Canadian Rural Partnership
Previous Issues
Summer 2000
Vol.1 Issue 3
Working Together in Rural Canada
first annual report to Parliament
On May 4, Secretary of State for Rural Development, Andy Mitchell, tabled the first annual report to Parliament on the status of rural Canada. The report contains vital information on more than 500 federal government services and programs available to rural Canadians and a list of Canadian Rural Partnership Pilot Projects from 1998-1999.
"As Secretary of State for Rural Development, my objective--my pledge--is to continue to ensure that rural Canadians are given the opportunity to contribute to, and share in, the economic wealth this country has to offer," said Mr. Mitchell.
"The idea of this report is to give Canadians an opportunity to understand and see what's taking place."
The 84-page report, entitled Working Together in Rural Canada, is broken down into sections focussing on the 11 priority areas, identified by rural Canadians during the National Rural Workshop held near Belleville, Ontario in 1998. Each section contains: the concerns of rural Canadians, ways in which the Government of Canada has been addressing those concerns, and highlights some of the government's actions.
If you would like more information, or would like to receive a copy of the annual report to Parliament, please contact:
Toll-free phone: 1-888-781-2222
Toll-free fax: 1-800-884-9899
E-mail: rs@agr.gc.ca
Internet: www.rural.gc.ca
Table of Contents
RURAL THOUGHTS
by ANDY MITCHELL, SECRETARY OF STATE
(RURAL DEVELOPMENT)
(FEDERAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FOR NORTHERN ONTARIO)
Conference Produces An Action Plan for Rural Canada
I always believed the National Rural Conference would be a success, but I knew it for sure when I saw and heard people in animated discussions of their issues long after the sessions had ended on the first night.
More than 500 people, the vast majority from rural and remote Canada, got together in Magog-Orford for this conference, a follow-up to the National Rural Workshop held near Belleville in 1998. Their hard work and dedication has provided the basis of an action plan for me to take to my cabinet colleagues.
The conference began April 27 with a dynamic youth session that set the tone for the balance of the conference – our rural youth made a very strong impression throughout.
Youth involvement in their communities was one of a number of themes and messages that recurred during the entire three days. We need to empower our young people by giving them a voice in decisions that will affect their future.
The conference format gave many rural and remote Canadians an opportunity not only to discuss projects in their communities, but through an exhibition, to demonstrate what they are doing. The chance to share information, the value of the lessons learned and the networking that took place over the three days, represent the true value of the conference and explain why there is a strong desire to do it again.
As I said earlier, the result of this conference will be my action plan which I will circulate for comments. We still have to work out the details of that action plan, but coming away from Magog, I could see clearly that it would cover the following ideas.
Infrastructure in rural and remote areas – some government programming has been announced, but rural participants at the conference made it clear that we need to design the programs in a way that will address needs in rural and remote Canada.
Telecommunications infrastructure and telecommunications are two sides of the same issue – one side is making sure people have the infrastructure, but once you have access, you have to know how to use it too.
Support to natural resource based industries, including agriculture, simply recognizes that these industries and the economies they support are different from urban economies. We need to work on programming that will address the cyclical and seasonal nature of these sectors.
Access to government information is clearly an area we still need to work on. Since Belleville, we have developed the Service Canada initiative that allows people to go to an HRDC office, a post office, or another designated site, and get information about all government services in person, by computer, or by toll-free telephone. It’s a good start, but we need to expand on it.
Empowerment of communities is another area I will work on. We need to develop leadership capacity and to do that, we need to develop programming that can be used to help community members become leaders, with special attention to youth.
The government has set aside $90 million for the Community Futures initiative over the next five years and one of my action items is to make sure that funding flows through to rural communities in a way that will have a positive impact and makes the most sense.
Lastly, there is the Canadian Rural Partnership Pilot Projects Initiative. I think it’s a good initiative, but we need to ensure that people can learn more quickly from the experiences of others. We also need to look at how we can disseminate the lessons learned from this initiative.
Our next steps definitely include continuing the Rural Dialogue. We will explore the possibility of having another conference in two years, and in the interim we will work on options for regional events. We will also work to enhance the Rural Times newsletter and our on-line discussion group to make the Rural Dialogue truly an ongoing process.
Overall, the conference was an excellent opportunity for all participants, myself included, to meet people from rural and remote communities in all parts of this great country. It reinforced my commitment to all rural Canadians to work to make sure we have a sustainable rural Canada into the future.
If you have any comments on this column, or any other topics you would like to see addressed, please don’t hesitate to contact me at:
SecretaryOfStateRural@agr.gc.ca
Or you can write to me at:
Andy Mitchell
Secretary of State for Rural Development
Sir John Carling Building
930 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0C5
Table of Contents
Building our Future Together,
the National Rural Conference
Special Edition
photo
More than 500 Canadians from all over the country came to discuss strategies for rural and remote community development at The National Rural Conference, hosted by the Honourable Andy Mitchell, Secretary of State (Rural Development) (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)
Participants, including citizens from rural and remote communities, rural organizations and all levels of government, met in Magog, Québec, from April 27 to 30, to identify issues specifically pertaining to rural and remote Canada.
Areas discussed by participants included youth, health care, education, access to federal government information, community capacity building, the knowledge-based economy and economic diversification. Participants heard about rural development initiatives in their province or territory and about pilot projects led by communities across Canada. At the end of the conference, key rural issues that had been identified by participants during the conference were discussed at round table discussion groups.
In closing the conference, Secretary of State Mitchell summarized these key issues and committed to a rural action plan. Mr. Mitchell will send all conference participants a draft copy of the action plan for their comments.
“You’re telling me, as the Secretary of State for Rural Development, ‘these are the things that we want you to be working on over the next 12 months, over the next 24 months,’” said Mr. Mitchell. “I want to emphasize it again, I am your servant. My action plan is set by you.”
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The National Rural Conference - special edition
To give readers an overall look at the National Rural Conference, the following Rural Times special edition has been dedicated to highlight the various conference sessions.
