We have come to regard the world as conceived by science and built by technology; but the people of the Mackenzie Valley and the Western Arctic have a long-established renewable resource sector based on hunting, trapping and fishing, and some limited logging and sawmilling. After extensive hearings, the Mackenzie Pipeline Inquiry recommended the postponement of pipeline construction for ten years to enable the settlement of native land claims, the strengthening of native society and of the traditional hunting and trapping economy, the development of the fishing industry, of recreation and of conservation so that the pace of development should not overwhelm the existing economic base with disastrous long-range social impacts. This approach to the rational application of industry and technology provides one example of the issues to be faced in re-assessing the drive towards unrestrained expansion and consumption and forging a new social and economic philosophy.

Compared to the rest of the international economic community. Canada has an economic advantage in its substantial natural resource economy. This sector in itself does not create social and personal problems; however, when poor economic policy causes the natural resource sector of the economy to function poorly, social and personal problems can be prevalent in that sector. Some degree of economic malfunctioning can arise from mismanagement of the natural resource industries but often the remedy to economic malfunctioning is complicated by historical patterns and political necessities. Illustrations are provided from: the Economic Council of Canada Study of the Newfoundland fishery subsidies and migration; and their study of the economic problems associated with the forestry industry in British Columbia.

The traditional image of resource towns emphasizes problems and negative self-image. In an effort to redirect planning efforts away from the mitigation of negative impacts, thirty residents of Fort McMurray were interviewed to establish factors which promote or hinder community well-being. Subsequently, these factors were rated by a larger sample of residents. The findings indicate that residents value such factors as commitment, initiative and local involvement—indicating that community residents, themselves, constitute an important resource in the development of community well-being. These findings have implications for resource development communities and community services.

Reflections on fifteen years as a Family Practitioner in Thompson, Manitoba highlight some of the problems in providing health care to a regional population of 40,000. High turnover rates coupled with little or no prior experience create a constant challenge to the health and social service staff. Unimaginative government administrators and fragmented service structures add unnecessary impediments to quality care—problems which are less noticeable in times of expansion but become critical in times of constraints. Future planning should focus on comprehensive services, on stable administration and on efforts which maximize the positive aspects of “frontier towns.”

Cultural differences such as differences, for example, in the customary level of consciousness among native and non-native peoples, account for a large measure of the existing conflicts. The period of meditation at the beginning of this presentation seems appropriate and “valuable” in the traditional native culture, but out-of-place and surprising to members of the non-native culture who value much more highly the alert, attentive, problem-solving orientation in consciousness. Ultimately, a more balanced perspective may be found to be more successfully—one that does not negate native values of conservation and contemplation.

Physical health and psycho-social impacts are very much related. There are indications that not only the psychological and social well-being of native peoples but also the physical health and nutritional status has deteriorated in the face of resource development activities in the Arctic. Examples are provided of nutritional anemia, infection of the gastro-intestinal and respiratory tracts in children, obesity, arteriosclerosis and metabolic problems in adults, as well as family break-down, alcohol abuse, venereal disease, and deaths due to violence.

It should be amply clear that exposure to the society of the dominant culture has not been good for the Indians of Canada. Concerns for their future welfare based on lack of familiarity and fear of the unknown can be very misguided. In the end, native people, if given control over thier own affairs, will take over and manage their affairs well in their own interest.

Relevant literature on the psychosocial impacts of resource development upon women resident in isolated single-industry communities comes primarily from academic research, government-sponsored planning studies, community self-studies, reports of women's meetings, as well as from a variety of indirect indices. There is evidence to suggest that these women are at particularly high risk of psychosocial disturbance resulting from geographic and social isolation, alcohol-related violence, lack of opportunities for employment or skills upgrading, and a perceived lack of adequate health and social support services. Studies which systematically assess the contributions of these conditions to the risk of development of clinically-defined minor psychiatric illness are now necessary. Recent research on the nature of depression, and the positive effects of social support systems and of employment upon health may be of particular relevance in the design of preventive mental health policies.

