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Canadian Rural Partnership
Introduction  The Canadian Rural Partnership is the key policy framework supporting federal rural policy efforts to date. It is funded by $20 million over four years (1998 - 2002), and built around the Federal Framework for Action priorities. The Partnership is about operating within the federal government to ensure that federal programs, policies and activities provide support to rural communities. An Interdepartmental Working Group, consisting of representatives from 32 federal departments and agencies, and Rural Teams working in each province and territory, are responsible for implementing the Partnership. The Rural Secretariat, within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provides the overall leadership and coordination for this cross-government approach. Listening to Canadians living in rural and remote areas is one cornerstone of the Partnership. Responding to their needs by building networks and providing support at the grassroots level is another. The Partnership has, since 1998, conducted an ongoing "Rural Dialogue" with Canadians from all parts of the country. This dialogue has helped the government build an overall rural strategy, the Framework for Action in Rural Canada, and define a vision and 11 priority areas to be addressed. These priority areas include improving for example, opportunities for rural youth, access to financial resources, and access to federal services, in rural communities. They form the basis of much of the Partnership's work. For each of the last three years, the Partnership has, collaboratively with other federal departments, other levels of government, and the private sector, funded pilot projects which test new ways of responding to these rural issues. It has also funded research to help policy-makers and communities better understand these issues, so they can better respond to them. The Partnership's overall goal is to enhance the quality of life in rural communities and better equip the communities to compete in a global economy. The Partnership complements other Government of Canada activities. Recent chronology of federal rural policy 1996 - A government commitment In the 1996 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada commits itself to the economic renewal of rural Canada. 1997 - Thinking rural The Standing Committee on Natural Resources releases a unanimous report called "Think Rural" which contains recommendations on how this renewal can be accomplished. The Member of Parliament for Prince Edward-Hastings, Lyle Vanclief, is appointed Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister Coordinating Rural Affairs . 1998 - A Rural Lens... The "Think Rural" report and the work of the Interdepartmental Working Group leads to the February 9, 1998, announcement of a "rural lens" to be applied in the design of all future federal government policies, programs and services to ensure a better understanding of their impact on rural Canada. ...and the Rural Dialogue From May to July 31, 1998, a Rural Dialogue with Canadians representing all regions of the country is conducted. This dialogue aims to help the federal government understand and identify its appropriate role in addressing rural issues. Feedback is gathered from close to 7,000 rural Canadians about their challenges, priorities and opportunities through individual and group submissions of the Rural Dialogue Workbook , and 33 regional sessions held across the country. The input received from these sessions and from workbook submissions is analysed and used as a basis for discussion at the National Rural Workshop, which takes place in 1998, near Belleville, Ontario. Participants identify 11 areas for government action and ask the Government of Canada to produce a coordinated, flexible, long-term policy for rural and remote communities. Partnership announced The federal government announces the creation of the Canadian Rural Partnership and confirmed it in the 1998 budget with $20 million over four years. 1999 - Rural priorities To further expand the Partnership, a Federal Framework for Action in Rural Canada is announced May 14, 1999 to respond to further consultation with rural citizens' priorities at the Belleville workshop. The Framework includes recognition of the 11 areas as policy priorities for the government in addressing its commitment to assist rural Canadians. These priorities are part of a federal rural policy to guide federal actions over the long term and to help focus Partnership spending. In August, the Member of Parliament for Parry Sound-Muskoka, Andy Mitchell , is appointed Secretary of State (Rural Development)(Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario). 2000 - A meeting of rural minds A National Rural Conference was held in April 2000, in Magog, Quebec, to advance the Rural Dialogue, review progress to date, share lessons learned, and further discuss strategies for bottom-up community development. As a follow-up to this Conference, a Rural Action Plan was developed. A second national conference is planned for April 4-6, 2002 in Charlottetown, PEI. Contributions of other departments In addition, individual departments continue to deliver programs and services of benefit to rural residents, such as Industry Canada's Community Access Program (CAP) and the Federal Public Sector Youth Internship Program. Through the Canadian Rural Partnership and the individual programs and services delivered by federal departments and agencies, the Government of Canada is acting on its commitment to build stronger rural communities. For further information on the Canadian Rural Partnership, please call 1-888-781-2222 or contact the Senior Policy Advisor, Rural Secretariat, in your region.
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