"Focussing on our Youth" discussion group
The Honourable Andy Mitchell, Secretary of State for Rural Development opened the youth discussion group by saying the issues we face as rural Canadians, regardless of age, are different than the issues faced by urban Canadians--therefore, we need to respond to them differently.
"Rural development has to be a bottom-up strategy, specific to each individual community," said Mr. Mitchell.
Approximately 50 youth (ages 16-29) from across Canada attended the discussion group, "Focussing on our Youth." While recognizing there are limitations associated with living in rural/remote areas across Canada, the majority of youth delegates spoke highly of their rural communities.
Overall, the delegates stated that their communities are attractive places to live and raise a family because their communities provide solid community values and strong cultural ties, and have access to the environment and natural resources. Yet they said they felt they have to leave their community due to lack of access to post-secondary education, limited employment opportunities (especially in non-resource based jobs), and lack of entertainment and recreational activities.
Youth delegates pointed out that while using the Internet and technology has allowed some people to stay in their rural communities to work, it is creating an unbalance with those communities without access.
"Some people are more technologically advanced than others," said Chris MacIsaac from Guysborough County, Nova Scotia. "Some have fibre-optic telephone lines, other places have party lines."
The delegates made the following suggestions that would make staying in their rural communities more of a possibility: the need to support social and recreational initiatives, promote and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, improve access to federal government programs, increasing rural and remote access to IT (Information Technology) infrastructure, and lastly, include youth in the decision-making process, whether at the local municipal level, provincial or federal level.
The Honourable Denis Coderre, Secretary of State for Fitness and Amateur Sport, concluded the youth session. He left the participants with the message, "you are the government." He challenged and encouraged youth to step forward and make a difference by becoming proactively involved in shaping the future of their communities and to engage their local representatives and politicians directly.
"Provincial and Territorial Updates"
The "Provincial and Territorial Updates" session focussed specifically on initiatives in rural and remote community development. A member of the federal government rural team as well as a provincial/territorial representative provided updates on key government initiatives and their impact on that respective province/territory. Delegates also heard about the challenges facing rural youth and the solutions they propose from a youth who participated in the "Focussing on our Youth" discussion group.
Newfoundland
Participants felt that the private sector should be more involved in working with the Rural Team when it comes to economic development, as it is the private sector that employs a large number of rural citizens. They discussed how government funded programs, and the requirements or criteria surrounding these programs, need to be more concrete. Newfoundland delegates felt that criteria often changes, making it difficult for organizations to plan for the future.
Nova Scotia
Delegates focussed on the need to have a communication network that will allow them to share ideas, concerns, success stories, lessons learned or just to talk with each other. They also stressed the need to maintain an up-to-date registry of rural community groups and contacts. They felt that a registry would increase communication between rural residents and community groups offering valuable information such as notification of meetings, conference dates, training course schedules, dialogue sessions and upcoming events-all of interest to rural citizens.
Prince Edward Island
Delegates recognized and stressed the differences of each community and how government programs and initiatives need to reflect this uniqueness in order to be more responsive and better suit their needs.
New Brunswick
Delegates felt that communication between communities and the federal government was more of a top-down, rather than a bottom-up approach. Delegates also expressed their frustrations with the way the provincial government responds to the issues facing the Acadian Peninsula.
Québec
The need for the federal government to tailor its programs, services and initiatives to reflect the entire rural community was stressed during this discussion group. Focus must be placed in areas such as rural poverty, illiteracy, youth, and retirement issues. They discussed how important it is for rural communities to seek support from urban counterparts and work together for the future.
Ontario
Delegates felt the need for co-operatives, and co-operative associations, to be included in the federal rural strategy, as they have played an integral role in the development of rural communities. Agriculture remains a very important sector in rural communities, therefore, when creating legislation and federal policies, politicians should keep in mind how these will impact Ontario's primary producers.
Manitoba
Delegates felt that government programs, which directly affect rural citizens, are not publicized enough. They suggested an effective means of advertising to rural Canadians would be to use already existing federal or provincial agencies such as the post office, instead of placing kiosks in less-familiar and low-trafficked areas. They also discussed the use of the Internet. Although the Internet it is being touted as an efficient work tool, delegates felt the federal government must understand that it comes at a high price for rural communities, making it difficult to absorb.
Saskatchewan
Delegates felt that the provincial and federal governments must address the basic requirements needed to support communities and their organizations. Rural communities must rely heavily on the support of volunteers. Increased workloads and a lower rural population base, place a greater demand on these volunteers.
Alberta
Alberta delegates expressed their frustration over the federal government's lack of fiscal and spending balance, as well as the agriculture adaptation issues. Delegates felt that rural Alberta's health care needed improvement and that the Rural Lens has not been applied in developing and maintaining their health care system. They discussed how Bill II will divert resources from rural communities to urban centres. Participants also felt that the Canadian Rural Partnership pilot project guidelines were not written in plain language and that the criteria discriminated against those community groups lacking financial resources.
British Columbia
Delegates felt that the rural initiative needs to be carried forward by a political champion and supported by a network of participants. They expressed a desire to network with the rural team members in order to produce a better cohesiveness.
Nunavut
Since youth make up between 50 to 70 per cent of Nunavut's population, participants felt that youth need a stronger voice in decision making, both at the community level and at the federal level.
They discussed how the government must consider distance when setting deadlines (i.e., in some communities it may take up to six weeks to get mail, therefore, a number of deadlines come and go, not giving residents the opportunity to apply for some program funding). The federal government must also allow for training programs on a long-term basis rather than short term. If residents are required to fill out government forms, create business proposals and plans, then a community member must be trained so that they can pass their knowledge on to other residents.
Delegates believe strongly in the value of their culture and language and the need to preserve them for future generations.
Yukon
Participants felt that the federal government needs to involve youth in decision-making. They also believe government must remove the distinction between Aboriginal youth and rural youth. Yukon delegates agreed that IT infrastructure and support is needed, however, they felt that having access to the Internet was more of an obligation rather an option. They also noted that the 1800 O-Canada line has not yet been implemented.
