Canadian Rural Partnership
Rural Dialogue



CANSO COMMUNITY DIALOGUE

Community Sustainability:
The Power of Heritage, Pride and Persistence

Rural Dialogue Summary Report

Canso, Nova Scotia
September 21-22, 2005

This report is a summary of discussions that took place at the Canso Community Dialogue on Community Sustainability, held in Canso, Nova Scotia, on September 21-22, 2005. No limits were placed on the participants during the presentations and discussions. In order to present a true report of the free-ranging discussions, recommendations made by participants that fall outside federal jurisdiction are also included. Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Government of Canada.

The Canso Community Dialogue was part of the Rural Dialogue, an ongoing, two-way discussion between the Government of Canada and Canadians from rural, remote and northern regions. Launched in 1998, the Rural Dialogue is a key, citizen-engagement component of the Canadian Rural Partnership (CRP). The CRP is designed to support a horizontal approach to rural development within the Government of Canada that responds to rural, remote and northern priorities. The Dialogue process helps the Government of Canada to understand local and regional priorities, and provides rural, remote and northern citizens with an opportunity to influence government policies, programs and services that affect them.

The 31 participants in the Canso Community Dialogue included representatives from community-based organizations, and from municipal, provincial and federal governments. Provincial and federal departments were represented by members of the Nova Scotia Rural Team.

The coastal Town of Canso, population 900, serves the Canso Peninsula, population 2,000, at the eastern point of mainland Nova Scotia. The Canso Islands have been a centre for European fishing and fur trading since the 1500s. The Mi'kmaw First Nations fished around the islands for at least 1500 years prior to that. By the early 1700s, Canso was a colonial New England fishing station and the commercial heart of Nova Scotia. The Canso settlement was destroyed in the spring of 1744 by an expedition from the French Fortress Louisbourg.

Today, Canso is an example of a small, coastal community struggling not just for survival but for prosperity in the face of formidable odds. Their situation reflects the transition that many natural resource dependent communities are dealing with. Downturns in the fisheries, frequent closure of the fish plant and limited seasonal employment over the past 15 years resulted in a high rate of out-migration and near bankruptcy of the Town.

Facing a substantial deficit, the citizens of Canso recently voted 84% (with a 74% turnout) to maintain their status as a town rather than join the surrounding Municipality of the County of Guysborough. With a new mayor and council making difficult decisions, they have turned their deficit into a surplus in less that a year. The Town has just completed a five-year Strategic Plan based on value-added fisheries products, building on existing businesses such as the 50 seat Doppleganger Call Centre, creating new businesses based on heritage and tourism, and investing in renewable wind energy. Canso is the home of the Stan Rogers Folk Festival which attracts 10,000 visitors during the first weekend in July and will be celebrating its 10^th anniversary in 2006.

The Nova Scotia Rural Team, as part of its Community Engagement Strategy, makes a point of meeting citizens face-to-face in their own rural and coastal communities in order to gain first hand knowledge of their issues, priorities, challenges, and accomplishments. Mayor Ray White invited the Nova Scotia Rural Team to Canso to meet the dedicated and committed citizens who are working very hard to keep their rich heritage alive. Mayor White, his Council and the people of Canso went out of their way to welcome the Rural Team members and make their stay informative and enjoyable.

In the context of community sustainability, the following questions were used to guide the presentations and discussions over the course of the two-day Community Dialogue:

1. What are the greatest challenges or risks facing Canso?
2. Which of the challenges or risks should be priorities for governments?
3. What actions should governments take to address the priorities?
4. What should be the role of the community?
5. What results do you expect from governments over the next three to five years in regard to the priorities you have identified?

A number of the important issues that were raised during this event are linked to the following Government of Canada priorities identified in the February 2004 Speech From the Throne:

• support regional and rural socio-economic development, increase opportunities to add greater value to natural resources, and develop energy resources;
• provide long-term funding for infrastructure to support quality of life and sustainable growth of communities;
• safeguard the natural environment and halt the damaging impact of human activity on climate as it is vital to Canada's health, economy and competitiveness; and
• improve the living conditions and quality of life of seniors through increased income payments, and address their health needs.

