Canadian Rural Partnership
Rural Research and Analysis

Canadian Rural Partnership (CRP) research and analysis provides socio-economic information and analysis on rural Canada and matters of interest to rural Canada. CRP research and analysis encourages and facilitates interdepartmental collaboration on research, maintains connections with other researchers of rural issues, and provides analysis on rural issues to support Canadian Rural Partnership policy and programs.

Index

Rural Research Notes
Rural and Small Town Canada Analysis Bulletins
Working papers supporting Rural and Small Town Canada Analysis Bulletins
Models for Rural Development and Community Capacity Building Program
Rural Profile Reports
Canadian Rural Partnership research reports
     Currently available
     Coming soon
Other Canadian Rural Partnership publications
     Regional Research
     Rural Dialogue reports
Rural research resource links
     Government of Canada rural research links
     Provincial and territorial government links
     Institutes and academic departments links
     International links
Conferences and events
Rural research contact information

Rural Research Notes

• Canadian rural population trends  PDF format

Rural and Small Town Canada Analysis Bulletins

1. The loss of dependable agricultural land in Canada
2. Occupational skill level: The divide between rural and urban Canada
Community demographic trends within their regional context
4. Social engagement and civic participation: Are rural and small town populations really at an advantage?
5. A Visit to Canada’s Countryside: Rural Tourism
6. Canada's watersheds: The demographic basis for an urban–rural dialogue New

1. Factors associated with household internet use
2. Mapping the socio-economic diversity of rural Canada
3. Health status and behaviours of Canada’s youth: A rural-urban comparison health
4. Immigrants in rural Canada: 2001 update
5. Self-employment activity in rural Canada
6. Occupational patterns within industry groups: A rural – urban comparison
7. The rural-urban income gap within provinces : An update to 2000
8. Tourism employment in rural Canada

1. Part-time employment in rural Canada
2. Immigrants in rural Canada
3. The gender balance of employment in rural and small town Canada
4. The rural/urban divide is not changing: Income disparities persist
5. Rural and urban educational attainment: An investigation of patterns and trends, 1981 - 1996
6. The health of rural canadians: A rural-urban comparison of health indicators
7. Rural economic diversification - A community and regional approach
8. More than just farming: employment in agriculture and agri-food in rural and urban Canada

1. Employment structure in rural and small town Canada: the producer services sector
2. Urban consumption of agricultural land
3. Definitions of rural
4. Employment in rural and small town Canada: An update to 2000
5. Information and communication technologies in rural Canada
6. Migration to and from rural and small town Canada
7. Rural income disparities in Canada: A comparison across the provinces
8. Seasonal variation in rural employment

1. Factors associated with female employment rates in rural and small town Canada
2. Population structure and change in predominantly rural regions
3. Rural youth migration between 1971 and 1996
4. Housing conditions in predominantly rural regions
5. Measuring economic well-being of rural canadians using income indicators
6. Employment structure in rural and small town Canada: an overview
7. Employment structure in rural and small town Canada: the primary sector
8. Employment structure in rural and small town Canada: the manufacturing sector

1. Rural and Small Town Population is Growing in the 1990s
2. Employment Patterns in the Non-Metro Workforce
3. The Composition of Business Establishments in Smaller and Larger Communities in Canada
4. Rural and Urban Household Expenditure Patterns for 1996
5. How Far to the Nearest Physician?
6. Factors Associated with Local Economic Growth
7. Computer Use and Internet Use by Members of Rural Households
8. Geographical Patterns of Socio-Economic Well-Being of First Nations Communities

Rural and Small Town Canada Analysis Bulletins - Working Papers

Canadian Rural Partnership Research Reports

Review and Analysis of Access to Capital in Northern and Rural Communities in Canada by the Canadian Labour and Business Centre in collaboration with the New Economy Development Group Inc.

• This study on access to capital focuses on capital for small and medium enterprises. It assesses community controlled and/or managed financing mechanisms/vehicles from a rural community development perspective.

Review & Analysis: Infrastructure Investment Tools & Methods in Relation to Northern and Rural Communities in Canada by Econex Consulting

• The objectives of this study are to more fully understand what is required to increase the capacity of rural and northern communities to improve the state of infrastructure in their community and region. The study identifies various tools, models and information available to rural and northern communities and assesses their usefulness for communities.

