Polarisation- the dominant theme to emerge from this study- durable ascending and descending trends for large centres experiencing rapid growth, small ones decline. Growing labour and consumer markets attracting investment further stimulating these markets, gives political power and a government favourable to further growth. growth equals growth and decline equals decline. Reduced government capacity and determination to counteract territorial decline in a neoliberal policy environment, at the advantage of Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmunton