Canadian Geography: Atlantic Canada
How has Atlantic Canada's population changed since Confederation?
It has increased at a rate well below the national average. From 2001-2016, Atlantic Canada's population has actually increased by only 38,000 and anemic annual growth rate of less than 1% is predicted to continue into the future. From 1996-2015, for example, the region's population increased int eh Maritimes but decreased in Newfoundland and Labrador. Over this span of 20 years, the Maritimes saw a modest increase (chiefly in Nova Scotia). Newfoundland and Labrador, on the other hand, lost residents. - It's population in 2015 was nearly 2.4 minion people, and made up 6.6.% of Canada's population. - Its 5/6 for population size in Canada. In 1871, Atlantic Canada's share of the nation population was 20; now it is under 7%.
The provinces of Atlantic Canada joined Canada at different times and for different reasons.
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick entered at the time of Confederation; PEI followed in 1873 and Newfoundland rejected the proposal and di d not come on board until 1949.
What has had positive vs negative impacts on the economy of Atlantic Canada?
Offshore petroleum developments have had positive impacts while the collapse of the northern cod fishery served a deadly blow to coastal communities and resulted in the end of a way of life. The future now lies not in the fading image of outports like Diamond Cove, but in the vibrant urban centres, led by the ports of Halifax and St. Johns.
One measure of Atlantic Canada's weak economic performance is revealed by the following figures: the region has _____% of Canada's population but produces only ____% of the country's GDP.
6.6 5.4
Two of Canada's physiographic regions are found in Atlantic Canada:
the Appalachian Uplands and the Canadian Shield. The Appalachian Uplands are located in the Maritimes and the island of Newfoundland while Labrador is part of the Canadian Shield.
On measure of Atlantic Canada's overall economic performance is reflected in it's per capita gross domestic product figures and it's level of unemployment. In 2015, except for the Territorial North, Atlantic Canada's GDP per capita was the lowest in Canada, while the region's 2015 unemployment rate was the highest. The primary reasons for Atlantic Canada's weak economic performance include the following:
- A small and dispersed population limits prospects for internal economic growth. - Distance from national and global markets stifles it's manufacturing base - Fractured geography and four distinct political jurisdictions discourage an integrated economy - The natural resource base is restricted and some resources, such as cod, coal and timber, were exploited in the past and have lost their importance. All of these factors have made it very difficult for the regions economy to flourish. Further more, over the years, Atlantic Canada has become heavily dependent on Ottawa for economic support through equalization payments and social programs.
With varied weather conditions, Atlantic Canada has three climatic zones:
- Atlantic - Subarctic - Arctic
The political process of Newfoundland joining Canada had two steps
- First a rejection took place, - Second, some 80 years later, an acceptance was barely won in a referendum. In the first referendum in 1948 Newfoundlanders faced three choices: - continuance of the Commission of Government for 5 years, - joining Canada - return to responsible government. An independentt Newfoundland took 44.5% of the vote, followed by joining Canada at 41.5%. In the second referendum, Commission of Government was dropped off the ballot and votes faced two choices with a slim majority, 52.3% voting for join gin Canada over an independent Newfoundland.
The sparks of economic rejuvenation are emerging in it's major cities:
- Halifax - Moncton - St Johns
Regional population distribution falls into six clusters around the principal cities: - - - - - - Accounting for nearly 1.1 million people, these six urban centres comprise ____% of Atlantic Canada's population.
- Halifax - St. Johns - Saint John - Moncton - Fredericton - Charlottetown 46%
Atlantic Canada contains four provinces:
- Nova Scotia - New Brunswick - Newfoundland and Labrador - PEI
What environmental challenges /disasters face Atlantic Canada?
