The indicator approach in the examination of spatial variations in the level of development of natives and the concept of dualism in Canada

Abstract

Regional development in Canada is uneven. However, it is less clear whether native development in Canada is similarly patterned as non-native development. As well, it is not evident whether variations exist in the differences between the level of development of native and non-native people in different regions of Canada. Development is a multi-dimensional process involving economic and social change. The primary purpose of this thesis is to examine the use of the indicator approach to create a measure of development which encompasses both the economic and social dimensions of development. The secondary purposes of the thesis are: (1) to use the indicator approach to compute a measure of development to identify spatial variations in the level of development of native people in Canada in 1981, and (2) to use development indicators to examine the spatial variations in the concept of dualism as it applies to native and non-native residents of Canada. The data source for this analysis is the 1981 Native Summary Tape, a special tape produced by Census Canada containing a multitude of socio-economic data for natives and non-natives at the national, provincial, census division and census subdivision level. The primary statistical technique used in the computation of the development measures is principal components analysis. The development measures are computed at the census division level and mapping aids in the identification of the spatial patterns. The results from this analysis suggest that the indicator approach to measuring development presented in this thesis is a valuable tool in the identification of spatial variations in development. This is an important procedure for researchers who wish to examine development in its socio-economic totality. Native development and dualism between native and non-native Canadians do vary spatially. The general pattern is higher native development and lower dualism between natives and non-natives in the larger urban centers and in central Canada.