NovaScotian

That is a good point. All other provinces were granted huge land tracts with plenty of natural resources(oil, gas, hydro, mineral wealth, etc) while the Maritime provinces remained small and since offshore resources were under federal jurisdiction it hindered the ability of the provinces to generate funds.

From the look of the equalization projections Newfoundland will not need equalization beyond 2011-2012. Nova Scotia, well it will be longer(we don't have as much oil and gas as NFLD.) Hopefully by 2020 we will not need it either. Here are equalization payments past and projected. NFLD 1998-99 1,068m 1999-00 1,169m 2000-01 1,112m 2001-02 1,056m 2002-03 862m 2003-04 753m 2004-05 726m 2005-06 n/a 2006-07 632m 2007-08 477m 2008-09 197m NS 1998-99 1,221m 1999-00 1,290m 2000-01 1,404m 2001-02 1,316m 2002-03 1,111m 2003-04 1,120m 2004-05 1,146m 2006-07 1,386m 2007-08 1,308m 2008-09 1,294m source: http://www.fin.gc.ca/FEDPROV/eqpe.html and mapleleaf web. So it is not as if equalization in these two provinces are spiraling out of control and although Nova Scotia remains a little sluggish, NFLD is doing a good job.

Yes, some people try to scam the system, but that happens all over the country it is not a regional thing. Saying that ALL east coasters are lazy is an extreme insult to all the hard working people in Atlantic Canada not to mention all the hard workers that have left to work in other parts of Canada . Really shameful Freddie. Glad to know were loved....are you 12 years old? Its nice how our region is sucked of its money, people, capital and resources and then told we are worthless. Yea, us fat cat east coasters. the streets are paved with equalization gold...sure its great....

This is interesting....from the Atlantic Accord itself. "The amount of additional offset payment for a year shall be calculated as the difference between the Equalization payment that would be received by the province under the Equalization formula as it exists at the time if the province received no offshore petroleum resource revenues in that year, and the Equalization payment for the province in that year under the Equalization formula as it exists at the time, net of any payments made with respect to the existing Atlantic Accord or Equalization offset provisions." The equalization formula was changed, there is no "choosing a formula" in the agreement. The agreement is for equalization that exists at the present time.

Woah woah Cowboy! We never asked for MORE equalization. We asked for the Atlantic accord so that we could rely on oil and gas more and equalization less. It was the Prime Minister that keeps showering us with equalization, but we have to give up some oil & gas revenue. Here is an quick overview from CBC news * The old equalization formula, along with the benefits from the Atlantic Accord, which allowed the provinces to profit from their offshore oil and gas resources without fear of losing equalization money. * A new, enriched equalization formula that includes a cap on the amount of offshore oil and gas revenues the provinces can keep.

First, its not that cut and dry. Alberta's oil industry started in 1947. It wasn't until 1957 that the equalization program began and it ended in 1964. So that is 17 years. In the Atlantic it is slower because its offshore. But " Normally, under the equalization scheme, for every dollar increase in a province's treasury, its equalization payments go down a dollar. However, if a province loses a dollar for every dollar it makes from the sale of its energy reserves, there's no incentive to develop them at all. That's why, in 1994, the federal government implemented the "generic solution" under which Ottawa takes back 70 cents in equalization for every dollar in energy royalties. The deal applies only to Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Saskatchewan. " That is not exactly the same thing Alberta had. AND "The Nova Scotia deal offers 10 years of protection from reduction in equalization payments. The deal initially began in 1993-94, but the protection start date was later changed to 2000-01, giving Nova Scotia protection until the 2010-11 fiscal year. " So it has hardly been 20 years of total protection from claw back.

Fair enough. But I think the distinction has to be drawn. Without coming across as to elitist, the negotiations and analysis involved in creating Federal-Provincial accords and Federal budgets is far past the abilities and experience of the average voter. Danny Williams, Rodney MacDonald and Bill Casey have boiled the message down to "Harper is screwing Atlantic Canada". It is far more complicated than that. I blame the political leaders for the message they are feeding their voters. There is no question that provincial leaders like to blame Ottawa for everything. It's a handy whipping boy and a handy excuse for their own incompetence and inactivity on key economic issues. By blaming Ottawa they can throw up their hands and say "Whataya gonna do!? Not my fault! Blame those guys!" And it seems to play well. What gets me in all this indignation and self-righteousness coming from the affected provinces is the complete lack of acknolwedgement that all those billions of dollars are coming from Ontario and Alberta, and that without that we in Ontario and Alberta could enjoy much better government services and still have lower taxes. Now what are the odds any "have not" province's government, or even the people who reside there, feel any sense of gratitude for that? Sorry, but Ottawa does share a good portion of the blame for the current economic state of the region. Just has the federal government shares a good portion of the cheer for Ontario's economic success .But lets not cover the whole region with a blank and say its a mess. There are a lot of economic success stories coming out of the region. Halifax and surrounding communities are doing very well. Unemployment in the region is quite low compared to the past. Halifax has an employment rate far lower then the national average for example(4.7%). Don't get me wrong. I am a big critic of a lot of the silly things the Atlantic region does, but we are not an independent state and decisions made to help central Canada often hurt peripheral regions such as the Atlantic.

Please. We don't want more equalization. We want to be able to use gas revenue to help our province without fear of losing equalization for a few years. Alberta had a similar deal early in its history, why not us?

So why is Danny asking for more money in equalization? Does he realize it is to create an equal playing field for all provinces? Not to put NL in a better position than all the other provinces, while still receiving equalization payments. Did he ask for more money? I believe all he wanted was to keep the Atlantic accord as is. It was the conservatives who revamped to system to provide more equalization(basically a ploy to get Quebec more money), if the accord is given up. Which is not what the conservatives promised. Newfoundland has been receiving more money from the offshore and in response, equalization payments have been dropping. Newfoundland equalization payments(in $ millions) 1999-00 1,169 2000-01 1,112 2001-02 1,055 2002-03 875 2003-04 766 2004-05 1 762 2005-06 861 2006-07 2 687 source: department of finance.

Before confederation the Maritime economy depended on trade with the Caribbean, the US and Europe. AFTER confederation the new government of Canada adopted high tariffs(see The National Policy.) which was extremely damaging to the Maritime economy in the long run.It was central Canada that wanted the high tarrifs and the Maritimes preferred the more free market approach. Charles Anthony said "I doubt they did. The politicians of the Atlantic provinces imposed this upon their people. " The Maritimes did not need to be promised prosperity because at the time it was the wealthiest part of Canada, small yes, but prosperous. Most politicians of Nova Scotia were dead set against it. In fact Nova Scotia was the scene of the first separatist movement in Canada. In the elections of 1867 the Anti-confederation party, led by Joesph Howe won 18/19 federal seats and provincally the Anti confederation party won 36/38 seats. The government in 1868 proclaimed: ..the scheme [confederation with Canada] by them assented to would, if adopted, deprive the people [of Nova Scotia] of the inestimable privilege of self-government, and of their rights, liberty, and independence, rob them of their revenue, take from them the regulation of trade and taxation, expose them to arbitrary taxation by a legislature over which they have no control, and in which they would possess but a nominal and entirely ineffective representation; deprive them of their invaluable fisheries, railroads, and other property, and reduce this hitherto free, happy, and self-governed province to a degraded condition of a servile dependency of Canada." – from Address to the Crown by the Government (Journal of the House of Assembly, Province of Nova Scotia, 1868) It was Britain that forced the Maritimes into confederation.

sorry, i will cut it down. I always forget the rules on this forum!

Recession? Newfoundland and Labrador's economy set to outperform in 2007: RBC Economics softened growth prospects beyond 2007 TORONTO, March 30 /CNW/ - Strong energy and mining sectors continue to lead Newfoundland and Labrador's economy to above-average growth of four per cent for 2007, according to the latest provincial economic outlook released today by RBC. "With production in full swing at all three oilfields and the labour dispute settled at Voisey's Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador is expected to be tops for growth in the country this year," said Craig Wright, vice-president and chief economist, RBC. "However, heading into 2008, Newfoundland and Labrador will see growth slow thanks in large part to a pullback in private investment, dwindling oil production and reduced capital spending as construction on megaprojects winds down." http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive...7/30/c8319.html --------------------------------------- The economy may slow down, but that does not equal recession.

This highlights the Atlantic Canadian problem. Pulling Against Gravity: Economic Development in New Brunswick During the McKenna Years Savoie’s story of New Brunswick and Frank McKenna’s miracle involves two distinct, but interrelated threads: the creation of New Brunswick (and Atlantic Canada’s) dependency on federal government largesse; and Frank McKenna’s revolution given such dependency. Savoie’s central thesis is that federal government policy against Atlantic Canada (including New Brunswick) hurt McKenna’s effort to modernize New Brunswick. Thus the title of the book. Frank McKenna’s dynamic policies worked to lift the province up off of the ground. But continued pro-central Canada federal policies have limited how high New Brunswick could go. I discuss each major theme in turn. The creation of New Brunswick’s dependency: The province as a “supplicant” Savoie argues that New Brunswick (and Atlantic Canada) are economic dependent regions. The economic dependency springs from Canada’s history. From Confederation onward, a highly-centralized federal government undertook economic policy to favour the interests of central Canadians. John A. Macdonald’s National Policy, favouring manufacturing in central Canada and east-west trading links, lead to corporate headquarters relocating away from the Maritimes. During the two world wars the federal government concentrated nearly all war making manufacturing Quebec and Ontario. Crown corporations, after playing a major role in the war effort, remained headquartered in central Canada (pp. 20-21). Particularly after World War I and onward, New Brunswickers and Maritimers took on the role of that of “supplicants”—people and governments continually and asking federal government for economic help (chapter 3). The Duncan Commission was established; the Maritime Rights Movement took hold; the Rowell-Sirois Report was tabled; various legislation and regional development efforts were undertaken after World War II onward. All of these efforts, according to Savoie, established Atlantic Canada in the public’s mind as a singularly have-not, backwards region — chronically underdeveloped and always asking the federal government for more help. The crux of Savoie’s argument is that federal government boasts loudly about helping New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada through aggressive “regional development” efforts, but delivers little in actual industry development. Be it Diefenbaker’s Atlantic Manifesto, Trudeau’s new Department of Economic Expansion (DREE), Mulroney’s Atlantic Canada Economic Opportunity Agency (ACOA) or Chretien’s $700-million Atlantic Investment Partnership Program (just announced last year), these programs have been dwarfed by much larger “national” industry building initiatives—the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Auto Pact, Industry Canada subsidies and tax breaks, and federal R&D efforts like the Technology Partnership Program and “Networks of Centres of Excellence.” Indeed, Savoie makes the case, in this book and elsewhere,[ 2 ] that after the initial DREE years, regional economic development money has been steadily diluted away from Atlantic Canada to Montreal and to richer provinces points west. Throughout Pulling Against Gravity Savoie criticizes successive federal governments for addressing Ontario and Quebec concerns as “national” problems, while at the same time perceiving Atlantic Canada concerns as “regional” ones. Why is this so? Savoie points to the over-concentration of power in central Canada. For example our Senate is a mere patronage tool for powerful prime ministers, all of whom since World War II have come from central Canada. Since senators are appointed, they speak for the prime ministers who appoints them, not for their respective regions. Being appointed, senators lack democratic legitimacy, and are rightly ignored by mainstream journalists and ordinary Canadians. The United States, by contrast, has a powerful Senate, whose constituent senators speak for diverse state interests. Consider the current lumber dispute. Certain powerful U.S. senators support anti-dumping measures. In Canada our senators remain silent. Moreover, having a powerful legislative body in the United States that speaks for the diverse regions has meant that the U.S. government has spread federal expenditures more evenly throughout that country. It has allowed for disparate federally supported growth poles (e.g., the space centres in Texas and Florida) to develop. In Canada, by contrast, our government has purposely favoured high-tech growth solely along the Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto axis (e.g., Canada’s space centre in Montreal). Consequently New Brunswick (and Atlantic Canada in general) have become economically dependent in the sense that, to this day, the regions have failed to industrialize in step with modern economic development. Just as the federal government, from the National Policy onward, purposely nurtured central Canada’s traditional manufacturing (at the expense of Atlantic and western Canada), so too today our federal government favours an over-concentration of high-technology development within the southern Quebec/Ontario region. In fact Savoie makes the case that our federal government supports no meaningful industry building strategy for Atlantic Canada. Much of federal efforts are directed to funding after-the-fact compensatory programs (employment insurance, equalization payments). Savoie notes that, in the run-up to the 2000 federal election, Prime Minister Chretien stated: “we will win more seats in Atlantic Canada in the next federal election. Apparently, I will have to fix the problem with U.I. there” (p. 188). For Chretien, liberalizing an already lenient employment insurance program made good vote-buying sense. But re-liberalizing employment insurance makes poor regional development policy. Given a lax EI insurance scheme, workers stay in old, sunset industries and occupations. Particularly in rural areas, the minimum number of hours to qualify for EI is very lenient, where workers spent unusually long periods idle. For Savoie, the federal government has always been quick to design lavish economic relief packages for Atlantic Canada, while at the same time ignoring industry-building programs. The result is that Atlantic Canada (and New Brunswick) remain dependent on federal largesse. Savoie as an Atlantic Canada rights advocate Pulling Against Gravity rolls two themes into one book. It first tells the story of Frank McKenna’s modestly successful “miracle.” But secondly it makes a passionate plea for New Brunswick and Atlantic Canadian rights in Canadian federation. Savoie calls for an elected Senate to bring meaningful power to periphery provinces. Failing that, the writer calls for a decentralization of power from federal government to the provinces. He writes: “But a strong central government has never been in the economic interest of New Brunswick or Atlantic Canada. To be sure, federal transfer payments of one kind or another have enabled them to provide a high level of public service, but this came with a price—economic dependency (p. 190). http://www.isuma.net/v02n04/murrell/murrell_e.shtml