Northwest Territories
Delegates felt the delays in the Canadian Rural Partnership pilot project process caused a decline in the number of participants and, caused some proponents to cancel their applications. They felt that rural team members are a valuable asset to rural communities, and if the Canadian Rural Partnership were to dissolve, the rural teams would continue because of the value and effectiveness of rural team members. Youth have to be made a priority, therefore, they must play a large role in decision making, (i.e. after three years of work, Inuvik has a "youth councillor").
"Sharing Lessons Learned" sessions
Conference participants were able to choose from a number of sessions focussing on success stories, lessons learned in the areas of rural/remote development, and the impact on their communities. Each session addressed one of the seven priority areas (presented below) and was followed by a discussion in which participants could ask questions to fellow citizen presenters who spoke at each of the sessions.
"Improving access to federal government programs and services for rural Canadians"
Delegates focussed primarily on government service delivery. They stated as the needs of rural and remote communities vary, so should the services provided. Delegates felt that in order for the government to be successful in rural and remote program service delivery, rural consultations should take place.
They also discussed how government programs need to be more flexible in their operation; the services they provide should focus more on skills development, such as: how to write a proposal, how to fundraise, etc. Delegates felt that by doing so, rural and remote communities could become more self-sufficient and self-sustaining.
"Working with provincial and territorial governments to examine and pilot test new approaches to rural health care"
Although the discussion groups recognized the need for improved and accessible health care services in rural and remote areas, they focussed primarily on the ageing population and their health care needs.
Delegates felt the health care system in rural and remote areas needs to offer more health care services (including health care professionals) specifically designed to meet the needs of the ageing population, such as dialysis, home care, mental health care services and holistic medicine. They also felt rural communities need to share health care resources and responsibilities to better care for the population as a whole.
"Working with provincial and territorial governments to examine and pilot test new approaches to provide rural Canadians with continuous learning opportunities."
Participants focussed primarily on the need for accessible education (including post-secondary and continuing education, drug and alcohol education, health care education, mental health education, prenatal and post natal education and nutritional counselling) in rural and remote communities. They recognized that although the Internet can provide access to this information, the cost associated with IT infrastructure is too high for some communities to bear. Therefore, other alternatives such as satellite services need to be explored.
Delegates noted the invaluable educational aspect surrounding the pilot projects. For most participants, working with the pilot projects gave them the work experience they needed to obtain employment. They stressed that the pilot projects gave their communities a sense of pride, therefore, it is important to share this information with other rural communities.
"Providing more targeted opportunities, programs and services for rural youth"
Delegates looked at the need for more distance education at the post-secondary level; they felt that in providing this option to more rural communities, youth would stay and contribute to the well-being of their communities. The post-secondary educational requirements for rural communities must be tailored to better suit the needs of rural communities. Courses in proposal writing, fundraising and project management would be an asset.
For those who do leave their community to attend community college/university, delegates felt rural youth would benefit from a network or mentoring program to assist rural students adapt to being away from home and living in an urban environment.
"Strengthening rural community capacity building, leadership and skills development"
Delegates felt that the federal government does not always understand that community capacity building takes time--especially when resources, including personnel, are limited. For those communities that have been successful in community capacity building, their success stories and lessons learned need to be promoted throughout rural and remote communities--communities need advice and assistance from the federal government to achieve this goal.
"Strengthening economic diversification in rural Canada through more targeted assistance."
Delegates stated that although economic diversification is key in community capacity building, the risk of starting a business is greater in a rural setting than in an urban centre. Urban-based businesses that fail are more likely to be absorbed by the community, and employees who lose their jobs can look within the urban centre for other means of employment. If a rural business fails, everyone involved in that business will not only lose their job, but, may not have another one to go to.
On the issue of federal government support, delegates felt that more communication among communities and between all levels of government is needed to enhance community success.
"Connecting rural Canadians to the knowledge-based economy and society, and helping them acquire the skills to use technology"
Delegates felt very positive about the capabilities of the Internet and what information technology could mean to rural and remote community development. However, while they stated communities must enable themselves with a "can-do" attitude, they recognized that support from all levels of government is vital in assisting IT infrastructure development and maintenance in rural and remote communities.
"Moving Forward" roundtable discussion
Participants gathered to share what they had learned during the conference and to discuss actions and ideas that they could bring back to their communities. The discussion groups were organized according to seven priority areas (improving access to federal government programs and services, new approaches to health, new approaches to delivery continuous learning opportunities (education), targeted opportunities, programs and services for youth, strengthening community capacity building, leadership and skills development, strengthening economic diversification, and, connecting rural Canadians to the knowledge-based economy through technology and related skills).
The participants were then asked to discuss two main action-oriented questions: "Thinking about your own experiences and what you have learned at this conference, if you could take two specific actions in your community to help with the challenge of (each priority area), what would they be?; and, "how can the government support your community and facilitate its development?
Overall delegates offered the following suggestions for the action-oriented questions. These suggestions were equally applicable across all the issue areas:
- Help develop a vision of what communities can become, to overcome feelings of helplessness. Provide funding for communities/municipalities to go through a strategic planning/visioning process.
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Encourage flexibility in government program eligibility criteria. Allow the program criteria to adjust to community needs, and not force fit the community into the program.
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Support telecommunications infrastructure, access to the Internet and training in the used of computers and the Internet. Move deliberately towards optimizing the "one stop shop" concept of governments programs and services.
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Support programs that enhance rural infrastructure and services. A well services and "healthy" community attracts economic development.
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Encourage community partnering with government, and government with communities. Government should consult with the community about the issues, then be part of the solution. Be more entrepreneurial, more inclusive of diverse community elements, and more supportive in the long term.
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Encourage government to "truly listen" to rural citizens. Change the way some Rural Teams are comprised, enuring that members are from the milieu they are to be representing.
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Find ways to share success stories so that the community revitalization wheel is not continually being reinvented. Mentor each other with our learnings.
In closing the conference, Secretary of State for Rural Development, Andy Mitchell committed to a rural action plan that will guide the federal government's actions for the upcoming year the conference. The action plan will be validated by conference participants and will be finalized late fall.
In addition, a National Rural Conference report offering a summary of the conference proceedings and next steps will be available in late July.
