Meeting Particulars

Smithers, British Columbia - ENGLISH

Monday, June 29, 1998

5:30 - 8:45pm

Facilitator: Fiona Petersen

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.A) What is preventing you and your community from overcoming these challenges? What is holding you back?

2. B) What needs to be done?

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.
1. A)What are the key strengths of your community as you look to the future?

Natural resources are a key strength. The agricultural base gives stability to rural areas. There is really good land and great soil for farming.

Recreational areas are abundant and nearby. Rural areas benefit from a clean environment. Kamloops attracts a huge number of tourists.

Rural residents have a strong sense of community pride. There is a high degree of cultural diversity (cosmopolitan), and a high quality of life. Many families have roots in their communities. The communities are young, people have a choice of lifestyle, and bring new ideas and enthusiasm. There is also room for communities to grow.

In the case of the Fraser Valley, rural areas are close to major markets. Communities also provide good local markets for house-made goods and local businesses.

In the case of Vanderhoof, workshops provided by the Chamber of Commerce on small business are helpful.

1 (b) Biggest challenges

There are limited opportunities for young people looking to the future. Young people must leave their communities to pursue education and employment. This creates uncertainty for farmers in terms of the transition of their operations to the next generation.

Growth is an important challenge looking ahead. Urban sprawl is creating conflicts between urban and rural cultures/values.

Resource depletion and the current economic downturn are significant challenges. Rural areas tend to be highly dependent on resources, with only minimal diversity. The changing economy means it is difficult for people to be retrained.

Those who control the major industries that operate in rural areas are not involved in the local communities. Not enough consideration is given to the long-term sustainability of logging, farming, mining, and fishing.

Education, health care and social service levels in rural areas are lacking. There is limited access to higher education, limited health care services and limited services for seniors. Few residential facilities are available for seniors. There are limited or no services or facilities for other groups, e.g., low income groups, victims of abuse or battered women.

Tax dollars are draining out of rural communities. Money is being spent outside rural areas while inadequate funding is provided for transportation infrastructure. This affects communities' ability to attract both businesses and retirees.

There is limited access to technology and a lack of financial assistance for new/small businesses.

There is a need to change the way people think about rural areas. The "status quo" attitude is not appropriate.

2 (a) What is holding communities back?

There is a lack of senior government focus on economic strategy.

Rural areas receive poor representation at the political level due to the large electoral areas. Consequently, there is a lack of resources to provide services or assistance to these areas.

There is a lack of local control over resources and decision-making. Those who control resources do not have commitments to local communities.

There is a need for government to work with the people. Fluctuations in currency markets can be devastating. In addition, there is a high turnover of people in key government positions (2-3 years).

Tenure over Crown land and resources is uncertain. In addition, expansion opportunities are limited by the lack of accessibility to Crown lands.

Transportation infrastructure and services are poor.

2 (b) What needs to be done?

Government services need to be returned to smaller communities. A commitment must be made to make local communities more self-reliant. Power and resources should be downloaded to communities.

There is a need to develop local markets for the food economy. Large food chains need to buy more local produce. Also, there should be more local processing.

Land claims issues must be settled.

Government red tape and regulations should be reduced.

Transportation linkages and coordination should be improved. Also, there should be greater access to technology.

Tenure reform is needed.

Currency laws which limit the flight of capital are needed. Something like the "Tobin tax" is needed for international investment transactions. Stability in business is needed to maintain the tax base.

Communities need to develop the skills necessary to do the things government used to do.

Secondary and tertiary industries in forestry, mining, etc. must be developed. This is achievable given the abundant hydro, labour and inexpensive land available.

3 What organizations, levels of government or others should be involved?

All levels of government should work together to overcome local challenges (one view).

Federal and provincial governments should be kept out of local decision-making - "local solutions to local problems" (another view).

The Regional Districts and towns should have a lot more power. Community development should occur at the local and regional levels. Communities should tell government what their needs are.

Local organizations should be involved in all activities concerning the development of their community (with the exception of the Chamber of Commerce and unions).

