Rural Dialogue
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

Meeting Particulars

Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
June 22, 1998
5:30 - 8:30

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?

People are a key strength in rural communities. There is a large segment of young, highly skilled and highly educated people among the population. People in rural areas have a lot of wisdom, knowledge and abilities.
Peoples' sense of involvement in the community is greater in rural areas. The volunteer base is strong and essential for communities to function. People tend to be community minded, know what they need, and feel that they can make a difference. They are also protective of their communities.
The uniqueness and diversity of communities in rural areas are also strengths. Communities do not identify themselves with the key industry or entity (eg. park) located there. Their sense of identity goes beyond this.
In smaller communities, everyone knows each other and helps each other. People also have the freedom to choose their lifestyles more easily in rural areas, and there is a sense that things are safer.
Rural areas are close to natural and renewable resources such as trees, minerals and land. The natural environment and pristine wilderness are valuable assets.
The contribution of First Nations' culture is a key strength.
People tend to be individuals with a strong sense of "my way" is the right way. They also actively pursue their right to participate.
Because of the small populations in rural areas, people tend to be "jacks-of-all-trades", very creative and highly innovative. Subsistence skills are widely held.
All parts of communities in rural areas are visible, including the dispossessed and disadvantaged.
The benefits of high federal transfers are realized by rural communities. Communities have Internet access, good infrastructure, and lots of services available.

Rural economies are not diverse enough. There is a fear among rural communities about their economic survival. Employment tends to be seasonal and opportunities are fewer than in the past. There is a need to achieve stable, sustainable economies in rural communities
The education system in rural areas in lacking. It is difficult for rural people to keep up with current knowledge and skills. The adult education system is losing support. The educational needs of rural children and adults are not being met. People must leave communities for post-secondary education.
Economic cycles create social problems. Even when the economy is good, family problems result from having both parents working. Alcoholism and suicide are major problems. Other problems include teen pregnancy, child poverty, and abuse.
The federal government is too far removed from rural communities. In order to get information on federal programs, it is necessary to call a 1-800 number in Vancouver and speak with someone who doesn't understand local problems.
Government, in general, is insensitive and too interfering without knowing the consequences of their interference. Public servants are public "dictators". The Yukon government is also too dominant in rural areas. There is an unequal access to power in Yukon politics. Rural communities must cope with government programs that have been handed down as a result of government turnover.
A large sector of the population is transient (an estimated 10% of the population turns over each year). People are becoming less willing to invest in relationships which is diminishing the social capital of rural areas. The result is a "carpet bagger" economy with a large amount of economic leakage.
Too many government programs focus on surface problems and do not address root causes.
The costs of services in rural areas are high. A key challenge will be meeting the demands on these services at reasonable rates.
Rural communities fear for the future. Key issues are whether there will be enough jobs and adequate health care.

Training and education problems are holding back communities. The local school system is not supportive of its students (ie. There was no student council this year in one community). Drop-out rates are high and access to post-secondary education is limited (the University of Saskatchewan offers 2 degree programs in the Yukon). When students leave the area, there is a high chance they will not return.
The small tax base means it is difficult to get cost-recovery on services. For this reason, many services are not offered.
Insufficient infrastructure (phones, roads, etc.) and high business costs are holding communities back. In addition, people in rural communities have difficulty accessing capital for personal or business purpose. Financial institutions require high down payments as rural business ventures are considered very high risk. The Business Development Bank is not accessible from rural areas.
Rural residents are experiencing burnout from the number of public meetings organized to effect change, but which do not result in visible progress.
There is not enough money available for recreation and youth-focused services. Youth problems are addressed with "knee jerk" reactions such as curfews (proposed for Dawson).
Government red tape is a problem. When services are available to rural communities, people are often not aware of them. There is also a lack of political/bureaucratic economies of scale.
There is a lack of a cohesive vision for the Yukon. There is no consensus as to what the Yukon should mean or where to go in the future. This is also reflected in the high degree of diversity among First Nations communities.