Not likely any time soon. Too much addicition to subsidies and old school approaches. I'd love to be wrong, but I've seen no sign of any changes there at all. Signs from Newfie about the oil suggests the opposite trend is still very strong. Have they stopped any of that outrageously subsidized coal mining and steel making silliness in Nova Scotia yet? Gotta walk before one can run. The steel industry subsidization ended almost 10 years ago. Today subsidies to business are lower then the national average.

Did Danny ask for more equalization money?

"The big problem with Easterners is they equate the province with their own standard of living. Hey, if the government is getting money, that must be I'll be better off. Dead wrong. You need the money, not the government, it can pay it's own bills. Lower taxes, especially on corporations is all that can save the East now." I agree with this for sure. Unfortunately Atlantic Canadians want more more more in terms of services("I want the best services no matter were I live") without realizing this is why there tax bill is so high. Lower taxes and aggressive business strategy is what the region needs..not "more health care funding."

Ya! Ignore those international recognized "scientists"and follow the heartland institute!

Its more like $3.5-Billion over the next fifty years. Like I said ---MONEY TALKS! http://www.forestnet.com/archives/July_Aug..._sawmilling.htm It does work out to about 70 million per year. Does anyone know how many Cree their are?

Someone should tell Dion to cut that line. It's dumb and with his accent, it sounds even worse.Dion's forte is not going around blabbering about a get-rich-quick scheme. True! However, he is right about "green" technology.

^ I thought the Cree are recieving something like 70 million in compensation? EDIT: opps, nevermind.