Both the rural action plan and the conference report can be obtained by contacting
1-888-781-2222 or through the rural Website: www.rural.gc.ca
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Table of Contents
Mattawa, Ontario
Unlikely partnerships lead to understanding
by Lana Fleming
Photo
The rugged hinterland of the Ottawa River basin, just east of North Bay, is home to five municipalities, which in the early 1990s experienced the financial drought typical of many rural areas across Canada. In 1994, the town of Mattawa and the townships of Mattawan, Calvin, Papineau-Cameron and Bonfield underwent an in-depth analysis to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and to develop an action plan to suit their needs.
They quickly realized that their strength, the forest industry, was the driving force behind the local economy, injecting approximately $17 million in annual wages, followed distantly by tourism, at approximately $2.5 million. So, local municipality members, along with five local forest industry companies and other regional parties came together under a contract sponsored by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC). The Mattawa and Area Forestry Committee for Economic Development (MAFC) was born, leading to a multi-million dollar enterprise and a unique partnering of stakeholders who have historically been at odds with each other.
“It has been difficult for many people to believe that the forest sector and tourism sector would ever be able to work together,” says Mike Brophy, president of the Canadian Ecology Centre. “If you have no third party resources, you’re going nowhere quick. We had nay-sayers, people didn’t believe, they just didn’t believe, but you have to work with them...you work hard at it and you never give up.”
Creating and sustaining new jobs, as well as bringing forward knowledge about the forest have been at the heart of every decision and accomplishment the committee has made over the past five years, including the construction of the Canadian Ecology Centre (CEC). The CEC successfully integrates the forest as a resource for fun and industry by using technology and modern thinking in both the physical and conceptual nature of the centre.
Nestled in 2,500 hectares of forest in the Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, the $10 million centre, is a hideaway for environmentalists and eco-tourists. The main goal of the centre is to ensure forest sustainability and provide ecological knowledge to visitors. Though no small feat, it is accomplished by working with a number of groups who share the same common goal--a healthy and sustainable forest.
The centre is a hub of activity. Workshops range from dog sledding, birch bark canoe and paddle making, to wilderness mountain biking, map, compass and GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation for the backcountry to exploring with night-vision goggles. Nineteen cabins, with the rusticity of maple floors and the modern amenities of computers and fiber-optic cable, are available for overnight accommodation.
To enhance the versatility of the CEC, phase two will see the construction of a main building with an education and technology wing, accommodation for more than 100 people, an eco-store and a gallery. The committee has been kept busy with the popular tourist attraction, the Timber Train.
Recently, the Canadian Ecology Centre gained world-wide attention for their feature display at Expo 2000 in Hannover, Germany. The exhibit, located in the heart of the Canadian Pavilion, was affectionately known as the "Green Cocoon". Visitors entered the exhibit and experienced a ‘virtual forest’ by looking up at images of nature flashed on huge screens that hung from the ceiling.
“The exhibit reinforces preserving and utilizing the forest for today and tomorrow,” says Bill Steer, education and economic coordinator at the centre. “The premise of the centre is consensus environmentalism--to use and protect our resources.”
For more information, contact:
The Canadian Ecology Centre: 1-888-747-7577
E-mail: info@canadianecology.ca
Website: www.canadianecology.ca
The Timber Train
Photo
Imagine taking a trip that traces the steps of the Algonquin people and famous explorer Samuel de Champlain. It is not time travel, it’s the Timber Train.
Selected by Attractions Ontario as "Best New Ontario Attraction", the one-day rail excursion across the Ontario-Quebec border through the Ottawa River Valley and the Laurentian Foothills offers guests a choice of one of three tours (Historical, Industrial, Algonquin Heritage and Eco-Tour). Each trip (in operation from May to October) is approximately 7½ hours long and includes a 3-hour tour stop in Temiscaming, Quebec.
The Timber Train, in the third year of operation, is locally operated by the Mattawa-Temiscaming Excursion Company, a not-for-profit corporation run by a volunteer board of directors.
For more information, contact:
The Timber Train
Tel: 1-800-648-4446
Email: info@timbertrain.com
Website: www.timbertrain.com
Table of Contents
The Strength of Rural and Remote Business in Canada -
not just "cottage industry" anymore
According to Angus Reid, Chair and CEO Angus Reid Group, Inc., Many new companies will choose to set up in the regions (instead of gravitating to Toronto or Montreal or Vancouver). ...this will be a flight even further, to the country, to small towns like Comox or Medicine Hat or Kenora, where real estate is less expensive, crime rates are lower, and the quality of life is arguably more attractive - excerpt taken from The Millennium Issue of Saturday Night
Rural and Remote businesses in Canada, is the second installment of a two-part series highlighting several rural Canadian businesses where location, location, location is definitely a thing of the past.
Belfast, Prince Edward Island
Nunavut
Unique partnership leads to elegant fashions
Photo
Over a year ago, the Department of Sustainable Development in Nunavut partnered with the PEI Food Technology Centre to pair the technology of Mini-Mills Ltd., a company that manufactures textile machinery, with the resourcefulness of the Inuit who had been collecting musk ox wool.
"The whole idea is rural community development for Belfast, and economic development for the Arctic," says Mini-Mills Ltd. president Larry Sutherland.
Qiviut, the soft wool that lies underneath the musk ox's coarse outer layer of hair, is gathered by the Inuit and sent to Belfast, (population 2,000), where it is received either intertwined with the coarser coat or still on the hide. There it is de-haired and separated to retrieve the qiviut.
It is then run through a small loom, specifically designed by Mini-Mills Ltd., and spun into a fine yarn that is used to make high-quality apparel such as evening shawls, hats, and mittens (one ounce of qiviut will make a hat, and four ounces will make a shawl). According to Sutherland, qiviut is eight times warmer than wool, and is as fine and light as silk.
Still in the early days of partnership, both sides are looking at how to enter into joint market sharing. The Inuit hunters are also looking into the possibility of gathering musk ox fibre off the land when the animals shed their coats.