- hydroelectric projects and their effect on traditional lands and possible mercury poisoning of fish and wildlife - the Sydney tar ponds - the collapse of the cod fishery Muskrat Falls Across Canada, hydro projects have involved the flooding of Indigenous lands and the decaying of submerged vegetation that produces methyl mercury. Methylmercury can then work its way through the food chain and lead to high levels of mercury in fish and other forms of wildlife. The James Bay hydro developments resulted in high levels of mercury in reservoirs, much to the anguish of the Quebec Cree. This is well remembered by Indigenous people but lost in the memory banks of project leaders on the ongoing Muskrat Falls hydro development in Labrador. An agreement has been struck by the Indigenous people and the Premier: - removal of the vegetation from the flood zone would be monitored by an independent expert advisory committee made up of provincial, federal, municipal and Indigenous groups. In stripping the land clean, the chances of vegetative material decomposing and producing methylmercury leading to high levels of mercury in fish and other wildlife south be eliminated or at least greatly reduced. Sydney Tar Ponds - An older challenge, but not hat still may cause problems in the future. - In 1998 Ottawa and Halifax began one of Canada's biggest environmental cleanup projects - a remnant of the iron and steel industry at Sydney. - By 2012, the reclamation project was completed an the area consisted of 39 hectare green acea that features sports fields, walking trails, art installations, playgrounds and panels chronicling the plant's troubled history. - Controversy remains, however, because the toxic wastes were not removed but buried about 2m below the surface. - Will this taxi sludge remain stable or will it seep into the local environment? Long term monitoring and maintenance were built into the project. Codfish - The habitat of the northern cod ranges from Georges band and the Bay of Fundy in the south to the Grand Bands and inshore of Newfoundland and Labrador to southern Baffin Bay. - These huge stocks collapsed under the onslaught of the international industrial fishing industry, which employed more advanced fishing technology and a strategy of processing the cod on factory ships. - The demise of the northern cod stocks represent a classic example of the TRAGEDY OF COMMONS here public control of the resource was unable to exert its power beyond Canada's maritime border. - Cod stocks lost their way an iso did the inshore fishers. - Costal communities abounded (great harbour deep) - What begins as a rich resource leads to overexploitation and the collapse of the resource - Overexploitation due to the use of bottom draggers. - Even though coastal fishers didn't have the capacity to overfish, they suffered the most as their way of life and their communities disappeared. - In 1992 a moratorium on cod fishing in the waters of AtlanticCanad was announced. - 25 years later, inshore fishers observed signs of recovery but federal officials are not convinced and recommended a continuation of the "controlled catch"
What is the weather like in Atlantic Canada?
- quite varied because of the frequent meeting of continental air masses with marine air masses. - warm weather in the summer and cold weather in the winter - more Arctic like climates, storms are not uncommon (especially in the fall when hurricanes reach the Maritimes) - the clash of cold Arctic air with warmer humid air from the south results in winter storms. - In the summer the dominant weather is cool, cloudy and rainy. - In the winter, mild snowy weather Annual precipitation is abundant throughout Canada (100-140 cm but this gradually diminishes further north in Labrador) St Johns and Halifax have foggy and misty weather.
While the task of revitalizing Atlantic Canada's economy remains a work in progress, four trends suggest a more positive future.
- the shellfish fishery is profitable - a large federal shipbuilding contract represents a long term investment - the recently approved trade agreement with the EU augurs well for a surge in transatlantic container traffic - the global price cycle, now int a bottom point, w ill no doubt return to higher prices for oil and minerals produced in Atlantic Canada
Talk about the prime resources of Atlantic Canada
As an older par t of Canada, it's prime resources, whether coal, northern cod, or timber, have been consumed and those remaining are only a shadow of their original state. Adding to it's challenges, the region's fractured geography limits economic growth, leads to high unemployment levels, and encourages out-migration. While geography did endow Atlantic Canada with vast offshore oil and gas, fossil fuel prices collapsed in 2014 and Atlantic Canada remains the weak sister of Canada's regions.
At the dawn of the 18th century, who were the most numbers inhabitants of the maritimes and costal settlements in Newfoundland and interior Newfoundland?
At the dawn of the 18th century, British possesses in Atlantic Canada contained few people and were little more than names on a map. On the ground, the French colony of l'Acadie and their allies, the Mi'kmaq, were the most numerous inhabitants of the Maritimes, while eFrench and English settlers occupied coastal settlements in New foundling with the Beothuk still occupying the interior of Newfoundland.
What type of region (in the regional version of the core/periphery model) is Atlantic Canada?
