A Regional Geography of CanadaA Regional Geography of CanadaChapter 9Chapter 9

The Atlantic RegionThe Atlantic Region

Digby, Bay of Fundy, NSLunenburg, NS

Determinants of Determinants of RegionalismRegionalism

Physical and Historical Physical and Historical • For the Territorial North, For the Territorial North,

the cold pervades the cold pervades regionalism. For the regionalism. For the Atlantic Region, it is the Atlantic Region, it is the sea.sea.

• For BC, it is the Alaskan For BC, it is the Alaskan Current, for the Atlantic Current, for the Atlantic Region, it is the Labrador Region, it is the Labrador Current mixing with the Current mixing with the Gulf StreamGulf Stream

• For the Prairie Region it For the Prairie Region it was remoteness from was remoteness from Europe, for the Atlantic Europe, for the Atlantic region, it was its region, it was its proximityproximity

Ocean Currents determine Maritime Ocean Currents determine Maritime ClimateClimate

Many early European settlements failed or were abandoned because of unpreparedness for the severity of Atlantic Canada’s winter

More Important than Spanish Gold, the More Important than Spanish Gold, the Groundfish off Newfoundland lured Groundfish off Newfoundland lured

EuropeansEuropeans• From 1497 (John Cabot) to From 1497 (John Cabot) to 1605 (Acadian Port Royal in 1605 (Acadian Port Royal in Annapolis), few settlements Annapolis), few settlements lasted.lasted.

• From 1601, British, Irish, From 1601, British, Irish, Scots settled Nfld, PEI, NS Scots settled Nfld, PEI, NS (Conception, Charlottetown, (Conception, Charlottetown, Sydney)Sydney)

• By 1750, 7,000 Nfld. By 1750, 7,000 Nfld. permanent residents in permanent residents in fishing villages alone.fishing villages alone.

• By 1750, 12,000 Acadians in By 1750, 12,000 Acadians in British Nova Scotia. French-British Nova Scotia. French-British War begins (7-Yrs British War begins (7-Yrs 1756-1763) 6,000 Acadians 1756-1763) 6,000 Acadians expelled 1755expelled 1755

Tragedy of the CommonsTragedy of the Commons• The sea is an The sea is an

ecological web, ecological web, seemingly infinite, seemingly infinite, from which humans from which humans and numerous other and numerous other creatures derive their creatures derive their sustenance. It also sustenance. It also exemplifies sadly theexemplifies sadly the Tragedy of the Tragedy of the Commons (Hardin Commons (Hardin 1968). 1968).

• What is common to the greatest number gets the least amount of care. Men pay most attention to what is their own: they care less for what is common. Aristotle (384-322 BC)

• From sustainable From sustainable cottage industries cottage industries to to unun-sustainable -sustainable fish factories within fish factories within a generationa generation

• (right) separating fish at a fish (right) separating fish at a fish plant & (below) gathering Irish plant & (below) gathering Irish Moss in PEI (1999)Moss in PEI (1999)

• Decline in Cod Decline in Cod stocks 1960-1996 stocks 1960-1996 (Recorded catch (Recorded catch DFO Canada)DFO Canada)

Law of the Sea & Sustainable FisheriesLaw of the Sea & Sustainable Fisheries• Newfoundland, Norway, the

Faeroes, and Iceland all saw their cod stocks plummet. Newfoundlanders may have suffered most --with the closure of their cod fisheries -- due to high human populations and a history of dependency on Canada for transfers. Fishery management based on politics rather than on economic efficiency is mismanagement.

• The 200 mile EEZ limit has NOT significantly improved management of high-seas fisheries

• EEZ limits include the fish (and traditional fisheries) but NOT political boundaries, necessitating cooperation between nations wishing to manage stocks in international waters (Robinson, DB 1997) .

• A major Russian newspaper reports that fleets in Russia's Far East land 4 million tons of marine products per year, 2 million tons of which become illegal exports.

• Russian poachers deliver directly to Japanese buyers, and despite a chain of bribes, make tremendous profits while netting many times the prescribed allowable catch, depleting the resource. Prohibitive Russian tariffs, a management system rife with corruption, and an eager Japanese market drive this market.

• An estimated 20-25% of profits form the illegal exports go to bribe a chain of officials, leaving a $3 billion net gain for the "fishing mafia" (Izvestiya in Robinson, DB 1997) .

