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The Rural Lens 
Since it began in 1998, the Canadian Rural Partnership has promoted greater consideration of rural issues and concerns in the design and delivery of federal policies and programs. It encourages federal departments and agencies to scrutinize their policies and programs through the Rural Lens. What is the Rural Lens? It is a way of viewing issues through the eyes of Canadians living in rural and remote areas. Federal departments and agencies are increasingly aware of the effects of their policies, programs and services on rural Canada. Consequently, when considering future initiatives, decisionmakers are making a concerted effort to understand the impact of new policies and programs on rural Canada. How do federal officials assess the effects of their initiatives on rural Canada? There are two main tools available to them: the Checklist of Rural Lens Considerations and the Federal Framework for Action in Rural Canada. These tools were constructed from citizens' ideas expressed during the Rural Dialogue, a discussion between the federal government and rural and remote Canadians. With these tools, we can estimate the effects new federal government services, policies and programs will have on rural Canada, in advance of their being set in motion. This way, we can ensure, among other things, that federal programs and services are accessible in rural and remote areas, and that there is flexibility for decision-making at the local level. By using the Rural Lens, the federal government ensures that new programs, services and policies are appropriate for rural Canadians. The Government reports on its progress in meeting rural and remote Canadians' needs and priorities in an Annual Report to Parliament. For further information on the Canadian Rural Partnership and the Rural Lens, please call 1-888-781-2222 or contact the Senior Policy Advisor, Rural Secretariat, in your region. For more information: February 2002
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