The results presented will help guide the future actions of the Government of Canada in support of rural communities and will contribute to the ongoing development of the proposed National Rural Framework (NRF). The over‑arching goal of the NRF, a framework to facilitate federal, provincial and territorial collaboration on rural issues, is to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of rural communities by creating an environment in which communities and citizens have access to improved social and economic opportunities.

The NRF is based on five areas of focus that affect community sustainability. The issues and priorities discussed at this event are presented under the relevant areas (section 4 of this report).

Sustainable Livelihoods

A range of activities, economic and social, that enable citizens to support themselves and their communities in the long-term and through changing circumstances.

Shared Environmental Stewardship

Recognition by governments and communities that all must share in the management, as well as share the benefits of our natural resources and healthy environment.

Innovative Approaches to Infrastructure

Innovative, appropriate and effective means of planning, building, operating and maintaining physical, social and knowledge-based infrastructure that takes into consideration the rural context.

Engaged Population and Institutions

The active participation and collaboration of all citizens and their institutions in decisions that affect their community.

Demographic Adaptation

The ability of a community to accommodate, on an ongoing basis, the impacts or effects of changes in population, economics and services.

The issues and priorities discussed at this event focussed on all five areas of focus: Sustainable Livelihoods; Shared Environmental Stewardship; Innovative Approaches to Infrastructure; Engaged Population and Institutions; and Demographic Adaptation. Proposed actions and solutions that could address the issues discussed are also included in this section.

4.1.1 Economic Development

Participants indicated that the importance of the fisheries to rural and coastal communities should be recognized by the federal and provincial governments for its economic, social, environmental and heritage values.

They advised that the fisheries in Guysborough County is a $50 million industry (landed value of mainly snow crab, lobster and herring roe). This industry is alive and well and moving fast in becoming more competitive by adopting hi-tech solutions (e.g. 3-D bottom imaging, satellite navigation, modern fishing gear and processing equipment), and utilizing global trade and marketing techniques.

Participants expressed that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (FOC) continues to download fisheries infrastructure, management and research onto community-based fisheries organizations. They added that the Government of Canada should provide adequate resources for the community-based management of the fisheries.

4.2.1 Conservation Efforts

In the view of the fishers, major problems exist with the Oceans Act and the Eastern Scotia Shelf Integrated Management Initiative. Fishers feel like they are losing control of the process and losing their voice at the table as more and more stakeholders (e.g. oil and gas, shipping, tourism, underwater cable interests and non-fishery communities) are added to the decision-making bodies. Governments and fisher communities should better collaborate towards a mutual agreeable solution.

4.2.2 Natural Resource Management

According to the fishers, there remains a wide gap between FOC policy, enforcement and the reality of fishing. There is an unfair treatment of non Aboriginal people and unfair distribution of quotas. Governments should acknowledge the differences between the in-shore and offshore fleets. Participants indicated that national leadership is required and that the Government of Canada should champion the development of a National Fisheries Policy.

4.3.1 Strategic Planning and Partnerships

The Town of Canso and the Eastern Communities Development Association, with the Extension Department of St. Francis Xavier University, prepared a five-year (2005-2010) Canso and Area Strategic Plan. Governments could support and provide assistance for the following strategic priorities over the next five years:

1. expand existing businesses, and create and attract new businesses (e.g. a manufacturing project, a waterfront development initiative, and value-added fish processing);
2. enhance existing tourism attractions and events and create new ones along with the supporting infrastructure, marketing and communications plan for the interpretation of the trans-Atlantic underwater cable history within the community, improved signage, waterfront cottage development, and continued development of the Grassy Islands National Historic Site;
3. community capacity building - build on existing assets; engage all community members; strengthen existing community-based organizations; increase youth engagement, mentorship and leadership development in local governance; and organize speaker series on community development;
4. ensure physical infrastructure to support the above - for example, a ferry from Canso to Isle Madame to bring more tourists; and
5. ensure essential and prioritized services to support the above and maintain education services in town.

