Department of Political Science


Course Information



POLITICS 329 - Provincial Political Economies


Special Notices

In 00-1 this course is being taught by Professor Michael Howlett,
AQ 6043 291-3082, email howlett@sfu.ca
Office Hours: Thursdays 12:30-1:30

Class Time: Thursdays 1:30-5:20
Class Location: AQ5118

Outline:

This course provides an overview of the history, structure and operation of the political-economic systems of Canada's provinces and territories. It locates these political systems within the context of Canada's federal system of government and pronounced regional, cultural and economic particularities. Special attention is paid to the modernization process and to the development of provincial service sectors after 1945. The impact of successive major changes in the provincial economies over the course of the 20th century are highlighted in explaining significant changes in provincial social structures and political life over the same period.

Required Texts

1. Brownsey, Keith and Michael Howlett, ed. The Provincial State: Politics in Canada's Provinces and Territories. Toronto: Irwin, 1999.

2. Dunn, Christopher, ed., Provinces: Canadian Provincial Politics, Peterborough: Broadview Press, 1996

Recommended:

1. Dyck, Rand. Provincial Politics in Canada. Toronto: Prentice Hall, 1992.

Requirements and Marking:

 1. There will be a three-hour final examination worth 40 percent of the course mark.

2. One 10-15 paper is due at the end of term and is worth 40 percent of the class mark. Papers should be typed, double-spaced and properly formatted. Papers are due on the last day of class. LATE PAPERS WILL LOSE TEN PERCENT PER DAY LATE. An outline of the paper is due in Week VII and is worth 10% of the course grade.

3. Participation in Class Tutorials is mandatory and is worth 10% of the course grade.

Paper Topics:

1. Choose a Canadian provincial government. Outline its structure, composition, and major areas of governmental activity. Discuss the evolution of these items and the reasons why the government has evolved in the direction it has.

2. Choose a Canadian territory. Discuss the process of evolution of that territory towards provincial status. Are there are any lessons to be learned about this process from the constitutional history of existing provinces which once were territories?

3. Choose a Canadian province. Describe its political-economic system and compare this system with that of a neighbouring province. Are the systems growing more or less alike?

4. Choose a Canadian industry. Discuss the provincial dimensions of this industry in terms of location, impact, regulation, and future prospects.

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