Canadian Rural Partnership
Rural Dialogue



SUMMARY REPORT OF TOWN HALLS

Series of five town hall meetings
held between
October 2002 and March 2003

Publication # 2221E
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2003
Cat. No A22-365/2003E-HTML
ISBN # 0-662-35793-0

This report provides an overview of the five town hall meetings held between October 2002 and March 2003 in different locations across Canada hosted by the Honourable Andy Mitchell, Secretary of State (Rural Development) (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario). The overall purpose of these town halls was to examine rural-urban interrelationships and partnerships as well as the contributions of rural and urban communities to the prosperity of Canada. This document summarizes the priorities and recommendations of the participants.

Participants representing rural and urban communities engaged in free-ranging discussions with Secretary of State Mitchell and other panellists. Views expressed by participants do not necessarily represent those of the Government of Canada.

In order to present an accurate summary of the discussions, recommendations made by participants that fall both within and outside federal jurisdiction are included. Detailed summaries of each town hall meeting are available on the rural Web site at www.rural.gc.ca/dialogue/reports_e.phtml, or by calling 1-888-781-2222 (toll-free number).

The five town hall meetings were undertaken as 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 Initiative. 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 of Canada policies, programs and services that affect them. The town hall meetings were designed to continue this dialogue and expand it to include citizens from urban communities to promote mutual understanding and awareness of opportunities for rural-urban collaboration in community development.

Secretary of State Mitchell hosted all five town hall meetings. In Edmonton, the Honourable Shirley McClellan, Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development for the Province of Alberta, co-hosted the event. At each meeting, a moderator outlined the meeting objectives and panellists made brief presentations on the interdependence of rural and urban communities, setting the stage for question and answer sessions involving the audience, panellists and host(s).

The town halls, which were open to the public, were held in:

• Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia on October 25, 2002;
• Edmonton, Alberta on November 18, 2002;
• Guelph, Ontario on February 7, 2003;
• Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec on February 27, 2003; and
• Steinbach, Manitoba on March 28, 2003.

A total of 362 people attended the five town halls. About two-thirds of participants were rural citizens. The majority of urban participants worked in or with rural communities or were former rural residents.

• natural resources for direct consumption, processing, and international trade;
• safe and reliable food source;
• processed or refined goods, from lumber to natural gas;
• markets for urban products and services;
• environmental, cultural and recreational stewardship;
• keepers of the international image of Canada as a place of vast spaces and natural beauty;
• strong contribution to tourism;
• alternative living and lifestyle choices;
• models for integrated infrastructure and service delivery that bring different sectors together to support communities; and
• source of labour.

Urban panellists outlined the contributions that urban communities make to rural communities, including:

• markets for natural resources and value-added products;
• sale of retail and wholesale goods;
• education and other professional services;
• innovation expertise;
• infrastructure, including transportation hub;
• tax base that helps support government expenditures in both urban and rural areas;
• international recognition that can promote trade and attract tourists throughout the region; and
• arts and culture.

A few town hall panellists observed that rural and urban communities are facing related challenges in a global world and need to connect with each other as neighbours and partners to make the most of their assets.

Quality of life is a priority of all citizens. Rural and urban Canadians value "primary and secondary education, health care access, a healthy environment, clean air and/or water, social programs, responsible taxation, public safety or security, job security, employment opportunities, a living wage, time use or balance, civic participation, and children/youth programs"⁽¹⁾.

While the topics discussed at each town hall primarily reflected the rural perspective and current local priorities, many are relevant for other rural communities across the country as well as for urban communities.

(A) Partnerships for Community Development

A variety of partnerships among public, private, and voluntary sector groups and agencies can bring together and coordinate the people, ideas and resources necessary for successful community development in both rural and urban areas.

Town hall participants described a number of successful partnerships between rural communities and between rural and urban communities and organizations. For example, university-community partnerships are carrying out community-based research projects that enable and encourage participation of the community in analysing barriers and solutions to the challenges under study. Communities are also forming partnerships among themselves to maintain or obtain important infrastructure such as rail service and broadband and to attract business and investments.

(B) Municipal and Regional Planning

Land use and community planning matters are clear points of connection for populations located in and around large urban centres. Gridlock and air and water pollution are problems for residents and visitors to these areas. Urban sprawl creates competition for land and puts pressure on the environment and on agricultural land. It also produces communities that grow without a plan and that require added infrastructure and services.

