<p> The period of observation necessary to obtain representative mean monthly values for precipitation, temperature, and streamflow is about fifteen years. At present there is a paucity of meteorological and streamflow records of such length. This makes hydrological investigations in northern Ontario difficult. </p> <p> River regimes of northern Ontario are found to exhibit general characteristics. More specifically, runoff peaks occur in spring due to snowmelt, and secondary fall peaks occur due to rainfall. The regimes can be classified into four types based upon qualitative comparisons of annual flow response patterns. River regimes in northern Ontario exhibit spatial variation. Rivers to the northwest have lower flow magnitude due to decreased precipitation, and tend to have flow "buffered" by the many small lakes located there. Rivers to the southeast have more pronounced spring melt peaks resulting from greater winter snow accumulation. Fall contributuion to total annual runoff increases to the northwest. The colder winter conditions of northern Ontario is reflected in a tendency of winter contribution to annual yield to decrease towards the northwest. </p> <p> Seasonal runoff is affected by meteorological conditions. Temperature has a marked effect on spring streamflow as rising temperature causes snowmelt. Summer flow reflects the effects of both temperature and precipitation. Precipitation has a pronounced effect on fall runoff. Winter runoff is dominated by baseflow only as temperatures are low and precipitation is snow which accumulates until spring. </p> <p> An attempt to produce equations for predicting seasonal monthly flow was unsuccessful. Meteorological stations are too sparsely distributed to provide representive data necessary for producing such equations. There is a need to increase the meteorological and streamflow station network in northern Ontario to enable a more comprehensive study of the hydrologic processes. / Thesis / Candidate in Philosophy

This book was written with the assistance of Patrick Julig, a professor of Anthropology at Laurentian University. / This publication has been assisted by an Ontario Heritage Book Award from the Ontario Heritage Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) have experienced substantial range expansions in northern Ontario over the past century, with adverse consequences for native salmonid predators. It is unclear how climate-induced water clarity shifts will affect interactions between native dark-adapted walleye (Sander virteus) and invading smallmouth bass in northern Ontario. This study used stable isotopes of nitrogen (15N/14N) and carbon (13C/12C) in fish muscle tissue to investigate how resource partitioning between walleye and smallmouth bass is related to water clarity in 34 small (100-200 ha) Boreal Shield lakes (ranging from 1 to 8.5 m Secchi depth, and from 3.2 to 13.1 mg/L DOC). Quantitative metrics of trophic niche dimensions (based on the size, position, and dispersion of multivariate ellipses drawn around sampled individuals in δ15N vs. δ13C biplot space) were calculated for each individual population and used to determine trophic interactions and niche overlap between sympatric walleye and smallmouth bass. Linear and multiple regressions were then used to explore potential relationships between trophic interactions and water clarity. Available habitat and fish assemblage data was also explored for potential influences on isotopic niche dimensions and trophic interactions of walleye and smallmouth bass. Total occupied niche space decreased significantly with increasing water clarity for smallmouth bass as populations occupied a narrower range of trophic levels and made greater use of pelagic resources. In contrast, walleye trophic niche dimensions did not respond significantly to water clarity. Isotopic niche overlap ranged from 0 to 65%, but no metric of trophic overlap was significantly related to water clarity. Other abiotic and biotic variables, however, did have a significant influence on the similarity between some aspects of walleye and smallmouth iv bass isotopic niche dimensions (but not interaction). Both species fed on more isotopically similar carbon sources as lakes became shallower, which may be a result of a lack of distinct littoral and limnetic habitats. Walleye and smallmouth bass niche size also became more similar with increasing DOC but this may be a result of lower prey diversity. Both species also occupied more similar average food web positions as yellow perch relative abundance increased, indicating that the exploitation of yellow perch by both species increased with perch abundance. Together with other studies that have found little evidence for an impact of smallmouth bass on walleye fitness and abundance, this research suggests that, unlike salmonid and cyprinid species, walleye may be resilient against smallmouth bass invasions regardless of water clarity conditions in oligotrophic boreal lakes.