How

Federal and provincial governments should assist local governments to solve local problems. All governments should act in an advisory role allowing decisions to be made locally.

All levels of government need to work together cooperatively, eliminating overlap and duplication.

Funding is needed.

Involvement should occur from the "bottom up." Federal and provincial governments need a strategy but it should be local governments that implement it. More power should be given to local governments and organizations.

Governments should make better use of local organizations by providing them with the resources to carry out programs such as training (e.g., NGOs, Chambers of Commerce, First Nations).

Federal and provincial governments should keep their appeal and veto powers and arbitrate.

4 What role for the federal government?

The federal government should decentralize decision making and empower local and regional governments. Federal politics are not as democratic as local politics which tends to be more grounded to the wants and needs of constituents.

The federal government should provide more local services and allow communities to "opt out" of some kinds of legislation. They should take a lead role in upgrading technology and ensuring that infrastructure is in place for development. They should also provide tax incentives for rural development. Programs should be more results oriented.

The federal government should provide incentives for rural residents to return to their communities after training or advanced education. They should forgive student loans for grads who work in the North or in rural communities.

The federal government should undertake "real" consultation with rural communities. They should listen to the "people," not big business and banking corporations.

More tax dollars should be funneled into local communities.

MPs and the Prime Minister should be more visible in rural Canada.

Education should be more affordable for rural kids. More scholarships are needed.

More time should be spent educating people on the dangers of our present currency market system.

Health Canada needs to take a more active role in regulating food safety issues. More independent research is needed.

Travel costs should be subsidized.

People should be taxed less. While school and health taxes are reasonable, subsidies for foreign companies are not.

5 How can federal programs and services be improved?

Geographic diversity must be recognized during program planning and resource allocation. Need to provide greater access to programs in smaller communities.

Disband FBDB and put the money to use in CFDCs.

Programs should be administered locally rather than in Ottawa. Common housing for services could be achieved with other levels of government and other agencies.

Program surpluses should be used to fund new programs or expand existing programs.

More money is needed. Taxes should be lowered.

The high costs of transport and freight for farmers and ranchers need to be looked at.

Support the CBC and make better use of it for communicating with northern/rural areas.

Ensure adequate health services for northern communities. This could involve greater acceptance and funding of established alternative medicine.

Customer services which used to be provided by the railways need to be restored.

Be more realistic in terms of delivery of programs (i.e., an aboriginal youth program is run out of Kamloops which requires considerable travel).

Greater accessibility to bus services or transit is needed.

A significant amount of money could be saved if programs were administered locally by local organizations. Awareness of the local reality is needed.

Less dependence on volunteers is needed (e.g., health boards are staffed by volunteers).

Organizations such as the IMF, chartered banks and currency brokers should have less power.

6 Best ways for the federal government to continue to hear rural community views.

A number of communication methods were viewed as favourable. Ongoing advisory groups, the Internet, 1-800 numbers and the CBC were all suggested.

More local workshops were recommended. Members of Parliament should attend these workshops. In addition, the government should publicize and demonstrate the response, results and impacts of these consultations.

There should be better communication with local governments, agencies and advisory groups.

The costs of consultations should be justified through results.

Communications through the media should occur across Canada. People in different areas can learn from each other.

"Show us you heard us" and act on the advice/concerns.

Other comments

Young Canadians need to travel across Canada and be encouraged to stay in Canada. Young people need to develop their skills (especially agriculture).

We need to provide a wider range of opportunities for small/young farmers. "Small business is beautiful" and needs a chance to succeed.

"Send money."

Feedback

Participants considered the workshop a "good start." The small groups worked well. The diversity among the groups was good. However, the ideas needed to be expanded on. Overall, the workshop was too short. A full day would have been better.

Advertising for the meeting was terrible. Participants had difficulty figuring out where and when the meeting would be.

The timeframe for conducting additional group meetings in the communities was too short. Many would have organized further meetings if there had been more time.

A feedback session with an MP, which would provide some accountability for the process, would be good. Senior bureaucrats also have to be accountable.