New BrunswickNew Brunswick(and some comparisons with (and some comparisons with

Nova Scotia)Nova Scotia)

D BrownD BrownSt Francis Xavier UniversitySt Francis Xavier University

Pols 322Pols 322November 2010November 2010

New Brunswick New Brunswick (and some comparisons with (and some comparisons with

Nova Scotia)Nova Scotia)

Historical FactorsHistorical Factors Social FactorsSocial Factors Evolved Economic StructureEvolved Economic Structure Parties, Ideologies and Political Cleavages Parties, Ideologies and Political Cleavages Leadership and Current IssuesLeadership and Current Issues Role and Reform of the StateRole and Reform of the State

Historical FactorsHistorical Factors New Brunswick was severed from the British colony of New Brunswick was severed from the British colony of

Nova Scotia in 1784 to accommodate major Nova Scotia in 1784 to accommodate major immigration of Loyalist refugees.immigration of Loyalist refugees.

Acadian French scattered along Gulf coast.Acadian French scattered along Gulf coast. New Brunswick politics for first century dominated by New Brunswick politics for first century dominated by

“Tory” politics of Loyalist elite –Acadiens were “late “Tory” politics of Loyalist elite –Acadiens were “late bloomers”bloomers”

One of the original and most enthusiastic partners in One of the original and most enthusiastic partners in ConfederationConfederation

Province did well in the old international marine Province did well in the old international marine economy (Saint John a major centre), and had the economy (Saint John a major centre), and had the potential to do well in an east-west continental economy potential to do well in an east-west continental economy

Social FactorsSocial Factors

New Brunswick has emerged into a bilingual and New Brunswick has emerged into a bilingual and bicultural political community: bicultural political community: Acadian Acadian renaissance a major change factorrenaissance a major change factor

Much of NB politics in past 50 years defined Much of NB politics in past 50 years defined around this dualist conflict/cooperationaround this dualist conflict/cooperation

Most population growth has been in the “south” Most population growth has been in the “south” and in the three cities of Moncton, Saint John and and in the three cities of Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton.Fredericton.

North vs. south a continuing sub-regional fault-North vs. south a continuing sub-regional fault-line, reinforcing linguistic divisions. line, reinforcing linguistic divisions.

Traditional Economic StructureTraditional Economic Structure

New Brunswick traditionally more resource-New Brunswick traditionally more resource-oriented: forest industries, mining, fisheries oriented: forest industries, mining, fisheries and farming –but important in NS tooand farming –but important in NS too

Nova Scotia had more of a heavy Nova Scotia had more of a heavy manufacturing focus: (iron and steel, manufacturing focus: (iron and steel, historically)historically)

Consumer goods manufacturing rose, then Consumer goods manufacturing rose, then declined in both provinces: 1880s-1920sdeclined in both provinces: 1880s-1920s

Defence and marine transportation big sectors Defence and marine transportation big sectors in past 100 yearsin past 100 years

Emerging economic structureEmerging economic structure

Halifax growth based on government and Halifax growth based on government and business servicesbusiness services

Moncton and the call centre phenomenonMoncton and the call centre phenomenon Significance of the Irving empire and role of Significance of the Irving empire and role of

the family-owned firm (oil refining and retail, the family-owned firm (oil refining and retail, forest products, newspapers, engineering, etc.)forest products, newspapers, engineering, etc.)

Energy development: nuclear power, oil Energy development: nuclear power, oil refining in NB; offshore gas in NS refining in NB; offshore gas in NS

Who is winning the “new economy” race?Who is winning the “new economy” race?

Parties, Ideologies and Political CleavagesParties, Ideologies and Political Cleavages New BrunswickNew Brunswick

Tradition Dominance of Tradition Dominance of Liberals and Liberals and Conservatives, integrated Conservatives, integrated with federal partieswith federal parties

No sustained third party No sustained third party breakthroughbreakthrough

French/English divide: French/English divide: reinforcing reinforcing oror cross- cross-cutting of party support?cutting of party support?

Largely non-ideological Largely non-ideological politics?politics?

Nova ScotiaNova Scotia Tradition Dominance of Tradition Dominance of

Liberals and Liberals and Conservatives, integrated Conservatives, integrated with federal partieswith federal parties

Strong emergence of Strong emergence of third party: NDPthird party: NDP

Religious and ethnic Religious and ethnic cleavages in decline?cleavages in decline?

Geographic cleavages: Geographic cleavages: three regions: Metro, CB three regions: Metro, CB and rural mainland.and rural mainland.

Greater degree of Greater degree of ideological positioning? ideological positioning?

Leadership style and dynamicsLeadership style and dynamics

New BrunswickNew Brunswick The Robichaud and The Robichaud and

McKenna model: McKenna model: aggressive, persuasive, aggressive, persuasive, big visionbig vision

The Hatfield and Lord The Hatfield and Lord model: accommodating, model: accommodating, red toryred tory

Almost all NB Premiers Almost all NB Premiers have been players on the have been players on the national scenenational scene

Nova ScotiaNova Scotia The MacDonald and The MacDonald and

Stanfield model: Stanfield model: “patrician, integrity, “patrician, integrity, sincerity”, but oriented sincerity”, but oriented to changeto change

The Buchanan model: The Buchanan model: patronage, personality, patronage, personality, incremental brokerage incremental brokerage

Only rarely players on Only rarely players on the national scenethe national scene

Where does Dexter fit?Where does Dexter fit?

Role and Reform of the State …1Role and Reform of the State …11950-19851950-1985

New BrunswickNew Brunswick Greater concern with Greater concern with

equity and need for equity and need for central control / weaker central control / weaker municipal structuremunicipal structure

Stronger central public Stronger central public service, more service, more autonomous Stateautonomous State

Major reforms driven by Major reforms driven by dualist politics: “Equal dualist politics: “Equal Opportunity”, education Opportunity”, education and health rationalizationand health rationalization

Nova ScotiaNova Scotia Traditionally stronger Traditionally stronger

towns and countiestowns and counties Weaker public service, Weaker public service,

dominated by Halifax dominated by Halifax business/commercial business/commercial eliteelite

Emphasis on voluntary Emphasis on voluntary planningplanning

Yet innovative on Yet innovative on economic developmenteconomic development

Role and Reform of the State …2Role and Reform of the State …2Since 1985Since 1985

New BrunswickNew Brunswick McKenna government an McKenna government an

early leader in ‘new early leader in ‘new public management’ and public management’ and fiscal reformfiscal reform

Sees role of state as Sees role of state as catalyst for knowledge-catalyst for knowledge-based economybased economy

More innovative in More innovative in social policysocial policy

Nova ScotiaNova Scotia Savage government Savage government

reforms come late but reforms come late but effective in fiscal terms, effective in fiscal terms, less so for management less so for management (e.g. health, education)(e.g. health, education)

More laissez-faire in More laissez-faire in terms of economic terms of economic developmentdevelopment

Slow to reform social Slow to reform social policypolicy

Continuing DynamicContinuing Dynamic

These two provinces: always comparing one These two provinces: always comparing one another in terms of policy outcomes.another in terms of policy outcomes.

Where their interests coincide, one usually Where their interests coincide, one usually sees regional cooperation…should there be sees regional cooperation…should there be more?more?

Halifax and Moncton: competition or Halifax and Moncton: competition or cooperation ?cooperation ?

Is there a race for innovation, and who is Is there a race for innovation, and who is winning it now?winning it now?