The 25 Provinces of Canada:
1) -
Vancouver Island, capital -
Victoria.
Rationale - geographically separate from mainland BC, used to be it's own colony in the past, has political and philosophical differences compared to mainland BC.
2) -
Cascadia, capital -
New Westminster.
Rationale - urban and sophisticated compared to the remainder of former BC, very progressive and liberal in it's orientation. Consists of lower mainland, extending up Howe Sound to Squamish and to Whistler, but not to Lillooet. Also includes Sunshine Coast.
3) -
British Columbia, capital -
Kamloops.
Rationale - rural and conservative compared to "Cascadia", resource based economy. Different mindset compared to the former coastal portions of BC.
4) -
Alberta, capital -
Calgary.
Rationale - very conservative, individualistic, resource based economy, agricultural sector based on rangeland and cattle ranching.
5) -
Athabaska, capital -
Edmonton.
Rationale - also resource based economy, but not as politically conservative. Agricultural sector dominated by farming rather than cattle ranching.
6) -
Assiniboia, capital -
Regina.
Rationale - was a proposed province back in about 1900. Oil and gas sector, potash mining, less productive farmland compared to the north.
7) -
Saskatchewan, capital -
Saskatoon.
Rationale - better quality farmland and more moisture. Also includes norther hinterland.
8) -
Manitoba, capital -
Winnipeg. No change from current status.
9) -
Yukon, capital -
Whitehorse. No change from current status except a province rather than a territory.
10) -
Nahanni, capital -
Yellowknife. Former NWT, now a province.
11) -
Nunavut, capital -
Iqaluit. No change from current status, except a province rather than a territory.
12) -
Nipigon, capital -
Thunder Bay.
Rationale - geographically remote from and ignored by power centres in former Ontario, resource based economy with shipping and industry based in the Lakehead.
13) -
Nipissing, capital -
North Bay.
Rationale - also an ignored part of northern Ontario, but linguistically different from NW Ontario with a large francophone minority. May be constituted as a bilingual province.
14) -
Ontario, capital -
Toronto.
Rationale - rump Ontario, still the most populous and influential province in the federation.
15) -
Laurentia, capital -
Montreal.
Rationale - now politically divorced from the remainder of Quebec, the anglophone minority of this new province might garner a little more respect. At the very least, Montreal will be constituted as a bilingual city in this new francophone province. It will be a powerful rival for rump Ontario. Laurentia would include the Estrie, the Outouais and the Laurentians.
16) -
Quebec, capital -
Quebec City.
Rationale - the francophone heartland of Canada, this province will be 99% French speaking. In addition to Quebec City. this province will include the Saguenay, the Beauce and the Bas St-Laurent.
17) -
Nouveau Quebec, capital -
Rouyn-Noranda.
Rationale - resource based economy in northern Quebec, but geographically remote from other population centres in the former province of Quebec.
18) -
Gaspe, capital -
Rimouski.
Rationale - Culturally different than the remainder of former Quebec. The economy is fishing based. This region is even referred to as la Quebec Maritime. The Gaspe deserves to be a province.
19) -
Acadia, capital -
Moncton.
Rationale - northeastern NB is majority francophone, very liberal, and has little in common with anglophone conservative southwestern NB. Unfortunately, in order to give Acadia workable boundaries, a large anglophone population will be included, totalling about 35-40% of the population. This province will have to be bilingual. The capital (Moncton) is majority anglophone.
20) -
New Brunswick, capital -
Fredericton.
Rationale - this rump province will be 95% anglophone, and will be freed from the shackles of enforced bilingualism. There will be great rejoicing in the streets.
21) -
Prince Edward Island, capital -
Charlottetown - no change from current status.
22) -
Nova Scotia, capital -
Halifax - will be divested of Cape Breton. Otherwise, there is no change.
23) -
Cape Breton, capital -
Sydney.
Rationale - used to be it's own separate colony. Long neglected by Halifax, Cape Breton will see a renaissance spawned by it's political autonomy, with decisions made at home rather than by disinterested political mandarins in far off Haligon.
24) -
Newfoundland, capital -
St. John's. Rump Newfoundland will be little different after cleaving off Labrador.
25) -
Labrador, capital -
Goose Bay.
Rationale - geographically remote from St. John's, Labrador will benefit from political autonomy. The native population of Labrador will have much more political clout.
One interesting thing about dividing Canada up in this way is that there would be six provinces with significant francophone populations. It would be interesting to see how this would affect the dynamic of the country.