For more information, contact:
Larry Sutherland
tel/fax (902) 659-2248
www.minimills.net
Magog, Québec
Award-winning vintner turns passion into success
By Jane Armstrong
Jacques Daniel has a passion for wine and rural life. And he has combined the best of both worlds at his award-winning winery, Le Vignoble Le Cep d'Argent, near Magog, in Québec's picturesque Eastern Townships.
Daniel dreamed up the idea for the winery in the early '80s while studying for a business degree in France, where, he says with a laugh, he drank his share of wine "and someone else's, too." After returning home in 1985, he lined up four partners and planted 10,000 hardy hybrid Seyval blanc vines.
This year he expects to plant 65,000 vines over 36 acres, producing six different varieties--three whites and three reds. His wines have won dozens of international medals and the winery, which attracts 70,000 tourists a year, has been honoured with numerous business and tourism awards.
Daniel, whose son has started his own winery just down the road, proudly touts the Eastern Townships as embodying what's best about rural Canada.
"There's a very good quality of life," he says. "You've got a mix of Anglo and French, lakes, mountains and a lot of agriculture. It's very rural and we want to keep that way. We've got all the best elements of Canada right here."
For more information, contact:
Le Vignoble Le Cep d'Argent
Tel: 1-877-864-4441
Internet: www.cepdargent.com
Saltspring Island, British Columbia
The house that dirt built
Photo
In his quest to design environmentally friendly houses, Meror Krayenhoff has taken a page from the distant past.
The award-winning Saltspring Island builder constructs practical and beautiful rammed-earth structures that not only are low maintenance, energy efficient, fire and earthquake resistant, but also offer healthy indoor air quality.
Rammed-earth houses are built using a process in which damp earth is tamped into two-feet wood forms to create walls. Such houses have been in existence for hundreds of years, and can be found in middle-eastern countries like Israel and Greece .
Although Krayenhoff's company also builds traditional wood houses, he says "it's so much easier with rammed earth."
And while a five-acre forest might provide enough lumber for 20 houses, a five-acre pit can supply enough earth for 5,000 houses.
Krayenhoff's company, Terra Firma Builders Ltd., has adapted the ancient technique to the Canadian climate by adding a layer of foam insulation down the centre.
A Vancouver native, Krayenhoff says his location on picturesque Saltspring Island--which is off the coast of B.C. and accessible only by ferry--is central to his business and his life.
"It's very important to me to have the community benefits that living in a small community offers," he says. "People know and care about each other."
For more information, contact:
Terra Firma Builders Ltd.
Tel: (250) 537-9355
Fax: (250) 537-9361
E-mail: office@sirewall.com
Web site: www.sirewall.com
Saddle Lake, Alberta
Saddle Lake First Nation builds on carpentry expertise
From carpentry to cabinetry, the Saddle Lake First Nation has drawn on its long-standing experience and skill in construction to form a successful custom manufacturing business.
Aboriginally owned and operated, Saddle Lake Custom Cabinet Manufacturing Inc. builds tables, wall units, office furniture, and even caskets in knotty pine, oak, birch and fir. Its specialty, however, is kitchen cabinets.
Guy Cardinal, the company's foreman, says the company, which employs anywhere from two to 18 employees depending on demand, derives its experience from the Saddle Lake First Nation's experience of over 30 years in carpentry and home building.
"We do outside contracts," says Cardinal, the company's foreman, adding that the company is currently pursuing sales opportunities in China.
The 10-year-old firm is also serving as a model for another Aboriginal Alberta band, which has since set up its own coffin building business.
The competition doesn't bother Cardinal, who adds cheerfully, "that's OK with me."
For more information, contact:
The Saddle Lake Custom Cabinet Manufacturing Inc.
Box 100,
Saddle Lake, Alberta
P0A 3T0
Sackville, New Brunswick
Rural communications firm lands big name clients
by Jane Ayer
Photo
In a large old home along Main Street in Sackville is a communications firm that operates on par with some of the major communications firms found in large urban centres.
SGCI Communications Inc. is an integrated marketing communications company that offers advertising, web design, public relations and company planning to such well-known clients as TD Evergreen, BPI Mutual Funds, and Sabian Cymbals-used by the likes of Phil Collins, Prairie Oyster and the Boston Symphony.
How did they manage to attract such national and international business from a town with one traffic light and a population of less than 6,000 people?
Company president David Chambers says location has never been a big issue.
"The escalation of distance everything--distance education, distance business, being able to operate from remote regions as a result of technological developments--these things have reduced the apparent and real limitations that may have existed."
Recently, the company has expanded to include an office in Halifax, but Chambers says there are no plans to move from Sackville.
"Preserving and having a strong base of operations in Sackville is highly desirable and it's all part of what we do."
For more information, contact:
SGCI Communications Inc.
Tel: (506) 364-8800
Fax: (506) 364-1815
E-mail: info@sgci.nb.ca
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Making the most of what we don’t use
Waste not, want not—we’re all familiar with this proverb. Biomass combustion systems—systems that produce energy from forest and farm waste—are bringing new meaning to this old saying.
Biomass, such as wood, sawdust, straw, grass and manure, is a natural byproduct of forestry and agriculture operations. More importantly, biomass, also called biofuel, is a significant, untapped source of renewable energy for space and water heating in Canada.
Biomass combustion systems are furnaces that generate heat by burning biofuel. More and more Canadian businesses are realizing that these systems have many advantages. They cut the high costs of conventional energy, solve waste disposal problems and reduce the amount of environmentally harmful emissions created by traditional heating systems.
Economically, using biofuel makes sense. In areas where conventional fuel is expensive, a biomass combustion system is a good investment. Biofuel costs are low and supplies are constant and accessible, coming from sawmills, farms and other operations that produce or have access to large amounts of organic waste.
The environmental benefits of biomass combustion systems are also significant. Biofuels are made from renewable and re-occurring resources, so they enhance our ability to meet our own energy needs and conserve non-renewable fossil fuels.
Additionally, these systems often use high-efficiency furnaces that burn more cleanly and lower the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. That’s helping to meet the climate change challenge.
