Provincial international activity: the case of Newfoundland

Graham, Thomas R. (1982) Provincial international activity: the case of Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (9MB)

Abstract

Statement of the Problem -- Although Canadian provinces have had international dealings since Confederation, these activities have apparently intensified since the 1960's and provoked renewed interest among both politicians and academics. -- In an effort to understand the reasons for this renewed provincial activity and to evaluate its possible effects on federal and provincial spheres of jurisdiction, the emergent literature attempts to identify specific cases of transnational relations and develop typologies of interaction. -- This study attempts to add to the data base of provincial international activity by examining Newfoundland's activity in this area between 1960 and 1978. -- Materials and Methods -- Oral materials consisted of interviews of the administrative heads of Newfoundland provincial government departments or their representatives as well as provincial politicians. The interviews were conducted in 1978-79. Written sources included government documents, legislative debates, books, scholarly articles, newspapers and miscellaneous unpublished materials. -- The major assumptions to be tested are that the international activity of the province of Newfoundland is not atypical of the activity of other Canadian provinces, and that interest and involvement in international activity on the part of the province is a function of the perceived importance of specific issues and policy areas, rather than a desire to generally assert a provincial competence in external relations. Interviews were therefore conducted with governmental respondents with a view toward collecting data of recent provincial external activities and of eliciting attitudes toward the provincial role in Canada's foreign relations. -- The procedure was inductive. Initially, all pertinent materials were gathered. Subsequently the data was classified into distinct categories for analysis and generalization. -- Conclusions -- The nature of provincial international activity largely relates to functional administrative matters, but even these may raise broader national and international legal issues. -- Newfoundland, as a provincial actor in international relations, conducts itself on a level comparable with other provinces though on a much smaller scale. There is no indication that the province's international activity is anything other than a process pursued for the fulfillment of immediate and long term functional needs. There is no evidence to warrant the conclusion that the attainment of an international presence or status is a policy of the Newfoundland government. Indeed, in most cases, the activity is not even perceived as being international. -- Research in this area has to date focused on relations between provinces and American states. The findings of this study indicate that Newfoundland is somewhat more active than other provinces in international contacts with states other than the United States. One possible explanation for this tendency may be found in Newfoundland's history but definitive conclusions must await further research.

Actions (login required)

View Item