The objective of this dissertation is to unearth the multi-scalar political geographies of regional development using an empirically intensive, single-region, case study approach focussing on Northern Ontario. This research focuses on Northern Ontario because it provides a unique setting to understand the political strategizing and contestation of regional development. Northern Ontario has had a long history of federal and provincial regional development initiatives from region specific policies, reports, and studies to regional development institutions. In fact, up until recently it was the only sub-provincial region in Canada with a federally appointed regional development institution. In Northern Ontario there is also a deep sense of territorial grievance and discontent that has generated a number of organizations and movements to mobilize regional interests in the quest for greater autonomy over decision-making and economic development. The main objective of unpacking the multi-scalar political geographies of regional development in Northern Ontario translates into the following questions: 1) How and why have federal regional development initiatives in Northern Ontario changed since the 1960s? 2) How and why have provincial regional development initiatives in Northern Ontario changed since the 1960s? and 3) What are the regional responses? Answers to these questions underscore the messy and complex nature and politics of regional development. More pointedly, this thesis clearly demonstrates that regional development is not just about finding economic solutions to regional challenges but that these initiatives are also deeply political. To explore the politics of regional development, I draw on insights from Canadian political economy, new regional geography, state theory, and new regionalism literature. By viewing regional development through these frameworks, I expose the nuanced nature of regional development so that ultimately, we may learn to adopt more effective regional policy innovations for Northern Ontario and other peripheral regions in Canada. This research makes several important contributions. Empirically, it provides a rich history of federal and provincial regional development initiatives in Northern Ontario since the 1960s. Theoretically, it contributes to debates on the conceptualization of regions and regional development including the politicization of boundaries and the paradox of regional development institutions. / Thesis (Ph.D, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2012-08-24 14:39:52.888

From my position as ally to an Anishnawbe community in Northern Ontario, I explored the relationships of community members to postsecondary education. Eight current and former students, a teacher at the school and a band councilor, shared with me their experiences and their knowledge about the Community and its school system. The data revealed that in Northern Ontario, the transition from the on-reserve school system to whitestream education at any level is very difficult for Community members, and is exacerbated by family violence and tensions and a perception of lower quality teaching and resources in the community schools. Participants also chose more college programs when first entering postsecondary education, and attended the college in the nearby town most frequently. Suspicion of and isolation from the whitestream school system as a result of the impact of residential schools still exists, and continues to have an effect on community participation in education.

From my position as ally to an Anishnawbe community in Northern Ontario, I explored the relationships of community members to postsecondary education. Eight current and former students, a teacher at the school and a band councilor, shared with me their experiences and their knowledge about the Community and its school system. The data revealed that in Northern Ontario, the transition from the on-reserve school system to whitestream education at any level is very difficult for Community members, and is exacerbated by family violence and tensions and a perception of lower quality teaching and resources in the community schools. Participants also chose more college programs when first entering postsecondary education, and attended the college in the nearby town most frequently. Suspicion of and isolation from the whitestream school system as a result of the impact of residential schools still exists, and continues to have an effect on community participation in education.

After a review of the general characteristics of Aboriginal businesses on Canadian reserves, the empirical part of this research compares a sample of 22 on-reserve businesses interviewed within four reserves in Northern Ontario to a control sample of 229 businesses from across Northern Ontario. Both samples were surveyed in Spring/Summer 1997 by the Small Business Research Group, from Laurentian University's School of Commerce and Administration. The results confirmed the literature in showing a lack of structure, with 88% of the businesses unincorporated, a lack of capital, a sense of isolation and of being out of the information channels (a majority of respondents saw no benefits to networking), literacy problems among the population) and frustrations with government agencies. However, as among other groups in the Canadian business population, Aboriginal entrepreneurs were more educated than the general Aboriginal population. The remainder of the article discusses issues related to the development of entrepreneurship among the First Nations, including the Delgamuukw v. British Columbia decision by the Supreme Court of Canada and its potential effects. / This article is partly based upon research funded by FedNor by the Small Business Research Group of the School of Commerce and Administration, Laurentian University of Sudbury. The author thanks Sherrie·Anne Frost, Research Assistant, for her help, Chief Margaret Penasse-Mayer and Adjunct Professor Ovide Mercredi for their comments on the early versions of the manuscript. This research was also partly funded by Human Resources Development Canada, the School of Commerce and Administration, Laurentian University of SUdbury, and College Boréal at Surgeon Falls.

