Rural Dialogue
Session in Creston, BC

Creston, British Columbia - ENGLISH
June 24, 1998
5:30 - 9:00pm

Questions

1. A) Rural residents are concerned about the future of their communities.
What are the key strengths of your community as you look to the future?

1. B) What are the biggest challenges that you, your family and your community face as you look to the future?

2. What is preventing you and your community from overcoming these challenges?

3. What organizations, levels of government or others should be involved in working to overcoming these challenges?

4. What role do you see specifically for the federal government in working with you to overcome these challenges?

5. How can federal programs and services better support your community's needs (e.g., are there changes needed in the design, delivery, awareness or accessibility)?

6. What is the best way for the Federal Government to continue to hear the views of rural people on an ongoing basis (e.g., meetings, surveys, polls, newsletters, advisory groups, the Internet, etc.)?

Findings

1. Rural residents are concerned about the future of their communities.
a) What are the key strengths of your community as you look to the future?

Natural resources are a key strength. Communities have a diverse resource base, a large available land base and rich natural beauty. The activities which this resource base support include forestry, farming, mining, tourism and retirement. Water in also important in terms of quality, quantity and as a power source.
The people who live in rural areas are a key strength. A willing and skilled workforce is available, and there are lots of people who could be trained (this can be viewed as both a strength and a weakness).
People in rural areas portray ingenuity, resourcefulness and self-sufficiency. They have a high level of involvement in, and identify strongly with, their communities. They know their neighbours, volunteer, and are willing to help others.
Rural communities are safe for raising a family. There is also a diversity of cultures among communities. A high percentage of kids attend post-secondary schools. The educational institutions in the communities are also a strength.
The Columbia Basin Trust provides a large pool of capital for the area.

Long term employment in rural areas is a challenge. Tourism tends to be highly seasonal (strong in summer) and opportunities in forestry are dwindling. Rural communities lack economic stability. There are limited employment opportunities, especially for youth. Youth are leaving their communities.
There is a lack of infrastructure and shortage of services to attract new businesses into rural areas.
Communities tend to be "one industry" towns.
Young people are missing out on job opportunities in order to pursue educational achievements. Technical experience is not recognized as valuable. Time spent in college would be better spent gaining industrial training. (one view).
Increasing educational requirements are becoming difficult to meet due to constrained financial resources. Continued education is needed to upgrade skills.
Community services, to support a healthy social climate, are lacking. Recreation facilities for youth, daycare, and health care facilities are needed. Rural communities are ill-equipped to support an aging population (housing, health & recreation).
People in rural areas are not treated fairly. Rural values are not understood. Too much control over rural affairs lies in urban centres.
Rural areas are not ready for new technology.

There is a need for information and training but most is not available in rural Canada. Communities lack the critical mass to have training programs located in rural areas.
Taxes and regulations are holding back growth. An "anti-investment" attitude has developed in B.C.
There is a need for technology infrastructure.
The cost of services is high in rural areas (eg. telephone, transportation, technology access, etc.).
Rural people do not have an equal voice in determining how resources should be managed. There is also a lack of leadership from investment agencies and government.

Control of local resources should be placed in the hands of local people. Decisions on purchases, approaches, services and taxes should be made at the lowest possible level. Municipal, provincial and federal decisions should require more involvement at the community level. Many people in rural areas don't understand the differences between the federal and provincial governments.
Funding allocations should recognize rural costs and allow communities to identify and invest in their own needs. Smaller projects and investments in permanent high paying technical jobs should be examined. Communities need to diversify from logging, mining and tourism.
Barriers to training should be eliminated and infrastructure development should be encouraged to provide rural Canada with equal technological information systems.
Rural/urban and provincial student exchanges should be encouraged.

All levels of government should be included. Also, all stakeholders in the decisions that affect their lives should be involved. Individuals, businesses and community associations each have a role.

Consultations across Canada in rural communities should lead to recommendations for appropriate federal government departments.
Town halls are an appropriate forum for all people to be informed and heard.
Stakeholders should be involved in grass roots development of policy. Communities should identify issues and push all levels of government to work together to make things happen. Leadership and co-ordination on the part of government is needed to make community initiatives come together.
Each level of government needs responsibilities and clear authority to make things happen. Community representatives of government are needed back in the community.
The problems created by the Columbia River Treaty need to be addressed (eg. subsidies affecting the food distribution system).
A common vision and direction is needed. Also, funding is needed to provide universal access to education, environmental recovery, infrastructure, information and energy.

The federal government should appoint a liaison for each specific rural area. This person should be well qualified and "oversee" rather than "direct".
There should be less interference with business. The federal government should get out of the way of private efforts to provide access to technology. They should also stop contradictory subsidies (ie. Satellite uplinks are subsidized while land links are not).
The federal government should reduce personal income tax, reduce corporate tax shelters and provide incentives to encourage investment in rural areas.
The federal government should include local communities. They need to listen in order to understand local issues. Options should be investigated so the best solution is implemented. They should offer to partner with local governments and be more accessible to the general public.
There is no role for the federal government.
Minimum standards are required, nation-wide, for federal programs. These standards cannot be rigid. (eg. health, employment).
The federal government should act on the information brought forward from the Dialogue sessions and not shelve it. With information, comes responsibility.
Rural areas should have equal access to services and opportunities (federal government) as urban areas.
The federal government must recognize the impact of the Columbia River Treaty on the Kootenay Region.

Programs should be dynamic and designed to be improved when needed. Programs should be designed to encourage self-sufficiency. Programs often prolong a problem rather than solve it.
A local presence of the federal government and local level flexibility in decision making are needed. Programs should be driven by needs and not "sexy" or politically correct targets.
Small "pots" of money cannot be properly accessed in smaller communities. More flexibility is needed to allow for better use of these funds.
Existing programs are not widely known or understood in rural areas.
An equitable distribution of funds is needed.
Chartered banks and the Bank of Canada should play a more prominent role in economic growth. (eg. low interest loans to socially marginalized regions). The government should create an environment for business but should not be involved in lending money.
A "one-stop shop" for government programs and information is needed. Information needs to be more "down to earth" and understandable for rural people.
Incentives are needed to provide for communities' social needs (eg. doctors).

All of the methods noted in the workbook are viewed as useful. Most participants emphasized that "face to face" community meetings were more desirable. Regular communication and follow-up is critical.
Communication through brokering and partnerships with rural communities is a good approach for making everyone aware of respective roles and available programs.
Communications should occur through local MP's since elected officials represent the majority.
Kiosks in local towns that provide Internet access would be useful. Also, move information in public libraries.

Youth need to learn important life skills in school. Skills include budgeting, accounting, public speaking and public involvement. In addition, youth need to learn the workings of government programs and agencies and how to deal personally with government officials.
MP's in rural ridings should have more support staff to serve their communities.

All Rural Dialogue session reports on this Canadian Rural Partnership (CRP) web site are included for information purposes only. The views expressed in the Rural Dialogue session reports have not been edited and are those of one or many rural Canadians who attended the Rural Dialogue sessions.

The views expressed in the Rural Dialogue session reports do not necessarily represent the views of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada or any other department or agency of the Government of Canada. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada does not make any warranties, expressed or implied, as to the content and/or use of the Rural Dialogue session reports.