(C) Intergovernmental Collaboration

There is a need for different levels of government -- federal, provincial/territorial and municipal -- to collaborate in policy and program development. Town hall participants suggested that federal and provincial/territorial governments need to cooperate in regulating primary industries such as agriculture and fisheries. They also recommended that federal, provincial/territorial and municipal governments collaborate on planning issues. Governments should model the connection of rural and urban interests through horizontal and cross-governmental partnerships of their own.

(D) Youth

Engaging young people in the community by providing both leadership training and opportunities to participate in community planning and decision-making is an issue in rural and urban areas alike.

Youth out-migration is a serious concern for rural citizens, and town hall participants noted that both social and economic opportunities are essential to enabling young people to choose to live in rural communities. They recommended internship and mentorship initiatives.

For urban areas, youth in-migration can increase the labour pool and add to the economy. However, it can also increase unemployment and housing pressures. Young people who move to the city but do not find employment or a secure social situation may end up on the street.

(E) Volunteerism

Many rural and urban organizations and communities face increasing challenges in attracting and retaining volunteers. This is a considerable obstacle to building human capacity at a time when the importance of the voluntary sector is growing.

(F) Immigration

Most rural communities and smaller cities do not have the cultural diversity of the large urban centres. Future population growth in Canada will depend on immigration, and to share in this growth and the social and economic benefits it can bring, rural communities need to create a welcoming environment to attract immigrants and other newcomers to their areas. Immigrants add to the social fabric of communities by bringing in valuable skills, investment and cultural vibrancy.

(G) Social Services

Some inner city and other low income urban neighbourhoods can experience similar degradation to some rural communities through the loss of schools, services, businesses, and employment. In addition, some rural social problems are exported to cities. For example, unemployed rural citizens and the rural homeless often gravitate to the city. It is not always recognized that affordable housing and homelessness, as well as palliative and other care for seniors in isolated living circumstances, are as much rural concerns as urban.

(H) Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol

Town hall participants stated that the Government of Canada's signing of the Kyoto Protocol has implications for many resource-based industries including agriculture and forestry and that these industries should have a voice in the development of related policies and programs. All Canadians should participate in the solution to meeting Kyoto targets, and both costs and opportunities should be shared equitably. It is important that the impacts of climate change and of mitigation and adaptation measures on the country as a whole, and on rural and urban communities and citizens in particular, are fully understood.

(I) Funding (Building Capacity)

Town hall participants spoke about the need for funding to particular groups and for services that span both rural and urban communities:

• disabled: support for participation in the labour market;
• youth: support in leadership development, skill-building and engagement in community planning and decision-making;
• infrastructure: public transportation; health; community education and training; social services; recreation;
• volunteer organizations and community-based research: support for attraction and retention of volunteers, and for development of fundraising capacity; funds for rural community research.

Stable and longer term funding is important. Governments should ensure that successful programs are maintained, not abandoned in favour of new initiatives.

Town hall panellists and participants discussed the importance of thinking and planning regionally. They explored the value of expanding the boundaries of the community to include a whole region, whose parts work together to the advantage of all. Such communities may include both rural and urban areas. In many parts of the country there is movement in this direction as a result of municipal amalgamations and the trend toward Smart Growth policies. Some participants cautioned, however, that these processes carry the potential for rural disempowerment or for pitting rural and urban interests against one other.

Participants identified specific examples of successful partnerships and areas with high potential for regional partnership:

• tourism;
• education - regional campuses of post-secondary institutions; co-operative courses including placements in primary industries;
• university-community partnerships in research;
• decentralization of business incubators;
• dialogue between rural and urban young people;
• support for agriculture by redistribution of profits from urban centres;
• nutriceuticals and other innovations in agribusiness and other resource industries;
• environment - Kyoto-related policies and programs; waste management;
• regional planning - smart growth; amalgamation;
• farmers' markets to revitalize urban core.

The rural point of view on urban-rural connections expressed at the five town halls generally reflected a sense that the rural perspective is not yet well understood in urban communities. In many ways, the relationship between rural and urban interests, from land use planning to attraction of youth, is still perceived as competitive. Participants had these messages for governments, urban citizens, and each other:

(A) Partnerships and Dialogue

Town hall participants pointed out that key strategies for collaboration start with mutual understanding. Communication and dialogue are essential to reaching that understanding. Communities, organizations and individuals need to educate one another on their goals, assets and plans.

