Canadian Regional Development a Critical Review of Theory, Practice, and Potentials: A Case Study of the Kittiwake Economic Zone, Newfoundland and Labrador

• Main Authors: Daniels, Jennifer, Vodden, Kelly, Minnes, Sarah, Breen, Sarah
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: The Harris Centre 2014
• Subjects: Newfoundland; Canada; British Columbia
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/8143/; https://research.library.mun.ca/8143/1/11-12-ARF-Final-Vodden.pdf; https://www.mun.ca/harriscentre/media/production/memorial/administrative/the-harris-centre/media-library/reports/arf/2011/11-12-ARF-Final-Vodden.pdf

We outlined preliminary Newfoundland and Labrador findings of a four-year cross Canada research project investigating regional development in theory and practice as well as considerations for future potentials in advancing regional development in the province and across the country. The larger project has compared the policies and practices of four provinces: British Columbia, NL, Ontario and Quebec and in specific regions in each province. Two NL regions were investigated. This allowed for exploration of varying and similar approaches and circumstances within the province, in particular, in the Kittiwake Economic Zone/Gander-New-Wes-Valley Rural Secretariat Region. The report contributes to a greater understanding of the ways “new regionalism” has been and can be applied to the Kittiwake regional context, and how this might facilitate more appropriate regional policies and future practices. We examined five key themes of regional development and new regionalism. We wanted to see if policy makers and practitioners on the front line were re-focusing on place itself as a development starting point. In the Kittiwake region, we found that geographical landscapes, histories and socio-cultural identities have influenced initiatives, plans and programs. This influence exists on a community scale, but there is little evidence of a region-wide identity. The impacts of transient workers on place-based approaches was also raised in the research as a topic for further study, complementary with the new research initiative – On the Move– at Memorial University. There was little evidence of formal place-based sustainability initiatives other than some watershed related initiatives. Second, we investigated the extent to which power and development decision-making is shared among different groups at all levels: a key ingredient of governance. Throughout the region it was clear that there was a lack of consistency in what governance meant to different actors. Many multiple community collaborations were taking place, however there ...