Atlantic Canada has experienced both growth and decline over the years. Atlantic Canada has become, in the regional version of the core / periphery model, a slow-growing region. Past exploitation of it's renewable resources, especially cod and tiber, has diminished it's resource base. Atlantic Canada's troubles are epitomized by the subpar economic performance relative to the rest of Canada and by the seemingly unstoppable out-migration of it's more able people to faster growing regions of Canada.
How does Atlantic Canada compare to the rest of Canada's six regions?
Atlantic Canada has the smallest population and the weakest economy - except for the Territorial North - of Canada's six regions. Geography endowed the sea with rich fish stocks and petroleum deposits, but not with an abundance of fertile soils. Oil haas made Newfoundland and Labrador a "have" province - at least for now. The others are classified as "have-not" provinces and receive equalization payments from the federal government. The largest city is Halifax, with a population of just under 420,000 followed by St John's at 212,000.
Where is Atlantic Canada located and what parts does it consist of?
Atlantic Canada stretches along the country's eastern coast, and it consists of two parts: the Maritimes (Nova Scotia, PEI, and New Brunswick) and Newfoundland and Labrador. Separated from the mainland by Cabot Strait, the island of Newfoundland stands alone in the Atlantic Ocean while the Labrador Peninsula abuts Quebec. Still, in spite of it's fractured geography, Atlantic Canada retains it's rich and enduring sense of place and has grown out of the regions history (it's original British and French settlements and it's close ties to the North Atlantic.)
___________ ________ was the first part of North America to be discovered by Europeans.
Atlantic Canada. In 1497 JOHN CABOT reached Cape Breton, Nova Scotia - It was the first stretch of North America's coastline explored by Europeans, but was one of the last areas to be settled and formally colonized. - In sharp contrast, French colonies found root in the maritimes where the land and climate were more favourable for agriculture early in the 17th century. - In England, Cabot's report of the abundance of ground fish in the waters of Newfoundland lured European fishers to make the perilous voyage across the Atlantic and Newfoundland became a popular area for European fishers and though landings on shore took place - permanent settlements were slow to take hold in this part of North America.
Describe European settlement in Atlantic Canada from 1605-1750
European settlement in Atlantic Canada was concentrated in the Maritimes. In 1605, a handful of French settlers established the first permanent European settlement in North America north of Florida, at Port Royal onto bay of Fundy coast of present day Nova Scotia. During the 17th and part of the 18th century, French settlers spread into the Annapolis Valley and other lowlands in the Maritimes By 1750 - French speaking Acadians numbered over 12,000. These French settlements, united by culture, language and a common economy, became known as Acadia. In the coming decade, the British deported Acadians to various English colonies in North America and back to Europe.
With the defeat of the French in 1760, two events shaped the settlement of Newfoundland.
First, French access was limited to what was called the French Shore (after 1783 stretching from Cape St John on the north coast around the Northern Peninsula and along the west coast of the island to cape Ray in the far southwest) and permanent French settlement was restricted to the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. These French fishing rights didn't end until 1904. Today, descendants of early French settlers reside in several communities along Newfoundland's southwest coast. Second, the emergence fo a strong resident fishery marked the foundation of Newfoundland society. English Protestant and Irish Catholic families settled along the Newfoundland coast, each locating in distinct places and by the 1750's over 7,000 permanent residents (mostly English) lived in hundreds of small fishing communities along the New foundling coast.
What happened after the American Revolution?
Following victory by the American colonies, approximately 40,000 Loyalists made their way to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick where they occupied the fertile lands of the recently departed Acadians and the prime hunting lands and fishing areas of Mi'kmaq. With it's superb harbour for ships of the British navy, Halifax became known as the "Warden of the North" Over the next 100 years, more and more British settlers came to the Maritimes. Nova Scotia alone received 55,00 Scots, Irish< english, and Welsh.. The driving forces pushing them from the British Isles wreathe Scottish Highland clearances and the Irish famine. These immigrants helped to define the dominantly Scottish character of Cape Breton and the Irish character of Saint John.
What defines Atlantic Canada and separates it from the other regions.
History, plus the geographic fact that this region lies far from the places of economic and political power in Canada,
Where are the Torngat Mountains located?