From watching the CBC, it didn't look like Atlantic Canada was the new Dublin. And I really hope you guys get those white collar jobs. I highly, highly, recommend your province control it's immigration because if white collar jobs really do open up (which the probably wont, but that's just my opinion), you will have litterally thousands of people flooding in from other countries to take those jobs from you guys. And believe me, they *will* take them due to their paper credentials. You need major expansion of white collar jobs. Your under employed need to trickly their way up to these white collar jobs where they rightfully belong. This will only work well if you do not let in immigrants. You will also get a housing boom with this too. But I just don't feel your gov't wants to let go if it's control of the people. Just a hunch... =) Not all of AC is doing well, look at Sydney. However there are bright spots like Halifax, Moncton, even St. John's. Here is an article about the recent activity. sorry I dont have a direct link because the story is from about a month ago Big plans to set up in Nova Scotia Technology, financial companies create stir with announcements they’re coming east and will be hiring By STEVE PROCTOR Business Editor Stephen Lund believes 2006 was the most significant year for the development of Nova Scotia since Michelin announced it was going to make tires in the province 35 years ago. The head of the province’s development agency, Nova Scotia Business Inc., says that with Research In Motion investing $230 million to build a technology centre in Hammonds Plains, and several finance and insurance companies committing to set up shop and create 1,000 high-paying jobs over the next six years, the province is set to thrive. "What is the single biggest driver of growth in world economies today? Technology. Who is leading the charge? RIM. Where did they choose to locate when they had 20 other communities shortlisted in Canada? Halifax. It doesn’t really get any better than that, does it?" The RIM deal is far more significant than the 1,200 jobs the maker of the BlackBerry promises to create, says Mr. Lund. It gives the province a global profile that will lead to other companies looking at the province. "They’ll say, ‘If RIM is there, and they’re the best, what are we missing? Why aren’t we there?’ " The same kind of talk is going on about Halifax as a financial centre. After four international companies announced in the fall they were coming to the provincial capital to create almost 1,000 jobs, Mr. Lund said he spent hours fielding calls from reporters and financial companies around the globe wanting to know what was going on. "People don’t realize how different it’s going to be. They don’t get how significant these announcements are." The companies that announced new offices or expansion of existing ones included Olympia Capital, a hedge fund; Marsh Inc., a global risk specialist; Butterfield Bank of Bermuda; and fund administrator Citco Group of Curacao. "It’s not just the direct jobs," said Mr. Lund. "Everyone is going to benefit — restaurant owners, taxi drivers, cleaners. Over the next 10 years, the taxes the new finance companies will pay could allow the province to buy 30 to 40 MRIs for hospitals. Everyone in the economy is going to benefit." Sunny Marche, an associate business professor at Dalhousie, said the deals announced this year are substantial. "This is not government smoke and mirrors. These are very good-paying jobs. These are not call-centre positions. This is the knowledge economy at its best." He said new finance clusters and booming global interest in hedge funds mean Nova Scotia graduates are in a good position to land good jobs. He said the province’s competitive advantage lies in its highly educated workforce, its improving technology infrastructure and the relatively low costs for doing business. Don Mills, president of Corporate Research Associates in Halifax, believes the ties established with Bermuda and the Caribbean this year can be further exploited. "There are literally hundreds of Dalhousie grads working there already, so we have links that can be strengthened," he said. "They have lots of major companies on the island that could see Nova Scotia as a good place to expand." As a partner in Total Marketing and Communications, a Bermuda marketing and research firm, Mr. Mills said he visits the island frequently and is pleased to hear locals there talking about Halifax as the new Dublin, Ireland. Dublin, once a down-and-out community with tremendous economic problems, is now one of the economic bright lights of Europe. The city, and the country as a whole, was able to turn it around by targeting development in technology, insurance and banking, the same sectors Nova Scotia has been pursing. David Wicks, head of the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University, said the activity has been exciting for students. He said RIM has been on campus recruiting a couple of times, as have the financial companies. "Students are seeing first-hand they don’t have to go out west to make a good living," Mr. Wicks said. "They can stay in Nova Scotia and have a rewarding career. Our universities and the community colleges are going to play an important role in keeping this good-news story. These companies are looking for innovative thinkers, and you can’t innovate if you don’t have an education." The province is giving RIM a $14-million payroll rebate program, a tax rebate linked to numbers of employees hired, and a $5 million financial package with recruitment and training incentives. The financing packages made available for the other projects appear in the charts below.

In terms of infrastructure I agree government funding is sometimes necessary, but provincially (or even better municipalities) not federally. Dont expect handouts from the federal government, if you want to invest in infrastructure, draw investment (by cutting taxes), and fund the projects provincially through your own tax dollars. Take Ireland for example, they cut taxes years ago and low and behold 20 years later they have MORE tax revenue than before. They are able to spend it on such projects. Don't whine to the federal government anymore, in my opinion that's is the argument that is REALLY getting old. Private investment is certainly WAY better, but sometimes it isnt enough. For example in the Alberta Tarsands the federal government invested billions into the project and it was ready for the Oil boom long before it would have if it was solely left up to private investment. Perhaps thats money that should have been provided by the Alberta government? As I said in Mike's post, the Irish provided plenty of incentives and had help from the EU to help cover the cost of lost tax revunue. I just do not think the issue very black and white. There is a large grey zone where the economy operates. Sometimes subsidies are neccessary, sometimes not. Sometimes government intervention is neccessary, most of the time it is not.

