Political influence on the funding of municipal capital works in Newfoundland 1973 to 1988

• Main Author: Fenwick, Peter
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1994
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/6573/; https://research.library.mun.ca/6573/1/PeterFenwick.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/6573/3/PeterFenwick.pdf

Information drawn from the Legislation guaranteeing municipal capital loans in the Province of Newfoundland passed between 1949 and 1988 is used to demonstrate a pronounced bias on the part of the Government to fund two to three times the dollar value of capital works in districts represented by the governing party as opposed to those represented by Opposition party members. The study concentrates on the 17 year period of Progressive Conservative rule from 1972 to 1989. -- The average amount guaranteed by district is calculated for each year and an index of bias is formulated using the ratio of average loan guarantees in Government districts compared to the Opposition districts. A further analysis is performed on individual districts that changed representation during the study period. In general districts that passed from Government representation to the Opposition received fewer loan guarantees, and districts that switched to the Government side received increased loan guarantees. -- The author argues in conclusion that this persistent bias has perpetuated the long-standing reputation of Newfoundland politics as a system in which "the victor may claim the spoils."