Community economic development (CED) is an alternative development framework, seeking to improve the social, economic, and environmental well-being of communities on a sustainable and inclusive basis. This thesis investigates the CED-related policy environments and CED-related social and economic outcomes in two Canadian provinces, Manitoba and British Columbia, in order to assess the extent to which state orientation impacts policy formation and well-being outcomes. Using both qualitative historical analyses and social and economic well-being outcome analyses of Statistics Canada data during the timeframe of 1990-2010, I demonstrate significant policy divergence between the political parties governing in the provinces through the timeframe of interest, as well as a more nuanced case for social and economic well-being outcome divergence. I conclude by incorporating these findings into a set of recommendations for fostering and expanding CED.