The best news of all is that the Natural Resources Canada’s Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative (REDI) will help pay for the installation of biomass combustion systems. Companies interested in using biofuel for space heating can receive up to 25 per cent of the purchase and installation costs of high efficiency/low emissions advanced combustion systems, up to $50,000. The heating system must be installed between April 1, 1998, and March 31, 2001, and must meet REDI’s technical criteria. It’s part of the Government of Canada’s efforts to address the climate change challenge by promoting the use of renewable energy systems.
For more information on REDI, including terms and conditions for receiving the incentive, you can call toll-free 1-877-722-6600, fax (613) 943-1590, e-mail redi.penser@nrcan.gc.ca or visit NRCan’s renewable energy Web site at www.nrcan.gc.ca/es/erb/reed/
For your free copy of the Buyer’s Guide to Small Commercial Bioenergy Combustion Systems, please call toll free: 1-800–387-2000.
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Cross Canada check-up - a look at rural health care
by Sarah-Lee Richardson
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According to a recent report from Statistics Canada, there is one family doctor, or GP, for every 1,340 rural residents. This means Canada is short 1,652 family doctors, not to mention rural specialists and access to testing facilities and emergency rooms.
To address this shortage, provinces and rural communities are recruiting doctors offering incentives like student loan buy backs, monetary bonuses and practice perks. More medical students are doing rural internships and are taught about rural issues. Groundbreaking efforts are being made in the use of tele-health communications for reading x-rays, making diagnosis, and consulting urban specialists (see Tele-health story ).
Health Canada has created the Office of Rural Health to ensure that health services and its infrastructure are available for all Canadians.
"If we're going to look at the system as a whole, it's important the rural population is included in the benefits of this reform," says Executive Director Dr. John Wootton. "That's one of the functions of this office, to coordinate with others, and apply the rural lens."
Recruitment
"You never stop recruiting," says Craig Butler. "With a database (of rural communities) to fill, you can never afford to slack off."
As Physician Recruiter for Newfoundland and Labrador Health and Community Services Association, Craig Butler's job is never done. There is always an ongoing need for more doctors to set up practice in rural and remote towns and villages in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Butler works in conjunction with the Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) recruiting graduates for salaried family practice positions. MUN's medicine program focuses on training doctors for rural and remote area practices. Their curriculum emphasizes community and rural exposure, including a two-week rural community visit in the first year of studies and a four-week rural family medicine rotation in students' third year.
Part of the recruitment package Butler offers to potential rural doctors is a monetary incentive, something most graduating students find attractive.
"Medical students are carrying a tremendous debt load," says Butler. "With a family practice, residents choosing to practise rurally are given $25,000 on top of their residency".
"With students coming out of school with a debt load of an upwards of $80,000, an extra $50,000 goes a long way to getting out of debt."
Education
A number of innovative teaching methods are currently being used to encourage doctors to stay in their rural and remote practices, and attracting new medical students to move there.
The Rural Ontario Medical Program (ROMP) provides a "match-making" service for medical students and approximately 45 teacher-doctors located in 21 hospitals in southern Ontario. ROMP matches students to doctors according to their personal interests and the student's medical expertise. With one trainee per doctor, students learn additional skills in a hands-on environment.
Dr. Teresa DeSantis is fulfilling her residency requirement in Beamsville, Ontario (pop. 7,699). She went through ROMP where she worked in emergency, family medicine, the operating room, anaesthetics, surgery and sports medicine.
"It's lots of good, hands-on experience," says Dr. DeSantis. "I definitely think medical students need to go to rural areas in the early stages of their training."
She says she believes the difference between urban and rural health care is that in a rural setting the family physician is involved in a larger percentage of patient care. Dr. DeSantis wants to set up a rural practice, partly because she and her husband enjoy a rural lifestyle. But also because of her early rural training in Timmins, Ontario where she saw family doctors practising a wide scope of medicine throughout the day.
She also points out that, while rural signing bonuses look like a lot of money to non-doctors, the students are coming out of university with the equivalent of "a small mortgage". They are in school for 10 years after high school with tuition and book fees, living expenses and no income. Then there's the cost of setting up a practice. DeSantis says most students graduate with a $40,000 to $80,000 debt load.
Nurses...an integral part of rural health care
"There is a much larger instance in rural Canada of sharing the care (than in urban areas), where nurses and nurse practitioners have been working for decades," says Dr. John Wootton. "In rural Canada they've been working at very high levels for many years. Extending their role is one of the solutions... assuming we can find the nurses."
Leslie Arnold is the Director of Health Match BC, an organization that matches doctors and nurses with non-urban practices in British Columbia. She agrees with Dr. Wootton and says that many nurses in rural practice have, "always practised with a great deal of autonomy."
Rural and remote nursing is a diverse practice. Rural nurses must be strong generalists and function in multiple roles, caring for patients in a trauma setting, primary care, long-term care and general medical and surgery nursing.
"They may also provide telephone advice, psychiatric care, crises management such as detox services, suicide prevention, home care services and health promotion," says Arnold.
Nurses are an integral part of rural and remote health care in Canada. The Government of Canada, Health Employers Association of British Columbia and nurses unions are investigating the issue and plan to make recommendations on recruitment and retention. Nurses do receive some incentive to go to non-urban areas. As part of their collective agreement they receive isolation allowance of $74.00 per month.
Solutions?
With the general population ageing, and undoubtedly relying more and more on health care services, solutions need to be found. Studies (from pharmaceutical companies to government departments) are underway to explore new ways of addressing rural health care issues.
On June 12, Health Minister Allen Rock, along with Secretary of State for Rural Development Andy Mitchell, announced a two-year, $50 million Innovations in Rural and Community Health Program.
"To meet the needs of approximately one-third of our population who live in rural Canada the Government of Canada has developed initiatives to help improve access to quality health services in rural areas," says Minister Rock.
Its goals are to maximize beneficial health outcomes, and promote availability and integration of the services, with a special focus on rural Canadians. The program will facilitate the testing of new strategies and approaches to providing better access to needed services, it will also examine key issues around home and community care, access to and affordability of drugs and integration of service delivery, ensuring that a rural lens is constantly applied.