4.3.2 Physical Infrastructure

It was noted that fishers feel they are losing their access to the sea with the loss and deterioration of small wharves and harbours. As such, governments should provide resources for the construction and maintenance of this essential infrastructure for coastal communities.

Participants expressed that Transport Canada is forcing small boat owners (less than 40 feet) to conform with safety regulations designed for larger ships at great expense to the inshore fishers. They added that Transport Canada should work with the inshore fishers to review the regulations and their relevance to small boats.

4.4.1 Collaborative Relationships

Participants mentioned that community sustainability requires a high degree of collaboration, a team approach and on-going support from all levels of governments. The federal and provincial governments should continue to support an intergovernmental team approach to long&8209;term community economic growth and stability.

Team Guysborough, comprised of representatives from community development organizations and from municipal, provincial and federal governments, is a catalyst for change and serves as a resource, advisory and consultative body. It acts locally as a liaison between federal and provincial departments and agencies and community-based development organizations in the Guysborough County. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Government of Nova Scotia's Office of Economic Development are key, active players on-site and are committed to the development of Guysborough County.

Participants expressed there is diversity of interests, skills, experience and cultures within the fisheries. Some are represented by the Guysborough County Inshore Fishermens Association, some by the Canso Trawlermen's Co-operative and others are independent. Governments should be aware of and understand the complex relationships, and be flexible in their responses.

They also indicated that fishers should be involved early in the planning, policy development and program design stages and provided ways to constructively exchange ideas and suggestions through on-going dialogue.

4.4.2 Citizen Engagement

Participants advised that community volunteers are stretched to their limits and are facing imminent burn-out. There is an urgent need for a full-time development officer to co-ordinate volunteer resources and to write proposals. Governments could assist with providing long‑term funding for the position.

4.5.1 Youth

Canso youth were consulted during the recent strategic planning exercise on their views on the strengths, weaknesses of their community and on what would improve their lives in the community. The following summarizes some of the key issues youth raised during this consultation:

• Canso is losing its youth due to limited educational and employment opportunities, lack of services for special needs, and lack of recreation, arts and cultural programs.
• Youth want more and better facilities and programs from governments to address their needs for better equipped schools and improved health care services.
• Youth suggest keeping the solutions simple - "simplicity sells" - be creative and focus on sustainable livelihoods.
• Youth have good ideas, give them a voice, they want to have their opinions valued - extend personal invitations and make them feel welcome.
• Governments should focus on youth leadership development and support young entrepreneurs.
• Young people are beginning to see a positive attitude change towards youth within the community.

4.5.2 Aging Population

Participants mentioned that the small, indigenous African Nova Scotian community of Lincolnville in Guysborough County is losing population. It is down to 74 people at present and 70% of those are over the age of 65. The community and governments should work together to address the needs of this small community. Some of the issues and challenges being faced include the following:

• illiteracy among the senior population (e.g. many cannot read and follow directions on their medications);
• lack of transportation (e.g. seniors cannot get groceries and to doctor appointments);
• volunteer burn-out is a serious problem;
• unemployment is excessively high.

On the positive side the community relocated and restored 28 gravesites in an historic Black Loyalist graveyard in response to coastal erosion, and completed their community hall, park and playground.

Overall, the participants of the Canso Community Dialogue were very satisfied with the event, and indicated that all their expectations had been met, some even exceeded. However, a few participants felt that more time should have been allowed for questions and discussions.

After several years of closures of the fisheries, intermittent fish plant operations and out-migration of youth and skilled workers, Canso is on the road to recovery. The townsfolk have forged their vision through a Strategic Plan and demonstrated vitality in initiatives such as: the StanFest, the Call Centre, the renewal of value-added fisheries products, and a wind energy project.

The community's priorities for the future are:

• Business development and innovation
• Tourism attractions and events
• Capacity building for community-based planning, management and ownership
• Physical infrastructure to support community development
• Provision of services to support community development

One of the key messages relayed by participants was that the Team approach - involving citizens (including youth), community-based organizations and all levels of government - is a necessary part of the long‑term solution.

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