Predicting the responses to the possible development of oil in the Hibernia field is complicated by many uncertainties. The experience of Aberdeen and Calgary are not sufficiently similar to provide good demographic comparisons. The technology of the oil and gas industry is subject to rapid change and the particular geology and geography of Hibernia introduce added uncertainties. Nevertheless, the expectation of development has had, and continues to have, major effects on St. John's, Newfoundland, with particular impacts on the housing market.

Analysis of data from three contrasting northern resource developments showed differing patterns of psycho-social stresses on native populations. At Coppermine, many Inuit employees travelled to distant work sites with frequent rotations between home and work. Relatively few North Baffin Inuit travelled to the lead-zinc mine at Nanisivik for lengthy periods in camp. In contrast, the Syncrude developments in the Fort McMurray area affected native community life over a broad region and particularly in Fort MacKay. The Coppermine and Nanisivik experience indicated that rotation employment was the source of most disruptive impacts: whereas the experiences of Fort MacKay illustrated major negative impacts to communities in close proximity to major resource developments.

Popular perceptions of “boom” and “bust” communities, supported by some of the earlier literature and anecdotal descriptions of life in such circumstances, have suggested that the quality of life in these conditions is seriously jeopardized. On the basis of an examination of one “boom” and two “bust” communities in Northern Ontario along with several comparison communities, and an examination of the available literature, some of the earlier claims of large scale social casualty rates are questioned. Both “boom” and “bust” communities appear to experience predictable phases of development. It is suggested that the principal human service needs vary from stage to stage in both. A number of implications for program planners are identified. It is suggested that future research would most profitably be devoted to longitudinal studies of communities entering either a “boom” or “bust” phase.

The monitoring of the potentially damaging impact of primary resource development on local or host communities is essential to good community planning. The Township of Atikokan negotiated an agreement for a community monitoring program with Ontario Hydro in 1978 prior to the construction of a generating station and the influx of a large transient workforce. The agreement provided for annual monitoring of socio-economic indicators, including alcohol and drug use, and related social changes reflected in public order and public health data. The monitoring data is complicated by the convergence of two social changes—the closing of the iron ore mines and the ongoing construction of the Hydro generating station. The results suggests that the monitoring of social impacts of rapid development require the use of conventional as well as more elaborate data-gathering techniques, with observation and survey methods as key components. In addition, temporal and organizational concerns indicate the need for longitudinal planning of impact assessment and the separation of social and economic investigations.

The utilization of medical services is analysed before and after the closing of the Rayonnier-Québec plant in Port Cartier. The analysis of a 5 year time series suggests a specific association between the plant closing and the increase of complete physical examinations among women in the 30 to 39 year age group.

Conventional wisdom and existing research on the psycho-social impacts of resource development supports the view that social disruption causes a wide range of social problems in rapid growth communities. The validity of this conclusion is difficult to access. A study of the residents of Fort McMurray compared to nine other populations found little evidence that they were negatively affected by rapid growth or that psychological well-being deteriorated with longer residence in the community.

The multiple parameters of the resource development experience are outlined to provide a theoretical frame of reference for the study of these complex interactive systems. The concepts of impact and impact assessment are analysed with reference to individuals, communities, and development projects. Three major contextual dimensions of resource development experience are discussed: the model of development, the social and cultural context, and the population characteristics.

An examination of different interest groups (e.g. government, natives and industry) in Canada's north indicates that each group utilizes divergent strategies to research the socio-economic impact of rapid economic development. Furthermore, strategies and outcomes of research by each group generally reflect their priorities. On one extreme, studies sponsored by industry tend to downplay negative social impacts and stress positive economic gains from development. On the other extreme, the native people stress the social disruption of their traditional lifestyles and minimal economic benefits to be gained from development. The federal and provincial (Ontario) governments, in attaching priorities to different interest groups, have tended to implement the views of the majority of the population—those that benefit from the economic aspects of the development. Accordingly, negative social consequences related to northern resource development have only received cursory attention.

Personality characteristics and the perceived quality of life of a resident sample in an isolated company town were compared with those of a largely urban sample. Although highly significant differences were found on many of the dependent measures, further investigation indicates that generalization to other remote communities should be undertaken with considerable caution.

In response to interest and concerns about the effect which oil industry development would have in the province of Newfoundland, a number of studies were initiated, including attempts to assess the impacts on rural residents. An analysis of the offshore labour force indicated that Newfoundland residents represented 60% of the offshore force; however, their participation was predominantly in the junior drilling, junior marine and junior service positions. The provincial workers differed from the non-resident workers on a number of factors. Also of interest, the 35% of the Newfoundland workers interviewed had come from water transport occupations and were attracted by the perceived advantages of work in the oil industry, while the 34% who had come from the fishing industry, cited financial insecurity and poor working conditions of the fishery as their reasons for changing jobs.

This study of the mental health problems of two typical isolated single-industry towns—Labrador City and Wabush—finds that the inhabitants are chronic transients in Labrador, and keep one foot firmly planted in Newfoundland. The principal stress factors leading to psychological decompensation and the manifestation of psychiatric symptoms are physical, cultural, social and emotional isolation, with economic isolation not playing a significant role.

In February, 1982 the drill rig Ocean Ranger sank in a storm on the Grand Banks with the loss of all on board. This paper examines the aftermath of this disaster from a service delivery perspective. After a total disaster, all is secondary to the immediate psychosocial needs of those involved. The delivery system of response services that evolved in this instance pointed out a number of Contingency Plan weaknesses relative to anticipation and planning especially in the human needs sector. In a disaster, a special component focused on human needs should coordinate existing agencies to identify needs; respond to the physical, emotional, psychological, religious and security requirements; and monitor and need for continuing support for those affected in other than the immediate post-disaster period.

Before construction began on the Ontario Hydro generating station at Atikokan in Northwestern Ontario, a Community Impact Agreement between the Township and Ontario Hydro was signed. This agreement provides for: a) the prediction and monitoring of the effects of the construction program; b) the arbitration of disputes over the source and responsibility for undesirable community changes occurring; and, c) the advancing of services and provision of compensation for effects for which Ontario Hydro is responsible. An impact prediction, monitoring and mitigation program was required as part of the impact agreement to plan for and manage the social changes expected during construction. To date, this program has provided funds to assist crisis housing facilities, monitor alcohol and drug abuse, supplement library facilities and plan for changes in housing demand and municipal finance. In effect, this monitoring program facilitates preventive planning for communities hosting resource development projects.

Commenting on the relevance of the Symposium to the needs of children and youth, several key issues were identified. Among them were: the challenges faced by native children in circumstances of rapid change, particularly their educational experiences in schools caught between conflicting philosophies of life; the impacts on family life of prolonged absences of fathers during extended work cycles; the difficulty in bonding for small children whose fathers come and go; the need for child care services and the stresses on mothers in resource development towns. In summary, research and intervention with children and families in rapidly changing resource areas must be tailored to the specific situations, appropriate to the communities' own perceived needs and strengths, and modelled on preventive values as much as possible.

In considering the power of knowledge in the service of mankind, recent experiences, particularly since World War II, have moderated the optimism and confidence that typified the scientific and technical expansion of the past two hundred years. Societies are now concerned with maximizing the positive impacts and mitigating the negative impacts of “progress.” Against a background description of some very negative impacts of well-intentioned changes to the Navajo economy, a conceptual framework is presented which may facilitate the synthesis of various disciplines into more realistic and effective designs for research and planning. A situational or “cross-disciplinary” orientation enhances the broadest possible perspective of a particular situation—a perspective which might help prevent similar unintended and unwanted consequences of development in the future. Any shift to a situational perspective in the clinical, social and behavioural sciences will require conscious and concerted efforts on the part of all professionals and academics involved.