Quote:
Originally Posted by Docere
Thoughts?
Saskatchewan is more similar to Manitoba in terms of aboriginal presence, including in cities (around 10% are FN or Metis in Winnipeg, Regina and Saskatoon).
Alberta's population growth pattern is quite different from either. Saskatchewan already had around 1 million people in 1931 and Manitoba's population has grown slowly since that time as well. Only Alberta's population has grown rapidly since then.
Manitoba however is quite a bit older than Alberta and Saskatchewan, having joined Confederation in 1870 while the latter joined in 1905 (and there was consideration of it being province).
Manitoba is dominated by one city, while Alberta and Saskatchewan have two major cities.
In terms of economy, it seems Saskatchewan has shifted from more like Manitoba to increasingly like Alberta.
Politically too, Saskatchewan, once the most left-wing Prairie province, seems to have moved "closer" to Alberta. Though now the old pattern has broken down with the provincial NDP being very weak in Saskatchewan and the election of an NDP government in Alberta. Federally Alberta and Saskatchewan were the only provinces to stick with the Conservatives, though the federal NDP vote in Saskatchewan is the highest of the Prairie provinces.
|
The labels do not translate well between provinces. For example, in Saskatchewan the crown corporations are not going anywhere regardless of which party is in power. A traditional right of centre party would want to privatise SaskTel, SaskPower, SaskWater, SaskGas, ....
What is far more striking about all the prairie provinces is the divide between rural and urban ridings.
The Alberta shift to the left had more to do with being tired of the old party that had been in power for a generation and wanting change than a fundamental change in values.