Public-Private Partnerships in Rural and Northern Communities Study by P3 Advisors

• The objectives of this study are to more fully understand how rural and northern communities can utilize appropriate public-private partnership mechanisms to improve the service delivery and infrastructure of their community and region.

Thinking About Rural Canada

• A series of Rural development Think Tanks organized for the Rural Secretariat by Professor Tony Fuller, University of Guelph. November 28, 2001 to May 7, 2002.

Rural Youth - Phase II: Rural Youth Migration: Exploring the Reality Behind the Myths by R.A. Malatest & Associates

• Building on the results from Phase I: Rural Youth: Stayers, Leavers and Return Migrants, the second phase of this study uses qualitative methods to examine the reasons behind rural youth migration and suggests some strategies that would assist rural communities in maintaining or increasing their youth population. This study was jointly funded by the Canadian Rural Partnership, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Western Economic Diversification, FedNor, CED - Quebec Region, Human Resources Development Canada, Policy Research Initiative and Statistics Canada.
  Internet: http://www.rural.gc.ca/researchreports/youth2002/cover_e.phtml
  Coming soon to this website: R.A. Malatest & Associates (2001) Technical Report: Research into rural youth migration, exploring the reality behind the myths.

Rural Youth: Stayers, Leavers and Return Migrants by R.A. Malatest & Associates

• This study provides a quantitative analysis of rural youth migration in Canada, examining how many youth move in and out of rural areas, where movers from rural areas are attracted, where entrants to rural areas come from, and the characteristics of stayers, leavers and returners. This study was jointly funded by the Canadian Rural Partnership and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
  Internet: http://www.rural.gc.ca/researchreports/ruralyouth/ruralyouth_e.phtml

Asking Citizens What Matters for Quality of Life in Canada: A Rural Lens by Canadian Policy Research Network (CPRN)

• The Canadian Rural Partnership commissioned a rural analysis of the nation-wide Quality of Life Indicators Project by Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN). The Quality of Life Indicators Project developed a set of national indicators to track Canadian progress and quality of life. Based on public discussions and participant questionnaries the rural report considers rural participants' views on what constitutes quality of life, appropriate indicators for measuring quality of life and satisfaction with quality of life issues. Internet: http://www.cprn.org/en/doc.cfm?doc=48. The main CPRN national report is titled Quality of Life in Canada: A Citizens' Report Card and is also available at Internet: http://www.cprn.org/en/doc.cfm?doc=90

• Rethinking the Information Highway: Security, convergence and the e-consumer/e-citizen (2001)
  Based on telephone and mail-back surveys, this third report provides up-dated information on rural Canadians' attitudes and comfort with new communications technology, access to and use of the internet, and assessment of e-government and e-commerce. The report provides information on differences in behaviour and broad attitudes according to the type of community where respondents live (i.e., rural/urban; settlement size, and farm/non-farm differences), and basic demographic characteristics.
  Internet: http://www.rural.gc.ca/researchreports/highway/special_e.phtml


• Rethinking the Information Highway: Privacy, access and the shifting marketplace (2000)
  This second report, based on survey information from 1999, concentrates on rural Canadians' access to and acceptance of internet and computer technology. This survey up-dates much of the information from the first report but looks particularly at location, intensity and frequency of internet usage, attitudes towards e-commerce and e-government and privacy concerns.
  Internet: http://www.rural.gc.ca/researchreports/highway/rethinking_e.phtml
  
  
• The Information Highway and the Canadian Communications Household: A Rural Perspective (1999)
  This first report, based on survey information from 1997 and 1998, provides information on how rural Canadians view the information highway and their place within it. The findings are presented in six broad areas: awareness and image, usage and ownership, barriers to using the information highway, government and technology, and electronic commerce. Internet: http://www.rural.gc.ca/researchreports/highway/comm_e.phtml

• The Canadian Rural Partnership provided support to the Centre for Community Enterprise to develop this catalogue of best practices for community development. The catalogue is part of a larger project which includes development of a tool that measures community resiliency, and offers avenues for enhancing community resilience through locally driven processes. The models and tools have been tested in 5 British Columbia communities.
  Internet: http://www.agr.gc.ca/research/researchreports/tool_e.phtml

• The Canadian Rural Partnership and the CMHC produced this research report to create a profile of low-income households and the housing circumstances they face in rural communities. It also identifies the barriers to addressing their housing needs, and the opportunities that exist in rural communities and small towns to address these situations.
  
