Dependency and development in Prince Edward Island

Abstract

Even the official motto belies its aspirations. The motto of Prince Edward Island, Parva sub ingenti, "The small under the protection of the great," is an apt metaphor for Canada's smallest province. It is also a bitterly paradoxical expression of the Island's status as a "have not" province, largely dependent on others for its survival, first as a colony under British rule and then as a somewhat reluctant new province of Canada. As Prince Edward Island comes to the end of the 20th century, the goal of greater self-sufficiency and self-reliance remains as elusive as ever. While some economic gains have been made in recent years, the province and its people face the new challenges of decreasing federal transfers and a profound realignment of the global economy. How well it succeeds could very well be a measure of its ability to assume increased responsibility for its local affairs and the assertion of its particular identity.