摘要：One of the enduring characteristics of the Canadian labour market has been substantial and persistent unemployment rate disparities across provinces. These disparities have long been a concern of govemment policy-makers and have led to a number of federal govemment initiatives designed with the intent of reducing these disparities. A small sample of these initiatives include the Atlantic Development Fund (introduced in 1962) designed to promote economic growth in the high unemployment region of the Atlantic provinces, the Fund for Rural Economie Development (introduced in 1966) designed to develop new industry in five high unemployment regions across Canada, the Department of Regional Economie Expansion (introduced in 1968) and, more recently, the Western Development Fund (introduced in 1980). For a comprehensive history of regional development programs in Canada, see Savoie (1992).