You just contradicted yourself. I sympathise with your ways of thinking. I'm from ottawa where it's programmed into you from an ealy age that your failures are due to not speaking French. That is true to large extent. Ottawa jobs went to Quebecers 70% of the time. That was unfair and life in Ottawa. There was litterally no private sector so I had to move here to the GTA. But you know what the difference is? There is nothing Ottawans can do about this issue. It's the nature of the city. Atlantic Canada holds all the cards to fix it's problems. It just need to take those steps. You guys in Atlantic Canada have been culturally programmed to think that the answer to your problems is more gov't intervention and more handouts. You hold your own cards at this point. What I saw on the CBC was honestly pathetic watching a grown PM crying asking for pitty because she was sick and and stealing tax dollars and the reason was clerical errors and sure enough, lack of funding. It was so 3rd world. You guys hold your own cards. You are blessed with an extrememly low immigration rate, you have a strong culture, low cost of living, and you speak English. We don't have this in Ontario. I would consider this place a mess with no potential when compared to Atlantic Canada. Atlantic Canada holds the most potential. It's a hidden gem within Canada. The answer is to announce to North American that you are open for business, and declare tax free zones, open gas competition, and let the gov't step out of private enterprise. You will see your part of the country thrive. And oops, your gov't as a side effect will collecet MORE taxes. But you have been taught against this mindset and it's so sad. Your leaders who are theives and crooks want to protect themselves and keep you the lowely citizen down. This is how it was done in Ireland, and this is how it's done now in the second and third world. If you were to completely manage your own affairs, you would learn some hard lessons of your provinces and be forced to take a conservative stance on this issue. Just some advice from someone who hasn't grown up with the social programming that you have. wow, ok, you completely miss understood me.In general I am against government intervention into the economy, but I understand that in certain cases it is neccessary. In the real economy, its never so black and white. I also find it ironic that a part of the country that has benefited so much from government intervention is so againist it. Was the contruction of the Saint Lawerence Seaway a handout? Its not like that piece of infracture was solely fiananced by the provinces. I see the Atlantic Gateway or Canadian-US highway from Halifax to Buffalo the same way, as a federal investment, built by the feds to benefit the region and the country. A "handout" like those to the now defunked Sydney Steel are definatly bad, and do not help the region or country in the long run. I agree with using the Irish example, they slashed taxes, easied regulations, but also provided lucritive incentives (subsidies). They also kept there infrastructre(both hard and soft) up to date thanks to subsidies from the EU. Nova Scotia is also beginning to follow the Irish model and in some communities, especially the financial service sector, Halifax is being called the new Dublin. An estimated 2000-2500 highpaying jobs in the IT and Financial service sector are expected to be created in Halifax over the next 5 years. But you are right, overall government intervention in the economy should be minimized. I hope oneday soon N.S. will not need equalization.

Im sorry NovaScotian, I disagree with your defense. The east is in a welfare trap that can only be relived through less government support, not more. Here are numerous articles stating the reasons for hardship. http://www.aims.ca/equalization.asp?cmPageID=159 Human nature is tough, no one wants to change the status quo and even more so no one wants to be told they are wrong. I know how it feels. But the fact of the matter is nearly every economist academic disagrees with you and that ideology. And they have felt this way for a long time now, with more and more evidence supporting their side everyday. So are you saying that Ontario become the powerhouse solely on hardwork and self-relience? Hardly. Anyway..what "ideology" do you think I prescribe too? I do not think we need any equalization, I would rather less. But there is a big difference between equalization and investment. Something like the Atlantic Gateway would be an investment. P.S. - I have read those articles before, I had to for my Atlantic economy class.

All national surveys of government services show that the Atlantic region generally has the lowest level of service or worst quality services of all Canada. So what are you talking about. Equalization is an important economic measure to make sure all Canadians have equal services. It also has the added benefit of making sure people from one part of the country do not move to areas new areas solely based on the fact that they have better services. If we are thinking about the same story then she is a provincal politician and therefore very little/ if any of your money was payed by you. Speaking of tax money....wanna explain why Atlantic Canadians should help fund the subsidization of Ontario's auto industy or Bombardier. How about the construction of the Saint Lawerence seaway that Ontario benefits from so greatly? What about during WW2 when CD Howe created a multitude of crown corporations...located in Ontario, which after the war become the base on which Ontario's mighty manufacturing sector. Was it fair when Howe subsidized Ontario steel, while leaving Maritime steel producers out in the cold? I agree that Atlantic Canadians rely on the government to much(whether it be provincal or federal)...but the culture of handouts is such an old sterotype...please. Unemployment in Halifax is 4.9%, Nova Scotia overall is at 7.3%. I agree, build up the coast....but with what money? That would require a large amount federal investment...something A.C. hasnt seen in...well...ever..