In labrador, the most prominent feature of the Appalachian uplands is the uplifted and glaciated Torngat mountains. The Torngat Mountains, a national park reserve since 2005, stretch along the fjord coast of northern Labrador. One such fjord is Ramah Bay. The mountains were recently, in geological time, subjected to alpine glaciation, resulting in extremely sharp features, including aerates, cirques and horns. These mountains, including Mount Caubvik (also known as Mount D'Iberville) straddle the Quebec/Labrador boundary. They attain heights of 1,652m above sea level and are located near the 60th parallel. For both reasons, high elevation and high latitude, the Torngat Mountains lie beyond the tree line.
Describe the Annapolis Valley
The Annapolis Valley is a low-lying area in Nova Scotia. At it's western and eastern edges, the land is at sea level, but it rises to about 35m in the centre. The area is surrounded by a rugged, rocky upland. - fertile sandy soils that attracted early French settlers (the Acadians) who built dikes to protect parts o f this low lying farm land from the high tides of the Bay of Fundy and Minas Basin. - stone free, well drained soils - vineyards (local wineries are common an dare replacing the apple orchards)
What has shaped every aspect of Atlantic Canada for many centuries?
The vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. This undeniable connection to the sea has marked the region and it's people.
When was Halifax founded? What were the British attracted too?
When the British founded Halifax in 1749, they were attracted by its magnificent harbour. The high hill over-looking the harbour offered a perfect location for a fortress to defend the new town and it's naval base. Named the Halifax Citadel (upper left), this fortress is an impressive star shaped masonry structure complete with defensive ditch, earthen ramparts, musketry gallery, power magazine, garrison cells, guard room, barracks and school room. The Citadel is now a National Historic Site.
In the early 19th century, the harvesting go Atlantic Canada's natural wealth increased. How?
This frontier hinterland of the British Empire exploited its rich natural resources, the cod off the Newfoundland coast and the virgin forests in the Maritimes and became heavily involved in transatlantic trade of these resources. Furthermore, the availability of timber and the region's favourable seaside location provided the ideal conditions for ship building. By 1840 - Nova Scotia and New Brunswick entered "the Golden Age Of Sail" becoming the leading ship building centres in the British Empire After the American Civil War, New England industrialized, leading to a greater trade between the Maritimes and New England. Britains move to free trade in 1849 meant the loss of Atlantic Canada's protected markets for it's primary products, resulting in even greater interest in Maritime firms in the American market. Just before Confederation, the end of the Reciprocity Treaty cut off access to the Maritimes natural trading partner, New England, resulting in the deterioration fo the Maritimes' economic position.
What is the weather like in St Johns?
While occupying a more southerly location than Victoria, BC, St John's has a cooler climate, partly because of it's very cold offshore waters. Even so, St John's like Victoria, is an ice-free port. However, unlike Victoria, a winter ice pack lies offshore and spring-time icebergs are not uncommon off the coast. Melting of sea ice begins in spring, retreating northward along the land fast ice attached to the Labrador coast. Generally speaking, weather is characterized by fog, overcast skies, and frequent storms an drain. Fog is common from April to September. Throughout the year, a slaty smell is in the air. While most of the year has mild temperatures, strong northeast winds result in heavy winter snow falls. Also, St John's does not escape the wrath of tropical storms - such as hurricane (Igor and Leslie). Ju John's feels the full brunt of strong winds from the North Atlantic. "Of all major Canadian cities, St John's is the foggiest, snowiest, wettest, windiest and cloudiest".
Atlantic Canada's economic anchor is: and the potential economic spearheads include:
anchor: fishing industry spearheads: - shipbuilding - hydroelectric development
It has been difficult for Atlantic Canada to flourish, yet Atlantic Canada has received a second chance with the:
discovery of offshore oil and gas deposits and a huge shipbuilding contract from Ottawa , and most recently, the trade agreement with the EU. In addition, the possibility of hydro power from Muskrat Falls in Labrador reaching the Maritimes could mean a reduction in electricity rates plus a profit from selling surplus power to New England Markets and the Energy East pipeline, if built, could deliver bitumen to the Irving refinery near Saint John, NB. By taking full advantage of these new opportunities, could Atlantic Canada send it's moniker as a "have-not" region?
It's ___________ geography makes economic growth difficult; and without economic growth, large population increases are not possible.
fragmented
