THE ULTIMATE HORIZONTAL ISSUE - THE ENVIRONMENTAL-POLICY EXPERIENCES OF ALBERTA AND ONTARIO, 1971-1993

This article summarizes the conclusions of a comparative study of the environmental policy experiences of two Canadian provinces, Alberta an d Ontario, in the period 1971-1993. The examination led to the conclus ion that there is a pattern of environmental politics and policy-makin g common to both provinces, although it emerges at a different pace. T his divergence is a function of well-known societal differences betwee n the two provinces. Furthermore, in the Ontario and Alberta experienc es, the policymaking capacity of the state can be seen to be severely challenged by the cross-sectoral nature of environmental policy issues . A number of observations regarding the effects of federal-provincial relations and of American influences on environmental policymaking at the provincial level in Canada are also possible.