ITLOS & SPLOS International Tribune ITLOS & SPLOS International Tribune LOSLOS• The International Convention on the LOS (1982) enters in force

1994.• The International Tribune for the Law of the Sea, Hamburg,

Germany• Comprehensive legal framework to regulate all ocean space, its uses and

resources, provisions on the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the continental shelf, the exclusive economic zone and the high seas, the conservation and management of marine living resources as “a common heritage of mankind.”

• The 1995 Agreement on fish stocks was opened for signature for 12 months It has received 31 signatures, but no ratifications have been deposited yet.

• The General Assembly debate of States Participating stressed particularly the role of the Agreement in strengthening regional organizations and the need for a major follow-up effort in this regard; the overall importance of the Agreement for greatly strengthening enforcement possibilities under international law; and the importance of continued consideration, within the framework of the General Assembly item on the law of the sea, of all matters related to the conservation and management of marine living resources. Attention is drawn to the comprehensive dispute settlement procedures based on the Convention on the Law of the Sea.

• Delegations reported on the adoption of new national legislation to promote observance of the global moratorium on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing (General Assembly resolution 46/215) and, in one case, on steps taken to enable interception of fishing vessels on the high seas.

• With respect to the issue of fisheries by-catch and discards, the view was expressed that FAO should deal with it because the problems involved were extremely technical and complex.

Sealing and the Fur Sealing and the Fur TradeTrade• Environmentalists stop the Environmentalists stop the 90-year “harp seal” hunt 90-year “harp seal” hunt in Nfld, but devastated the in Nfld, but devastated the Arctic “ringed seal” Arctic “ringed seal” economy, too.economy, too.

For nearly two centuries, 1700s-1800's, local lumbermen, craftsmen,shipbuilders and sea captains,excelled in their shipbuildingand seafaring prowess. They earned the reputation for the "best wooden ships to be found anywhere". Local yards in NovaScotia, New BrunswickPEI and Nfld. handcrafted hundreds of commercial sailing vessels, and laden down with prime timber they set sail for countries around the world.

The Golden Age ofThe Golden Age of Sail Sail

Mi’kmaq, Maliseet and a Dependency Mi’kmaq, Maliseet and a Dependency RelationshipRelationship

• The dependency relationship is exemplified in the case of the Mi’kMaq and Mailseet of the Maritimes. These nations occupied much of Atlantic Canada, the Upper Appalachian physiographic region for hundreds or thousands of years. But, four major events diminished their independent status and reduced them to strangers in their own land.

• the defeat (1713) of their European ally, the French, and

• the expulsion of their Acadian allies (1755) left them vulnerable

• the founding of Halifax (1749). British “rangers” were unleashed to burn Mi’kMaq villages, harass and drive them far from British settlements

• the arrival of Loyalists (1783) and seizure of prime hunting/fishing land

• Their traditional lifestyle collapsed. Denied a place in the new economy, they were forced into a state of dependence as outcasts (Bone 2002: 440).

Mi’kMaq fishers

• Expulsion of the Acadians 1755 Expulsion of the Acadians 1755 • Québec surrenders to British Québec surrenders to British

1759 1759 • Montreal surrenders 1760 – Montreal surrenders 1760 – • Royal Proclamation 1763 Royal Proclamation 1763

(English “official” language) (English “official” language) • Quebec Act 1774 (restores Quebec Act 1774 (restores

French civil law, religious French civil law, religious freedom)freedom)

• Quebec border extended to Quebec border extended to Ohio Valley – sparks Amer. Ohio Valley – sparks Amer. Revolution 1774Revolution 1774

• 1791 – Constitutional Act 1791 – Constitutional Act divides ‘Quebec’ into Upper & divides ‘Quebec’ into Upper & Lower CanadaLower Canada

• 1839 – Durham Report 1839 – Durham Report recommends uniting Upper and recommends uniting Upper and Lower CanadaLower Canada

Acadia precedes Quebec in surrender and defeat in British North Acadia precedes Quebec in surrender and defeat in British North AmericaAmerica

The smallest province hosts Confederation, Constitutional/social reform and engineering innovation againstthe sea (tides/icebergs/ice for 100 years).

Black Loyalists from Independence to Black Loyalists from Independence to DependenceDependence

• The British colonies of the The British colonies of the 1700s passed laws to control 1700s passed laws to control slaves. A slave was not free slaves. A slave was not free to marry, vote, move about to marry, vote, move about freely, or meet with friends. freely, or meet with friends. A slave legally could be A slave legally could be whipped, starved, tortured, whipped, starved, tortured, mutilated, or branded. A mutilated, or branded. A slave could be forced to slave could be forced to have children or to work have children or to work eighteen hours a day. A eighteen hours a day. A slave could be abused or slave could be abused or murdered or sold at any murdered or sold at any time. A slave was regarded time. A slave was regarded as a piece of property. From as a piece of property. From the 1500s to the 1800s, the 1500s to the 1800s, slavery existed, even in slavery existed, even in Canada. Canada.

• Between Between 1783 and 17851783 and 1785, , more than 3000 Black more than 3000 Black personspersons came to Nova Scotia came to Nova Scotia as a direct result of the as a direct result of the American Revolution. They American Revolution. They came from slavery and war came from slavery and war to take control of their lives, to take control of their lives, making choices within the making choices within the limits they faced.limits they faced.

Africville was a small, close-knit communitythat had existed for about 150 years. "The people in Africville never locked their doors.Everyone knew each other … It was a community that came out of struggle," said Irvine Carvery, who was 13 when hishome in Africville was destroyed for urbanrenewal, a new bridge, and assimilation. He said the people in his neighbourhood,who had always been independent andhard working, "were all of a sudden changed to become a dependent people,dependent on a social welfare system."

The benefits ofloyalty for whites only?

In the 1950's and early 60's many remote Newfoundland outport communities were forced to move to more accessible locations under a government program called Resettlement.

Hundreds of Newfoundlanders who had built their homes alongside their grandfathers and fathers, refused to abandon them and rebuild. So, by barge, boat, blood and sweat, they moved. Across bays and around capes family homes were floated to their new foundations and new social and economic beginnings.

(below) resettlement of Davis Inlet, Labrador

In spite of their abundantnatural and human resources, Nova Scotia, NewBrunswick, Prince Edward Is.and Newfoundland/Labradorare NOT “heartland.” They haveall the characteristics of a“hinterland.”

The earliest settlements were in Newfoundland yet it joined Canada last

Piling Dry Salt CodMolley’sReach,NF

Avondale, NF

Even fiercely inde-pendent Premier Smallwood, whoinitiated resettle-ment saw merits ofjoining CanadianFederation.

First Canadian manned flight

Alexandre Graham BellInventor of telephone,videophone, photoelectriccell, iron lung, desalinationof water, etc. died BaddeckNS, 1922

Signal Hill, Nfld. & first trans-Atlantic wireless message 1901 by Marconi

Feb. 23, 1909, Baddeck NS

Dec. 6, 1917, French munitions ship Mont Blanc collided with the Belgian relief ship Imo. The resulting explosion, the largest before the advent of the atomic bomb, killed >1600 people and injured 9000.

Silver Dart

Atlantic Canada’sAtlantic Canada’sconsiderableconsiderableresource potentialresource potentialAtlantic Canada’s fish stockdoes not constitute the entireeconomic base, however.Nova Scotia, New Brunswickand Newfoundland possessabundant timber and forestryresources used forshipbuilding, for construction,& paper products.They also have nickel,lead/zinc and coal mines, iron& steel foundries, agriculture,hydro electric potential andnatural gas/oil deposits witha 17 (to 30) year lifespan.

Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick soils & growing season favor agriculture,but only about 5% of total area is good for agriculture (St. John R, PEI, Annapolis)

Atlantic Region’s Agricultural Potential

A “diverse economy”is not, in itself, aguarantee ofeconomic survival. ex. The Mining of Coal in Nova Scotia Coal ship 1999

Nova Scotia’s Steel & Coal Interdependency

For almost 100 years, Sydney, NSexpanded and prospered. Located nearCape Breton’s hydro dam and 6 NS coal mines, the steel mill operated after WWII. Its aging process became less efficient. Restructuring in 1987, switching from coal-burning to electric arc furnaces helped.But major customer, US complained ofprovincial subsidizing of Sysco andimposed duties. Sysco lost money ($2B) until closed 2001. Cape Breton coal, mined undersea, costmore than Pennsylvania coal and, underNAFTA, no tariffs on US coal, so evenNS Power Commission did not use its localCoal. Last 2 mines closed 2000, 2001.

