to economic diversification, the agriculturally focused community faces clearances and redundancy. "Any nation where sufficient productive city work is lacking, [as in this example], improvements in rural yields and productivity must leave large numbers of workers idle and redundant, or else rural yields and productivity must remain low. ... The costs of idleness and unproductivity of displaced people, along with the accompanying poverty, demoralization, violence, drug addiction and crime, are incalculable but they are enormous" (Jacobs 88,85). Clearances and redundancy would further shrink the dilapidated region as people look to the cities to find new opportunities. However, those who have no other option and must stay face ever-more depressed living and economic conditions."
Abstract The paper examines the possible forms of regionaleconomic integration in explaining the steps in the evolution from European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) to European Union (EU). The paper analyzes how EU member countries have benefited from such integration by using data concerning aspects of EU member nations' economies. The paper concludes by contrasting expected economic benefits from an EU-type integration, based on traditional regionaleconomic integration theory, with the actual benefits received by EU member nations after such economic integration.
From the Paper "Euro area countries' interest rates would be expected to be at or close to each other, based on regional economic integration theory. Investments among members that share a common currency would be free of all currency fluctuation risks, and thus be able to safely invest in the country whose interest rates are highest. A Eurozone country which is in need of investment funds would, according to theory, raise their interest rate slightly above the euro area rate to entice funds to move into their country. Investment funds would flow into the country until the interest rate is pushed back down to the euro area rate. A monetary union such as the euro zone thus allows funds to flow risk free into the country where they are most needed, using resources in the most efficient fashion."
Tags: gross, domestic, product, customs, union, economic, welfare, loss
Abstract The paper explains that the Ontario Teachers' Federation (OTF) was created in 1944. The paper continues to explain that it has a statutory mandate to be an advocate for teachers, the teaching profession and for education funded by the public. The paper discusses that the biggest challenge in its 60-year history arose after Mike Harris became Premier of Ontario in June 1995. The OTF attempted to oppose the cuts to education that Harris bought in and engaged in some major labour action.
From the Paper "The Ontario Teachers' Federation (OTF) was created in 1944. It has a statutory mandate to be an advocate for teachers, the teaching profession, and for education funded by the public. The biggest challenges in its 60-year history arose after Mike Harris became Premier of Ontario in June 1995. The OTF attempted to oppose the cuts to education that Harris bought in, and engaged in some major labour action. However, it was ultimately not successful in its attempts to affect government policy and secure better treatment for teachers. Before we examine the actions of the OTF, it is useful to have some background on its structure."
Abstract The paper describes how the government of Ontario appointed the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) in 1995, as an independent agency to evaluate the quality of education in the province. The paper analyzes how the EQAQ administers province-wide tests. These include the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) for Grade 10 students, reading, writing and math tests for Grade 3 and 6, and math tests for Grade 9.
From the Paper "Mike Harris' Ontario government introduced a system of standardized testing in 2001. This was presented as being for the sake of improving the quality of education in Ontario. However it will be argued that the real point of introducing standardized testing was political, and that in fact standardized testing is bad for education, not good for it. In fact, children suffer when standardized testing is used, and the quality of their education declines. They may even be put off learning, or suffer stress that negatively impacts their natural love of learning."
Abstract This paper discusses and evaluates the various parts of the Stronger Toronto for a Stronger Ontario Act of 2005, in an effort to provide some insight as to how the Toronto City Council will act if the act is passed by royal assent. The historical value of such a bill would be unprecedented in the history of the city, which has been slowly creating an autonomous government since the City of Toronto Act of 1997.
From the Paper "The aim of this study will be to understand and evaluate the new Stronger Toronto for a Stronger Ontario Act of 2005. By realizing the new powers of this charter to help pass more by-laws for Toronto's city administration, there are greater freedoms that allow the government to be more autonomous in legislation. In this manner, the overseeing Canadian government will allow Toronto the ability to access greater governmental responsibility for its ever-growing population."
Abstract Over the past thirty years, rather than improving, it is clear to see that the regional disparities, economic and otherwise, have been getting worse. Looking to census data over the circa 1966-96 period, we can see that Eastern Canada, in particular, has fared very poorly. This paper will bring this evidence to light, and argue that, not only have regional inequalities been exacerbated in the past 30 years, but that they will continue to get worse as globalization intensifies.
Abstract This paper explains the Irish and the English settlement in Ontario, with respect to the previous times. Hence it provides an in-depth study of both the subcultures.
Tags: CANADIAN STUDIES AND ISSUES / CANADIAN HISTORY, CULTURE, irish english ontario
Abstract This paper discusses the marginalization of black students on Ontario schools, noting that this will have an effect far beyond the classroom, leaving many students unprepared to cope with the working world they will be part of in a few years. Such separation affects the child's ability to learn, damages his or her self-esteem, and creates a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure. Efforts have been made to reduce the degree of marginalization for precisely these reasons, and the more minority children can be included and made to feel part of the class, the better they will do.
From the Paper "Race and racial discrimination can be problems in society, affecting social services, employment, and the legal system. Race is a special sort of problem in education, for it is through education that racial and ethnic groups escape the cycle of poverty that affects so many and so can reduce the effects of discrimination and in time eliminate the discrimination altogether."
