摘要：Despite years ofattention by federal and provinciallevels ofgovernment, Canada continues to be marked by a concentration of economic activity in a select few urban regions. Although govemment policies, programs, and agencies over the pastdecadeshave focused onmany aspects ofencouragingeconomic development in Canada, the distinct geographic character of economic activity has been one of the most enduring issues vexing public policy makers. Regional economic development agencies such as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Western Economie Diversification Canada, and their predecessors, have been established by the federal government specifically to address long-standing issues related to natural resource dependence and the consequent lack ofdiversification in many of Canada's regional economies. This paper focuses attention on business conununities and economic development in Canada's regions.
