© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

4/18/1968 - The Western Provinces in the Middle North III Alberta by David A.W. Judd

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS DAWJ Scott Polar Research Institute Cambridg Uiverity The Western Provinces Cambridge Middle North III England Albera April Richard H Nolte Esq Executive Director Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York N Y Dear Dick To start quotation Having regard potential growing importance northern areas province legislation submitted establish Northern Alberta Development Council whose function promote ordinate advise pragtical measures foster vance northern development Anyone government experience Commonwealth prose excerpt Throne Speech I where style developed The contemporary prototype probably stodgy Victorian I think Gladstone rather Disraeli But whate origins prototype stereotype civil servant Kuala Lumpur Canberra would quite writing Throne Speech Ottawa Colombo Lagos A common bureaucracy binds This example Alberta western provinces Canada The Bill establishing Northern Alberta Development Council became Act Provincial Legislature March Since Council unique Alberta province which special branch Executive plans development middle north The definition region Alberta province north parallel slightly entire province It would interestin Council fared years New government agencies which across interests existing departments always rough sledding The Council original terms rence investigate promote ordinate practical measures advance development northern Alberta This definition which allows pretty broad scope administrative innovation bureaucratic competition In intention seemed confine Council advisory By however Council budget million spend transportation social facilities research province north To outsider seemed Council could becoming department north When I Edmonton provincial capital December clear serious questions being asked about Council future Would continue expanding would revert purely research advisory provincial cabinet would As I Cambridge there final answers There points about Ibert experiment interest Governments react problem department This official reflex which alwayS particularly tempting north Old departments already southern problems commitments always wrench their ministers spend their thinking about north region matter The quickest redirecting attention create agency northern focus This success depends extent which other departments include north their plans A northern department should passing phase The Counoil drawn attention social problems north Whether I It however almost always northern agencies governments Canada The north quickly resolve itself morass social education hygiene illiteracy forth These revelations seldom welcomed No government Canada social solutions concentrate energies issues economic resource development north The result government activity north often confined series connected programmeS which patch shredding social fabric Whatever Northern Alberta Development Council interest provincial government north likely tinue Transportation facilities north large provincial budget The interesting venture Alberta Resources Railway government financed project which million The miles north transcontinental NORTHWEST TERRITORIES 120miles Pine Poin tvlcMur Peace River AlbertaResources Ra under construction I N R rransconti ALBERTA M LES J49 IM T I Canadian National Railway Jasper junction ubiqui Canadian rivers Smoky Muskeg This region south parallel middle north every other definition The break ground coking deposit Smoky River provide outlet Japanese market Controversy order The railway almost built Japanese fallen through payers saying paying another nowhere The Provincial Treasurer defending project If relied economic forecasts railway never would started He Canadian precedent argument Twenty years prove right dangerous Canada politician decades ahead commitment million money being spent region removed payers Northern development Canadian press really believe In enough spend money I suspect Alberta government partly influenced decision build railway example Pacific Great Eastern interior B C Another example clOSer Alberta sudden success Pine Point This built Federal government million enable Pine Point Mines Great Slave Lake production It miles Grimshaw Alberta Pine Point south shore Great Slave Lake Trains began operate freight greater predicted tonnage The built assumption concentrate would Pine Point In total freight close O00 OOO This increase additional concentrate Pine Point lumber mills right extraction equipment bound fields north Alberta produce products which flowing homesteads route Some unforecast freight dwindle early develop region sides railway begins level Pine Point Mies however continue operate decades there doubt whole section northern Alberta between Grimshaw parallel economic railway And there plans feeder lines extending north Mackenzie valley Northwest Territories So railways proven economic develop Canadian northwest Alberta banking experience prgduce similar result along route lberta Resource Railway willing gamble transportation communi cations north Alberta government seems intent avoiding subsidy government sponsorship industry region As civil servant Edmonton Alberta ultra enterprise It shares philosophy British Columbia though catch phrase there little different We dmned house industries north according Minister Victoria The point course direct subsidies necessary either provincial north The petroleum timber minerals energy resources relatively relatively inexpensive exploit The governments British Columbia Alberta prime economic providing transportation links cheap power In subsequent newsletters I mention other parts middle north where subsidies order There other things I could write about northern Alberta Tar Sands Fort McMurray Clear Hill Peace River farming Rainbo Lake honourable mention industrious colonies northern Alberta which produce three quarters million dolls_rs honey This catalogue boring ittle value newsletter I newsletter about British Columbia applies Both provinces histories middle north They represent feasible economic generally desirable development region Both provinces beginnings tansportation system middle north These highways railroads expensive investment proof access frontir first requirement thorough exploration large scale development Despite experience there still national interprovincial policies plans trnspotation links middle north there likely future The region north parallel still surplus Canadian requirements We middle north Ways better spend surplus capital southern ventures Most investment frontier other countries continent overseas countries which materials In I suppose something parts nineteenth century Africa which developed European capital European needs I imply going through stage simple fashioned colonial exploitation rather Canada middle north aware respond world markets going spend money other people money coming Yours Davi A W Judd