Canadian Rural Partnership
Rural Dialogue
Town Hall Meeting Report



"The Rural-Urban Dynamic"

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
February 27, 2003

Publication 2169/E
Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2003
Cat. No. A22-301/2003E-IN
ISBN 0-662-33825-1

Message from the Honourable Andy Mitchell

• The current service delivery mode, which is based on standardized models (benchmarks, economies of scale), should be reviewed to ensure it does not disadvantage rural areas. To encourage people to remain in rural areas, services should be adequate regardless of the critical mass and should meet their basic needs. A different way of designing and delivering services is therefore required in rural areas.
• Particular efforts are required to ensure rural communities are provided access to the new information and communication technologies.
• It has been noted that in certain urban neighbourhoods of Montréal, demographic stagnation and socio-economic destructuring have created living conditions not unlike those found in many rural areas.

• Agricultural entrepreneurs located in the rural areas around Montréal believe they are at a disadvantage since they not only face strong competition in a global market (particularly in relation to the United States and Europe), but must also contend with new environmental and food safety requirements (food traceability). As well, there is a growing number of "urban migrants", whose presence is increasing land values and property taxes and adding to the pressure for new controls over agricultural production.
• Financial assistance is considered to be essential to the viability of the agricultural sector, particularly to implement and monitor food safety systems as well as eliminate odours associated with certain forms of livestock production such as hog farming.

• Youth, be they of urban or rural origin, have a keen interest in rural life, which they value for the numerous advantages it can offer. However, they prefer not to live too far from urban centres in order to take advantage of the many services they have come to appreciate during stays in the city (when pursuing their studies for example). Also, increased support for municipal officials who want to encourage young people to remain in or return to their rural communities is required.
• Young and new farmers face numerous challenges in getting established in the industry. The investments needed for certain types of farm production are so large (particularly when a quota system is in place) that parents often prefer to sell their farms outside the family or to dismantle their businesses rather than see their children burdened with debt. Newcomers to farming (who do not own a farm already) have limited chances of getting established around Montréal. However, they are more likely to succeed in peripheral regions where farms are more affordable even though significant challenges await them in these regions as well.

• The presence of large numbers of "rurbans" (new residents) living in rural areas near cities is increasing infrastructure costs (e.g., waterworks and sewers) and equipment costs (e.g., schools, libraries, parks). At the same time, some facilities in urban centres are under-used or even abandoned (closures of schools and essential businesses).
• Improvements to the road systems and the provision of public transportation, particularly between towns, are required. The impacts of rail service cutbacks or, in some cases, elimination should be addressed. Suburbs, which have public transportation into the heart of Montréal, should also be provided with public transportation to travel between suburbs.
• Substantial investments for transportation and broadband Internet infrastructure are required in rural communities to foster economic development and increase access to services.

• Diversifying the economy of rural communities is challenging, even within the agricultural sector. Farms are getting larger through consolidation, while the number of agricultural jobs continues to decline, as a result of enhanced productivity. Given this situation, small farms are experiencing challenges in getting established and subsisting. The decline in the number of farms is resulting in the disappearance of certain agricultural services, as well as in job losses.
• In addition to the high cost of efficient equipment and certain production quotas (milk, eggs, poultry), in a context of strong global competition, farmers are faced with rising land prices. This is linked, in part, to the high demand for land to dispose of animal waste, as well as the acquisition of farmland by non-farmers who can afford to pay more than agricultural producers for large spaces and buildings for residential and leisure purposes. Moreover, farm transfers, including transfers between family members, are fewer in number due to the high value of farms and the retirement income needs of current owners.
• The processing of agricultural products mostly takes place in factories located in Montréal or the surrounding area; there are few manufacturing enterprises in the rural region south-west of Montréal. The metropolis also attracts the rural clientele for specialized businesses and services, as well as a large proportion for leisure activities. Wealth creation is strongly linked to the processing of raw materials, and particularly to the value-added of goods and services.
• Other economic activities are strongly linked to the presence of the rurbans and the patronage of urbanites in rural areas: construction (primarily homes); essential businesses and services, as well as leisure facilities (secondary residences, horse farms, resorts, parks, camping grounds, golf courses, etc.). Although these activities provide economic benefits for rural regions, competition for space with the agricultural sector often occurs. Land use conflicts have become commonplace and municipal councils are under increasing pressure from environmentally-minded citizens' groups to limit or control agricultural activities.
• There are significant differences of visions and values concerning what rural regions are or should be. Many who work in the city insist that the country should be a place of beauty, relaxation or retirement; for others, the country is where they live and pursue their economic activities. Developing a common vision to diversify economic development and cohabitating harmoniously constitutes a challenging task.

• Regional universities are competing for funding with the large urban universities of Montréal. Consequently, many young people must move to Montréal in order to pursue their education.

• Improving the sense of belonging to a regional community, which includes both urban and rural elements, is important, particularly when activities of a different nature (e.g., agricultural, residential, recreational) exist within the same territory. The rural population feels that its space is being invaded and that its territory is being used by urbanites who do not fully consider the impact on the local population. Educating people about the usage of rural landfills, by both the urban and rural population, is needed. For example, the urban population is using the landfills for the waste produced by their domestic animals, while the rural population uses it for waste generated by animals that provide the meat everyone consumes.
• Urbanites are conscious that they have a responsibility to "share the wealth" with rural communities and are in favour of a more balanced approach to socio-economic development. Dialogue is possible when both sides acknowledge their differences, identify common interests, and agree to make adjustments in an ongoing process in which all groups can win, provided they are prepared to question their assumptions and values and remain open to new ideas.

• Awareness and education efforts targeting consumers and young people is required in order to highlight the role of agriculture in the production of foods consumed every day, as well as the important contribution of rural communities in this regard. Emphasis should be placed on the contribution of rural communities during the collection process of the various natural resources and raw materials which are quite often processed in urban centres and then resold to rural consumers or exported.

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