The Canadian West Foundation's State of the West report for 2010 makes good on its promise to show the importance and uniqueness of western provinces in Canada. Canada's other provinces may want to take note.
Western Canada accounts for over 37.5 per cent of the national economy, even though the West only has 30 per cent of the population. While Canada is 11th on the world's largest economies list, Western Canada alone would sit in the 26th spot - ahead of India or Indonesia.
Alberta's contribution is particularly noteworthy. The province contributed 18.2 per cent of the GDP and created almost half the GDP in the West in 2008.
The report also showed Calgary to be a keen competitor with Toronto for corporate head offices. Although Toronto more than doubles the number of head offices in Calgary, the western city boasts a very respectable 114. More importantly, the impact of so many head offices could be greater in Calgary because there is more money per capita than in Toronto relative to the population, the report says.
Alberta has the highest labour force participation rate in the country at 74.3 per cent in 2009. B.C. came in at 66 per cent, Ontario 67.3 per cent, and Newfoundland 59.3 per cent. Self-employment accounts for one out of five jobs in the West.
The West remains the stronghold of agriculture industries. The West accounts for 85.3 per cent of Canada's farmland, with Alberta's share at 31.2 per cent.
The report shows the importance of Western provinces to the Canadian economy in agriculture, natural resources, and exports. Canada may need the West more than the West needs Canada in the coming century.
The growth of the Western economy and strengthening of regional partnerships will certainly be a much stronger force to contend with should there be another round of constitutional debates. Further, the rest of Canada would do well to take note of the West's rising national and economic stature.
