Does the state matter? Politics, policy, and community economic development in Manitoba and British Columbia

Abstract

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.