ENVSOCTY 2OC3 LECTURES 1 & 2 QUESTIONS
Why is Canada best understood from a regional perspective? - Answer -Canada is a
"country of regions" and this is part of the national psyche
What are Regions? - Answer -Designated by core physical and human characteristics
that divide a large spatial unit into a series of regions
What are Canada's six geographic regions? - Answer -Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario,
Western Canada, British Columbia, Territorial North
Why does Canada have six regions? - Answer -- Manageable number: balances
territorial/province population size and economic importance
- Reflect distinctive physical features, natural resources, and economic activities
- Reflect political structure
- Use of statistical data
- Regional identity and regional disputes
- Regional economic strengths and cultural presence are revealed
What distinguishes a region? - Answer -Geographic location
Regional conciousness
Historical development
Population size
Economic strength
What is regional consciousness? - Answer -Looking at similar ways in how people
think; tendency for general population to vote and think similarly, but not universally
What is meant by a region's "Economic strength"? - Answer -The economy of each
region revolves around a specific economic anchor
What has the shift in population distribution across Canada been between 1871 to
2016? - Answer -People are redistributing to the West from Central regions and the
Atlantic
How is the West an economic driver of the country? - Answer -The West is an
economic driver of the conuntry as it holds 24.7% of the GDP but only 18.5% of the
population
What is the order of regions from most to least populated as of 2016? - Answer -
Ontario (13-14M), Quebec (8M), Western Canada (6-7M), B.C (4-5M), Atlantic (2-3M),
Territorial North (~100,000)
What is the total population of Canada as of 2019? - Answer -Around 36-38 Million
, What is a Faultline? - Answer -A geological metaphor applied to social, economic, and
political cracks that divide regions and threaten to destabilse Canada
Who was the person to apply the term to Canada and when? - Answer -Columnist
Jeffrey Simpson, 1993
True or False: Faultlines remain dormant for long periods of time and then suddenly
erupt to divide the country - Answer -True
What are the principal faultlines and what role have they played? - Answer -- Regional
- Quebec
- Indigenous Minority
- Immigration
Each of the faultlines has played a fundamental role in the country's historical evolution
and remains important today; at times have threatened unity of the country
True or False: Compromise has been crutical in overcoming division and guaranteeing
Canada's survival, and this makes Canada a 'soft' country - Answer -True
What defines the Regional Faultline? - Answer -- Leans most heavily on Canada's
geography and political system
- Regional control over natural resources is a contentious issue i.e., fossil fuels in AB
- Federal-provincial feuds
- Central Canada representing the national interest and leading to Western alienation
- Provincial disputes
What defines the Quebec Faultline? - Answer -- Proportion of French speaking
Canadians has declined and the remaining are concentrated to Quebec; language is a
sensitive issue in the province
- The Official Language Act of 1974
- Some Quebecois feel the way of life is slipping away; Bill 21 (anti-
immigrant/secularism)
- Quebec has taken strong stance on climate crisis and carbon reduction; made
possible by hydroelectric resources
How many people in Quebec speak French as of 2016? - Answer -87%
What defines the Indigenous Minority Faultline? - Answer -- Canada stripped them of
their land and resources
- Indigenous people on the margins of society
- Economic and social opportunities only available late 20th century onwards when
Indigenous people began to break from Indian Act and education is increasing
- Little opportunities for Indigenous people in remote/marginalized communities
What is the intention of Reconciliation? - Answer -An opportunity to create a more
inclusive society
Why is Canada best understood from a regional perspective? - Answer -Canada is a
"country of regions" and this is part of the national psyche
What are Regions? - Answer -Designated by core physical and human characteristics
that divide a large spatial unit into a series of regions
What are Canada's six geographic regions? - Answer -Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario,
Western Canada, British Columbia, Territorial North
Why does Canada have six regions? - Answer -- Manageable number: balances
territorial/province population size and economic importance
- Reflect distinctive physical features, natural resources, and economic activities
- Reflect political structure
- Use of statistical data
- Regional identity and regional disputes
- Regional economic strengths and cultural presence are revealed
What distinguishes a region? - Answer -Geographic location
Regional conciousness
Historical development
Population size
Economic strength
What is regional consciousness? - Answer -Looking at similar ways in how people
think; tendency for general population to vote and think similarly, but not universally
What is meant by a region's "Economic strength"? - Answer -The economy of each
region revolves around a specific economic anchor
What has the shift in population distribution across Canada been between 1871 to
2016? - Answer -People are redistributing to the West from Central regions and the
Atlantic
How is the West an economic driver of the country? - Answer -The West is an
economic driver of the conuntry as it holds 24.7% of the GDP but only 18.5% of the
population
What is the order of regions from most to least populated as of 2016? - Answer -
Ontario (13-14M), Quebec (8M), Western Canada (6-7M), B.C (4-5M), Atlantic (2-3M),
Territorial North (~100,000)
What is the total population of Canada as of 2019? - Answer -Around 36-38 Million
, What is a Faultline? - Answer -A geological metaphor applied to social, economic, and
political cracks that divide regions and threaten to destabilse Canada
Who was the person to apply the term to Canada and when? - Answer -Columnist
Jeffrey Simpson, 1993
True or False: Faultlines remain dormant for long periods of time and then suddenly
erupt to divide the country - Answer -True
What are the principal faultlines and what role have they played? - Answer -- Regional
- Quebec
- Indigenous Minority
- Immigration
Each of the faultlines has played a fundamental role in the country's historical evolution
and remains important today; at times have threatened unity of the country
True or False: Compromise has been crutical in overcoming division and guaranteeing
Canada's survival, and this makes Canada a 'soft' country - Answer -True
What defines the Regional Faultline? - Answer -- Leans most heavily on Canada's
geography and political system
- Regional control over natural resources is a contentious issue i.e., fossil fuels in AB
- Federal-provincial feuds
- Central Canada representing the national interest and leading to Western alienation
- Provincial disputes
What defines the Quebec Faultline? - Answer -- Proportion of French speaking
Canadians has declined and the remaining are concentrated to Quebec; language is a
sensitive issue in the province
- The Official Language Act of 1974
- Some Quebecois feel the way of life is slipping away; Bill 21 (anti-
immigrant/secularism)
- Quebec has taken strong stance on climate crisis and carbon reduction; made
possible by hydroelectric resources
How many people in Quebec speak French as of 2016? - Answer -87%
What defines the Indigenous Minority Faultline? - Answer -- Canada stripped them of
their land and resources
- Indigenous people on the margins of society
- Economic and social opportunities only available late 20th century onwards when
Indigenous people began to break from Indian Act and education is increasing
- Little opportunities for Indigenous people in remote/marginalized communities
What is the intention of Reconciliation? - Answer -An opportunity to create a more
inclusive society