Regional disparities, most notably of the 'heartland-periphery' pattern, have been a distinctive feature of Canadian urban geography throughout the industrial era. New regimes of economic prosperity, recessions, and restructuring in the post-industrial era coupled with demographic fluctuations have added new and accentuated divisions and disparities creating an increased gap between cities that are growing and not growing. Under these conditions, it seems realistic to expect that no-growth cities might begin to develop distinctive planning strategies centered on a theme of decline or no-growth scenarios. However, this has not been the case. The City of Greater Sudbury is located in North-eastern Ontario and is best known across Canada for its original resource-based ‘boom’, its unsustainable mining practices and subsequent decline. The 21st-Century City of Sudbury has since evolved into a more balanced regional centre. Nonetheless, the population of the City has been fluctuating over the last 30 years, experiencing decline, slow growth, and no-growth scenarios. The first phase in the research establishes the documentary record of Sudbury’s decline alongside remedial initiatives undertaken at the federal, provincial, and local levels in the general attempt to kick start growth locally and remediate decline. The second phase in the research investigates how those involved in planning and economic development at the grassroots level deal with no growth through key informant interviews with planners, economic developers, consultants, and politicians. The research findings document the contradictory perceptions that surround planning in no-growth locales and further explore the challenges and opportunities associated with no growth urban areas. It concludes with a discussion of what might constitute alternative criteria for a new model of planning and development capable of generating more realistic economic and planning policy and strategy considerations for no growth urban areas and Northeastern Ontario.

This thesis envisions sustainable forestry communities in Northern Ontario. Forestry communities struggle to maintain a quality of life against obstacles such as external (often global) economic pressures on the community’s forestry operation, youth out-migration and lack of local control over their natural resources. Principle aims in this thesis are to understand the built environment of small, remote forestry communities; to propose a vision for community self-sufficiency and long-term sustainability; and lastly, to identify the role of architecture in envisioning a built environment that might evolve alongside principles for long-term sustainability. The design exploration is focused on enhancing the quality of place in the north through effective integration with the boreal forest and its renewable resources. Scandinavian models emerging in towns with similar ecological conditions to Canada suggest that rethinking the use of local ecological resources might lead to appropriate architectural response in the region – one which offers stronger identity for these forestry communities. Such design processes are centered on two main questions: what overall framework will allow communities themselves to self-organize local resources, culture and knowledge towards long-term sustainability and regional identity?; and how can architecture and design specifically contribute to these objectives as well as sustain forestry communities?

As Canada employs a federated system of government, there are separate environmental assessment (EA) processes. In Ontario, Canada, there is a streamlined, pre-approved, self-assessed process (i.e., the Minister of the Environment’s approval is not required) for “classes” of projects. These Class EA projects are routine, with known impacts, being predictable and mitigable, in a southern Ontarian environment. However, it is assumed that Class EA protocol developed in the southern Ontarian context is directly transferable to northern Ontario. A case-based approach, using the Victor Mine electricity transmission line project, was employed to critically examine whether the Class EA template developed in southern Ontario, could be effectively applied to the western James Bay region of northern Ontario. Specifically, the two assumptions (and corollaries) of Class EAs of predictability (corollaries: the environment is similar in all locations where Class EAs are applied; and the environment is well understood) and mitigability (corollary: all negative effects are mitigable) were examined. Primary (semi-directive interviews) and secondary (literature search) data were used to inform a themed analysis. Results indicate that the northern environment is unique: biophysically, the western James Bay area is Ontario’s only salt water coastal region, and contains one of the largest wetland regions in the world; and socio-economically, no southern Ontarian region can claim that one third of their total regional economy is related to subsistence pursuits. In addition, the northern environment is dynamic, disproportionately changing over time with respect to climate change and post-glacial isostatic adjustment. Moreover, not all negative effects are mitigable (i.e., the effects the existing electrical transmission line has had on waterfowl harvesting). Thus, the Class EA template is not transferable to the northern Ontarian context. Similarly, in other northern regions of the world where glacial isostatic adjustment is a reality and these regions uniqueness must be recognized and be reflected in the EA process, if a process exists.