"The innovations we are introducing today will help ensure rural Canadians have better access to quality health care," says Andy Mitchell, Secretary of State for Rural Development.
"This announcement also acknowledges the fact that rural communities face unique challenges --very different from those in urban Canada--and that these differences must be respected and accommodated."
For more information on this announcement, contact Health Canada at:
(613) 957-2991
or visit Health Canada's Website at: www.hc-sc.gc.ca
Hamiota, Manitoba
A unique rural formula
by Marcie Harrison
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The field of health care in Canada continues to struggle in its search for the ideal blend of medicine and business, and nowhere is this felt more than in rural communities where the lure of more lucrative urban practices has resulted in a shortage of physicians and a decrease in services. But a small town in western Manitoba has come up with their own formula, and it seems to be working.
The concept behind the Hamiota Health Centre is not new, however, in the 1950s it was a radical departure from the norm. The hospital, built in 1952, was joined by the existing clinic and this simple fact triggered the concept of teamwork, which continues to be the driving force behind the success of this unique facility.
At a time when clinics and hospitals were separate facilities, the act of locating both under one roof paved the way for what is now a rural health centre with over 100 employees. Located in the town of Hamiota, (population 870), the facility provides surrounding communities with quality health care including obstetrics and elective surgery, as well as dental services, optometry, physiotherapy, counselling, education and outreach programs. In addition, there is an attached personal care home and nearby seniors’ housing. The facility also serves as a learning ground for medical residents from the University of Manitoba (U of M) who spend a two-month rotation in Hamiota studying Family Practice. An additional first-year medical student is employed during the summer months in a joint effort with Manitoba Health and the U of M to expose students to rural practice earlier in their training.
According to Hamiota Health Centre Chief of Staff Dr. Allan Ranson, it’s difficult recruiting doctors fresh out of medical school. “Only 10 per cent of medical school students have a rural background,” he stated, adding that exposure to a rural practice during medical training is very limited. During the nine-year program (seven in university and two years of residency), only two months are spent in a rural community. The rest of the training takes place in an urban setting. “People get pretty attached to city life in that amount of time,” he acknowledges with a grin.
As opposed to fee for service, the Marquette Regional Health Authority employs all five physicians at the Hamiota Health Centre, and all are on salary. Ranson says Hamiota Health Centre’s system not only alleviates the doctors’ time commitment to administrative duties, it also promotes an atmosphere of teamwork among the staff. “The salaried system is more than a way of paying physicians, it is a way of practicing medicine,” Ranson states.
So just how do they practice medicine in Hamiota? The key ingredient is teamwork and communication. It all starts with a daily morning meeting that gathers everyone from physicians and head nurses from the hospital and personal care home, to the occupational therapist, social worker, and a local member of the clergy. And while 15 minutes doesn’t sound like a lot of time, Ranson says that the meeting “saves way more that 20 minutes a day”, as co-workers touch base every morning, instead of playing phone tag during the day.
Staff involvement and commitment also allows for the health centre to offer specialized services, such as surgery and obstetrics. Dr. Meters, a General Surgeon from Brandon (100 km east of Hamiota), is in Hamiota twice a month performing elective surgery and conducting pre-op consultations. This spares many patients costly trips to Brandon, and allows them to remain close to their family and community support. “It is also rewarding for the staff to see their patients recover,” says Ranson.
One of the drawbacks in practising medicine in a rural area, concedes Ranson, is the difficulty in maintaining procedural skills, such as performing spinal taps for the diagnosis of meningitis (something he might do once a year).
The mayor of Hamiota, Al Robertson, says current funding formulas is another drawback. “In a fee for service facility, it’s cut and dried,” he says, adding that the health centres’ focus is on the quality of care, rather than the quantity of patients. “But we are working on it,” he said optimistically.
In the meantime, it will be business and health care as usual in a blend that is truly unique.
Tele-health
The field of tele-health is relatively new in Canada, offering doctors who practice in rural and remote areas the ability to consult with their urban peers over a tele-conferencing communications line.
From tele-radiology, tele-dermatology to tele-psychiatry (the list goes on), doctors can review a patient's condition, discuss diagnosis and treatment options... all without having to send the patient to another health-care facility.
Dr. Trevor Cradduck, director of tele-health for the province of Alberta, says tele-health is vital, "They (rural citizens) are miles from specialized health care delivery systems. If a patient from up North is referred to a specialist in Edmonton, it could mean an expensive flight, missed workdays and a hotel bill. If you can be seen by a specialist using a tele-health link, it saves a considerable amount of money."
This different way of practising medicine not only gives patients more options, but gives rural doctors a network of professionals, the vital link that up until recently, has been missing.
Although tele-health is no substitute for visiting a specialist in person, it can be a valuable tool in the battle to provide accessible health care to all Canadians.
For more information, visit the following Websites:
University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine at: www.ucalgary.ca/md/TELEHEALTH/title.html
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Faculty of Medicine at: www.med.mun.ca/telemed/
Alberta wellnet at: www.albertawellnet.org/telehealth.html
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Key benefits of tele-health:
- Equal access to quality health care
- Professional clinical and speciality services
- Less travel time for patients and families
- Decreased waiting period to see a specialist
- Reduction in diagnostic procedures and tests
- Improved continuity for patient consultations
- Improved, earlier diagnostic capabilities
- Cost savings
- Support link and education network for rural professionals
- Exposure to rural medicine for urban practitioners
- Improved public and patient education
*Source: University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine
Medicine Websites of interest, as requested by our readers:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca - Health Canada's Internet site offers Canadian health news and research and healthcare policy. You can also read the Wired Health online magazine which has articles such as Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's Disease.
www.womenshealthmatters.ca - easy-to-use site featuring information from Toronto's Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre.
www.yourchildshealth.echn.ca - information on common childhood ailments from tonsillitis to asthma.
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Houston, British Columbia
One town’s search for adequate medical services
by Sarah-Lee Richardson
The town of Houston (pop.4,200, with a service area of 6,000) is fighting to get 24-hour health care services in a community where logging, milling and mining are the major industries.