Land claims must be settled
Problems associated with both technological and physical infrastructure must be addressed. However, people are concerned with the tax burden that infrastructure imposes. Focal points should be in the communities and include firehalls, telephone systems and Internet access.
A different way of looking at issues is needed. People are looking for more control over initiatives. New business initiatives have to make sense for the communities.
Programs are needed to help overcome social problems (eg. low-income housing, promotion of alcohol-free lifestyles).
Tax breaks, incentives and access to start-up capital are needed for small businesses. The Yukon should be a GST exempt zone.
The fabric that makes up communities must be maintained and enhanced.

All levels of government and community organizations should work together to make limited dollars go farther and to achieve common goals (eg. federal, territorial, First Nations, municipal).
Local decisions have to be made by local government. The base of local involvement should be broadened and higher levels of government must have respect for local decisions. There should be less involvement from beyond the community - "trickle-up" approach.
People need to be more self-sufficient. There should be more involvement by people on welfare or involved in community work.

Economic Development offices have to be re-established in the communities instead of centrally located in Whitehorse.
Both the federal and territorial governments should facilitate the dissemination of infrastructure to rural areas. The federal government needs a "federal agent" who can help people access information on what is available.
A system is needed to provide support and advice to communities so that they can be effectively involved in government processes which affect them.
Some skills development is needed.
The federal and YT governments should facilitate community development through funding.
The municipal governments should relax regulations.

The federal government must make efforts to maintain control over standards while creating "partnerships" with communities and other levels of government.
The federal government must make people aware of what programs are available. It must also learn to communicate with people in rural areas in a way they can understand (ie. Face to face), and listen to what is being said. It must be flexible and broaden the base of participation.
Federal government regulatory agencies such as the CRTC should break up monopolies (eg. NWTEL).
Affordable education and good health care are needed.
The federal government should provide advice, tax incentives money and infrastructure. It should also provide leadership and channel funds directly to communities rather than filtering them through several agencies. Capital projects should not be funded if operations and maintenance funds are not available.
The federal government should establish a program to address the threat to communities of wildfires.
The federal government should identify and develop resources adjacent to communities - local development
The Canada-Yukon infrastructure program should be re-instated.
In addition to short-term funding for planning processes, more long-term funding is needed for initiatives.

Programs in rural areas (eg. weather, air-traffic control) should be maintained.
Better communication of existing programs is needed. A "person" is needed to talk to people about programs since not everyone has e-mail or Internet access.
Programs should be flexible and keep the communities in the driver's seat. A good balance of project support, rather than supervision, is needed. Priority setting must occur in communities and a commitment to continue programs beyond the political 4 year cycle is needed.
Programs with multi-government involvement are abysmally slow. (eg. commercial land lease applications). Water licenses go through extremely convoluted multi-government channels. The federal government must reduce the time and steps involved in business approval processes.
Government must change its attitude and the way it relates to rural Canada. Instead of providing what it sees as "answers", the government must involve open communication and active listening in its decision processes.
Duplication is occurring even in First Nations' Bands.
Programs need to be more focused and communities need to be involved from the beginning. The gap between government and community should be institutionalized. Processes should be inclusive and look for ways communities can maintain control.
Statistical models don't allow for changes in priorities. The Yukon is not adequately polled. Not all of the Yukon has the same needs as Whitehorse. Each community is unique.

Advisory groups were considered very important and technology access is seen as a problem for many rural areas.
If programs are going to be delivered in a community, then some means of communication with the community, to educate, inform, and support, is needed.
Community members could be flown out for training and information instead of always having someone flown in. This creates local experts and ensures that information stays in the community.
Any Other Comments
Youth are leaving rural areas to go to school, and both youth and adults are leaving to find work. This problem is continually getting worse. Kids are unable to get their college/university entrance requirements at the local school in Dawson. In addition, adult educational opportunities are threatened by withdrawal of federal money.

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.