  Report summaries : http://www.cmhc.ca/publications/en/rh-pr/index.html The full reports can be ordered via CHIC@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
  Volume 1: Housing Needs of Low Income People Living in Rural Areas
  Volume 2: Housing Needs of Low Income People Living in Rural Areas: Statistical Review, Literature Review, Case Study Report
  Volume 3: Housing Needs of Low Income People Living in Rural Areas: Case Studies
  

OECD Territorial Reviews: Canada by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2002. ISBN 9264198326
This report is one of a series of national reviews undertaken by the Territorial Development Services of the OECD. Trends in regional policy development and current policy approaches are critically examined from the perspective of the major geographic regions, urban, rural and northern areas. The review was partly funded by the Canadian Rural Partnership.

• The report is available for purchase or browsing at OECD On-Line Bookshop at http://www.oecd.org
• Subscribers to the OECD's Online Library of Books, Periodicals and Statistics may download the publication from http://new.sourceoecd.org

Information and Communications Technologies and Rural Development by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2002. ISBN 9264186700
The report sets out to answer a series of questions such as: Are information and communication technologies (ICT) a threat rather than an opportunity for rural areas? Will these technologies increase the attractiveness of rural and remote areas or will they reinforce the influence of urban areas? The results draw from field research in Canada, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the USA. The Rural Secretariat was involved in the information collection during the field research in Canada.

• The report is available for purchase or browsing at OECD On-Line Bookshop at http://www.oecd.org
• Subscribers to the OECD's Online Library of Books, Periodicals and Statistics may download the publication from http://new.sourceoecd.org

• Two Canadian case studies (Parry Sound District in Ontario, and Notre Dame Bay area in Newfoundland) were examined to identify factors that strengthen or compromise dynamism in the economies of rural regions. The project includes a statistical profile of each site as well as an assessment of the factors of growth. The case studies are part of a larger OECD study on the factors of growth in rural regions.

• This report looks at the role of community culture ("institutional structure" or "social capital") in fostering rural community development. The study analyses a sample of rural communities to find the contribution of these long-run "institutional" factors and compares the differences between "leading" and "lagging" communities. See the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation, New Rural Economy Project, for additional work on this topic. http://www.crrf.ca or http://nre.concordia.ca

• Small and medium sized enterprises (SME) have generated considerable employment growth in recent decades, and rural and small town Canada is relatively SME intensive. Historically, co-operatives developed in rural areas in response to needs that were not addressed by traditional forms of business. This report analyses a sample of rural communities to find the role played by small business and co-operative businesses, distinguishing "leading" from "lagging" communities. See the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation, New Rural Economy Project, for additional work on this topic. http://www.crrf.ca or http://nre.concordia.ca

Sustainability Project on Sustainable Communities by the New Economy Development Group Inc.

• This project explores options for federal departments to enhance rural community capacity in order to promote sustainable community development. The study examines the lessons from current government and community initiatives, looking at a number of options for the federal government, ways of implementing those options, and developing a framework for federal action. Funding for this project came from Canadian Rural Partnership, Natural Resources Canada, Human Resources Development Canada, Environment Canada and Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

• The Canadian Rural Partnership and other organizations including the Co-operatives Secretariat, Health Canada, Heritage Canada and Human Resources Development Canada funded fourteen case studies to better understand the functioning and current situation of voluntary organizations. The result is this report on governance guidelines for voluntary sector organizations.

• This project examines how information and communications technologies (ICT) are being applied in rural and remote schools in Newfoundland and Labrador. Analysis includes looking at school curriculum; links between ICT and economic development strategies and education in rural communities; affects on students and their future employment opportunities, expectations; the financial and economic cost of applying technology; and lessons learned from the Newfoundland and Labrador system that can be used as examples for other rural and remote communities across the country.
  Internet:
  http://www.rural.gc.ca/researchreports/ed/education_e.phtml

Rural Canadians Survey 2001 by the Rural Secretariat Research and Analysis Group.

