Restoring the “Regional” to Regional Policy: A Regional Typology of Western Canada

Abstract

The analysis and definition of economic regions at the sub-provincial scale is a neglected policy issue in Canada notwithstanding the severity and persistence of disparities in regional growth. Employment growth in the 30 Economic Regions (ERs) of Western Canada 2001–2006 is partitioned into region and industry-mix effects and the resulting regional typology identified. Western Canada became a single development-region in 1988, a quarter of a century ago, with a single policy focus of diversifying its industry-mix. However, its ERs display great diversity in their economic structure and growth rates and they have experienced both the highest and the lowest employment growth rates in Canada. Regional diversity creates policy quandaries that require development policies crafted to individual regional opportunities and needs in place of the one-size-fits-all approach of Western Economic Diversification Canada.