Dirty coal as a non-renewable source of energy has lost its appeal for the moment.Yet, oil and natural gas have not. The Appalachian Uplands’ and ContinentalShelf sedimentary deposits hold significant potential for development inspite of the harsh environmental conditions of the Northwest Atlantic.Peat mining, too (derived from bog and fen successions) contributes to the GDP.

Atlantic Canada’s Dependency on Non-Renewable “Staple” Resources

Voisey’s Bay

Innu Nation and Voisey’s Bay Development Ltd.settle Impacts & BenefitsAgreement March 2003 Construction phase begins spring, 2003.

Because the potential impacts of exploration activities may have negative effects on the Innu people and the land, water, wildlife, and plants that they depend on, companies must adopt strict environmental protection practices acceptable to the Innu Nation to avoid or prevent such impacts.

X

X

• The Voisey’s Bay The Voisey’s Bay Project has at least 3 Project has at least 3 major economic major economic advantages:advantages:

• Higher-grade nickel Higher-grade nickel than Sudbury; than Sudbury;

• A surface deposit A surface deposit allowing some, mush-allowing some, mush-less-expensive, open-pit less-expensive, open-pit surface mining;surface mining;

• Proximity to vast, Proximity to vast, inexpensive hydro inexpensive hydro power and ocean power and ocean shipping.shipping.

• Cheaper and abundant Cheaper and abundant labour for 1000-1800 labour for 1000-1800 jobs.jobs.

Atlantic Canada’s Future• Its Major ports: Halifax, Its Major ports: Halifax,

St. John and St. John’s St. John and St. John’s have economic have economic disadvantages:disadvantages:

• Less well-developed Less well-developed regional economy;regional economy;

• Fragmented Atlantic Fragmented Atlantic population and small population and small local markets;local markets;

• Dwindling human Dwindling human resource potential from resource potential from small economy that small economy that must compete with New must compete with New York’s York’s deepwater/train/truck deepwater/train/truck transshipment centretransshipment centre

• Primary sectors have to Primary sectors have to use technology to use technology to achieve economies of achieve economies of scale, but this means scale, but this means less jobs;less jobs;

• NAFTA prevents NAFTA prevents subsidies to subsidies to disadvantaged disadvantaged economic areas; economic areas;

• Recovery of the Cod Recovery of the Cod stocks is needed;stocks is needed;

• Tourism can be Tourism can be developed and developed and expanded; expanded;

• Tertiary and Quaternary Tertiary and Quaternary economic sectors could economic sectors could be be encouraged/expanded. encouraged/expanded.

• Images of Fishers; Homes; Ocean currents Images of Fishers; Homes; Ocean currents maps; NS Power Corp. coal-fired generating maps; NS Power Corp. coal-fired generating stations; maps continental shelf; charts fish stations; maps continental shelf; charts fish decline/vessels built; Mi’kMaq village, decline/vessels built; Mi’kMaq village, Painting, Fathers Confederation, PEI bridge; Painting, Fathers Confederation, PEI bridge; Signal Hill; Silver Dart; from The 1999 Signal Hill; Silver Dart; from The 1999 Canadian Encyclopedia: World Edition Canadian Encyclopedia: World Edition Copyright © 1998 by McClelland & Stewart Copyright © 1998 by McClelland & Stewart Inc.Inc.

• Alexander Graham Bell, The Columbia Alexander Graham Bell, The Columbia ncyclopedia, Fifth Edition Copyright © 1994, ncyclopedia, Fifth Edition Copyright © 1994, 1995 Columbia University Press.1995 Columbia University Press.

• Maps adapted from Robert Bone, 2002. The Maps adapted from Robert Bone, 2002. The Regional Geography of Canada (2Regional Geography of Canada (2ndnd Edition). Edition). Oxford University PressOxford University Press

• Map Fog and Sea Ice- Map Fog and Sea Ice- from computer program, from computer program, Human Activity and the Environment, 2000, Human Activity and the Environment, 2000, Geography Department, University of OttawaGeography Department, University of Ottawa

Acknowledgements