• This report presents the results of a Rural Secretariat poll to gauge rural Canadians' level of awareness of Government of Canada services and Rural Secretariat initiatives including the Rural Dialogue and the Canadian Rural Information Service, assess the degree of support for federal involvement in rural community development and look at social engagement in rural communities across Canada. The poll was conducted to ensure the Rural Secretariat is using effective methods to reach citizens, and to confirm the priorities that citizens raised during Rural Dialogue events.
  Internet: http://www.rural.gc.ca/publications/leger/leger_e.phtml

King's County Genuine Progress Index (GPI) questionnaires

• The Canadian Rural Partnership supported Kings County, Nova Scotia to develop community level measurements to evaluate the community's social, economic and environmental assets. The measurements are compiled into a "Genuine Progress Index" that can assist the community with planning and development strategies. This stage of the project involves the development of community questionnaires for each component of the GPI and a test survey. The work parallels a larger GPI project for the province of Nova Scotia. Information on the GPI in Nova Scotia may be found at: http://www.gpiatlantic.org/community.shtml The King's County and Nova Scotia GPI model may be applied in other communities and regions.

Rural Canada Research Inventory by the Rural Canada Bibliography Association

• This project is a national, web-accessible inventory of research relating to, and of interest to, rural Canada. The inventory contains entries from every province and territory and from a variety of sources including the federal government, provincial and territorial governments, universities and colleges, rural associations and organizations.
  Internet: http://www.stpeterscollege.ca/crse/rcri_site/
  rcri_search_pt.asp

Canadian Rural Partnership research reports

Coming soon:

The following Canadian Rural Partnership research reports have been completed and will be published soon on this Web site.

• This project identifies functional economic areas in the Prairie region, based on trade centers and labour commuting. Comprehensive profiles of each of the functional economic areas help in planning and identifying oppportunities for partnership and economic development.

1. Community-based responses to rural transportation issues in Ontario
   by Tony Fuller and Marni Herold, School of Rural Planning and Development, University of Guelph, 2000 (revised 2002). The first report in the series examines the rural experience of the Community Transportation Action Program, a Government of Ontario initiative to stimulate greater coordination of local transportation services.



2. Rural Youth and Mobility: An Emerging Rural Transportation Issue by Marni Herold and Kathy Kaye, School of Rural Planning and Development, University of Guelph, 2001. The second report in the series surveys transportation issues of rural youth.



3. Ontario's Rural Roads: Where Are We Now? Where Do We Go From Here?
   by Todd M. Gordon, Todd Gordon Consulting and Research, 2001 (revised 2002). The third report in the series is a first look at rural roads and their future given the changes in municipal restructuring, and the "export" nature of the rural economy.



4. Elderly and Disabled Rural Residents: A Continuing Transportation Issue
   by Marni Herold, Todd Gordon, Kathy Kaye, Emily Brockie and Tony Fuller, 2002. The fourth report in the series examines elderly and individuals with disabilities living in rural areas and their mobility problems.

Other Canadian Rural Partnership publications

Regional research

• Rural depopulation has been a problem and a challenge for the Atlantic region and its provinces and municipalities for several decades now. In recent years the problem has been much more acute as it has been coupled with a long period of economic adjustment and decline. Most rural parts of the region beyond urban regions have suffered slow and steady population decline.

• These reports examine population, economic, social and health-services indicators in areas belonging to four different categories of rural (Strong, Moderate, Weak and No MIZ). They describe the differences that exist, not only between rural and urban, but between these different types of rural areas.

Rural Priorities: Survey of Rural Albertans
Prepared by Marianne Sorensen

• The Rural Alberta Survey is part of an ongoing Rural Dialogue initiated by the federal government. The Survey was designed to collect information on rural Albertans’ views of and experiences with the 11 priorities for action and related areas. The results will be used by federal departments in their program and policy decisions and by representatives of the five participating Alberta regions in their Rural Dialogue workshops.

• As part of a 'Rural Dialogue' initiated by the federal government in its 1998 Federal Framework for Action in Rural Canada, rural and remote Canadians identified eleven priorities for government to address. This study was undertaken to explore more thoroughly Yukoners' views of these eleven priorities. The report presents findings from a representative survey of Yukoners that can be used by government departments for policy and program development.
  Internet: http://www.rural.gc.ca/team/yt/survey_e.phtml

Rural research resource links

Government of Canada research links

Conferences and events

Rural research contact information

The Canadian Rural Partnership research and analysis is administered by the Rural Research and Analysis Unit of the Rural Secretariat. For further information on the research and analysis activities of the Canadian Rural Partnership and the Rural Secretariat, please contact: