the existing literature on convergence in canada largely ignores the underlying geographical dimensions of regional disparities. By using income measures developed from census micro-data files to analyze patterns of convergence across census divisions, we show that regional disparities are increasingly clustered across the canadian space-economy along (1) east-West and (2) urban-rural gradients. Rural census divisions in the eastern provinces, in particular, are showing increased signs of distress in terms of differences in levels and growth rates of incomes with other regions in the country. Such findings have important policy implications which are briefly discussed. ARTICLEHISTORY CONTACT a (Corresponding author) sebastien.breau@mcgill.ca department of geography, Mcgill university, Montreal, Quebec, canada b richard.saillant@umoncton.ca the donald J. Savoie institute, université de Moncton, Moncton, new Brunswick, canada OPEN ACCESS

This article examines New Brunswick's recent fiscal track record and major trends likely to shape its trajectory in the years ahead. New Brunswick's fiscal position eroded considerably over its "lost decade," from 2007-08 to 2016-17. During this period, the province's successive governments performed poorly—both in absolute terms and relative to the other maritime provinces—in adjusting to major shocks that seriously impaired revenue growth. Looking forward, the government's revenue-generating capacity is likely to remain constrained, while health-care spending pressures will mount with a fast-aging population. The authors conclude that, in a critical way, New Brunswick's fiscal future may no longer be in its own hands, but in the hands of richer provinces with a younger population, and the federal government.

No abstract