Houston’s residents and industries pay higher tax revenues to the province than other communities, yet they still don’t have 24-hour emergency health care. Three doctors are in private practice at the Houston Health Centre, which operates eight hours a day, five days a week, (a ratio of one doctor per 2,200 people).
When it comes to emergency calls, two of the doctors are able to take turns for on call duty--two days are covered on-call and one weekend per month. For those days when a doctor isn’t on call, the nearest hospital is in Smithers, nearly an hour’s drive away (Houston does not have public transportation, although they do have a volunteer ambulance brigade).
A 1994 provincial study on tax dollars spent per capita on health care, showed that the town of Houston is far behind other rural BC communities. Burns Lake spent $587 per capita on health care, Smithers spent $413 per capita and Houston spent $88 per capita. To bring 24-hour health care to Houston the cost would be roughly $500,000 a year, a small percentage of the area’s $86 million collected in annual stumpage fees.
According to Sharon Smith, Councillor with the district of Houston and Chair of the Health Council for Bulkley Valley, the major concern over the lack of 24-hour health care services in Houston, is the handicap it gives the town in the area of economic development.
“New businesses aren’t settling in Houston, because there is no health care for their workers. And if someone is thinking about locating to Houston and has a logging, milling or mining background and discovers there is no hospital, they think about living in a neighbouring community.”
The council is currently looking into the cost of renovating the existing health centre into a facility equipped with patient beds. Even though they don’t have enough doctors or nurses to cover full time, they believe having the facility up and running would be an incentive to filling full-time positions for nurses, and back-up support for doctors. They are also looking at the feasibility of expanding the hours of the health centre, at least with nurses on-site until 10:00 p.m.
The town council is hoping the new premier of BC and new health minister will take another look at the situation in Houston.
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Dear Readers,
Feedback… it’s the only way we can measure how we’re doing, it’s our yard stick so-to-speak. We at the Rural Times receive nearly 500 forms of communication on average each month from our readers letting us know what they like, dislike and what they want to read. As a result of your phone calls, e-mails and letters on the need to address the issue of health care in rural Canada, we have dedicated a substantial portion of this newsletter to the subject. Due to the amount of information, however, there is not enough room for everything. Therefore, at the end of the story, (as with most stories in the newsletter) you will find a “for more information, contact” box.
As the newsletter grows, more and more people are beginning to feel comfortable sharing their concerns with us, so much so, that talking with readers is like talking with a close friend, an excellent relationship.
What is going on in rural and remote Canada is astounding! People call with story ideas that are so extensively thought out and researched that subsequent issues are soon filled up, which of course is what we want. The Rural Times has taken on a life of its own, all due to you, our readers. Thank you.
Andrea McDonald
Newsletter Coordinator/Editor
Room 4112, Sir John Carling Building
930 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0C5
Call toll free: 1-888-781-2222
fax: 1-800-884-9899
Email: ruraltimes@agr.gc.ca
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Rural News
In 1997 the Women for Economic Equality (WEE) Society sponsored the Counting Women in CED (Community Economic Development) project. Through this project, more than 1,500 women talked about their current involvement in their communities and what was needed to help them become more fully involved in future decision-making processes. In response, the WEE Society is developing a plain-language, women-positive, self-help series by the Women's Network PEI and the Bay St. George Women's Council of Newfoundland. The series is currently being piloted in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, and includes such topics as: Alternative Ways to Finance Community Projects, Facilitation Skills, Meeting Skills, Networking Skills, Proposal Writing and Small Business Development. For more information, contact: Barbara Parker, (902) 857-1061.
Firearm licence assistance will take place in rural communities throughout the summer months for firearm owners who want information and assistance in filling out their firearms licence application forms. Teams of trained individuals will work with each applicant, taking their photo for the licence, and answering any questions they may have. Personal Licensing should not be confused with the registration of firearms. The Firearms Act has two main requirements: personal licensing and registration. The deadline for licencing is December 31, 2000. Firearm owners can find out more information about the Licencing Application Assistance Program by calling 1-800-731-4000 ext. 2002.
If you have news clips you would like to share with The Rural Times, Please Contact:
Toll-Free:1-888-781-2222
Fax:1-800-884-9899
E-Mail: ruraltimes@agr.gc.ca
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Rural Times Info
Editorial Staff
Sarah-Lee Richardson
Newsletter Coordinator/Managing Editor
Andrea McDonald (613) 759-1484
Fax: (613) 759-7105
E-mail: ruraltimes@agr.gc.ca
If you have a story idea, Letter to the Editor, or would like to receive a copy of the newsletter contact The Rural Times:
Rm 4112, Sir John Carling Building
930 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0C5
Call toll free: 1-888-781-2222
Fax: 1-800-884-9899
Rural Times is a national quarterly publication provided to rural and remote citizens by the Rural Secretariat.
Rural Times is distributed nationally in paper form, and is also available on the Canadian Rural Partnership Internet site at www.rural.gc.ca
Rural Times is available in alternative format by contacting the editorial staff, as shown above.
Submission deadline for the Fall issue-August 31, 2000.
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Newsletter Advisory Group members
Justin Shade
P.O. Box 500
Standoff, Alta.
T0L 1Y0
(403) 737-8040
Marc Topola
Box 1210
Assiniboia, Sask.
S0H 0B0
(306) 642-5599
E-mail address: mtopola_prc@qlo.com
Christine Black
1 Stone Road West, 4th Floor
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 4Y2
(519) 826-4128)
E-mail address: cblack@frl.on.ca
Ronald McDonough
772 Rouge River Road
Harrington, Que.
J8G 2S7
(819) 687-2122
Jeanette Pauptit
RR #2
Summerside, P.E.I.
C1N 4J8
(902) 436-7105
Susan Felsberg
General Delivery
Mud Lake, Labrador
A0P 1K0
(709) 896-5947
Ishbel Munroe
RR#2
Cape Breton, N.S.
C1N 4J8
(902) 379-2688
E-mail address: coastalnet@auro.com
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Rural and Remote Calendar of Events
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