Dialogue, like the town hall sessions, is an important part of strengthening the partnership between government, communities and citizens. Participants value bottom-up community action. They also feel that partnership with governments and others is crucial to success.

Participants emphasized the need for action as a result of dialogue. They also recommended extending the dialogue to include more urban citizens and large business interests.

(B) Marketing Agriculture and Rural Canada

Participants at each town hall drew connections between "agriculture" and "rural". They observed that rural is broader than agriculture. However, discussions on promoting rural Canada raise the need to focus on educating the urban population about the assets and challenges of agriculture, and its contributions to the country as a whole.

Strategies suggested by participants to promote agriculture and rural and remote Canada included:

• educating urban citizens and politicians in order to have a voice in decision-making;
• attracting urban dwellers to visit and spend money in the countryside;
• educating children so that they grow up with an awareness and understanding of farming and rural contributions to urban lifestyles; and
• communicating the benefits and values of rural living to attract (and retain) residents.

(C) Youth and Education

Town hall participants stressed that local access to post-secondary education can enable youth to remain in their communities. Course materials and curricula should be imported to rural communities rather than students being exported. Distance education is an important tool for improving access to learning opportunities. In addition, course contents need to be expanded to incorporate training for occupations and professions in rural and remote settings.

(D) Flexible Services and Program Delivery

Governments and other agencies should consistently recognize that policies, programs and services must address the needs of both urban and rural citizens. In many cases the needs may be similar but the approaches required to meet them are different. Examples include:

• the delivery of family violence services: in rural areas abused women may not have access to transportation, emergency shelters or social workers, and face additional hardship due to lack of confidentiality and privacy;
• the impact of graduated drivers' licensing: without either good public transportation or a full driver's licence, young rural people may be unable to find part-time jobs that could help pay for post-secondary education.

(E) Funding (Building Capacity)

Participants emphasized the need for support for particular groups or services in rural areas including:

• agriculture: support for small farmers and support to adapt to food safety requirements;
• youth: support for return to rural communities following post-secondary education including employment and entrepreneurship opportunities;
• infrastructure: provision of information and communications technologies especially for distance education and e-commerce;
• First Nations on reserves: support for bottom-up community capacity building;
• northern communities: support for building connections with the South; and
• population growth: support to attract immigrants and for economic development that attracts immigrants and other newcomers.

Rural communities should not have to compete with each other for facilities such as hospitals and arenas.

Evaluation forms were distributed to participants in order to solicit feedback on the value of the town halls, along with suggestions for their improvement. Forty-seven percent of participants completed and returned the forms.

The majority of respondents agreed that the meetings were "a valuable and effective activity/experience" and that the "format gave enough opportunities to hear different perspectives/opinions on topics of importance to rural and urban communities". Overall, there were many expressions of appreciation for the opportunity to dialogue.

Suggestions for improvement that were repeated by a number of participants at different town halls included:

• more focussed discussions; some respondents further recommended a focus on solutions;
• small group/roundtable discussions;
• more urban participants;
• advance information on content; and
• participation on the panel by provincial, municipal and non-governmental groups.

Common rural-urban priorities discussed during the five town halls were quality of life issues such as: education, youth, and community development and capacity building. They related to identifying, protecting and making the most of assets, and identifying and challenging the barriers to success. Opportunities for rural-urban collaboration were identified in the economic, social, cultural and environmental spheres. Regional thinking can bring rural and urban communities into partnership with one another in a variety of ways including planning, research and innovation, and businesses such as tourism and value-added ventures in the primary industries.

As large urban municipalities seek solutions to pressures created or intensified by growing populations, municipal amalgamations, and provincial restructuring, there is an opportunity for rural and small city citizens and their communities to identify how common initiatives and partnerships can benefit all.

As one participant, discussing the lack of understanding between rural and urban citizens, suggested:

"We were talking about renewable energy and I mentioned some things that were being looked at in the southwest part of the province. This person had been living in the city but was not very familiar with the region.

In the course of our conversation, I realized that there was a real opportunity for the rural area to invite the interest of city people and then a lot better understanding would happen.

Now, I think it's both ways: that I don't know many of the things about urban centres and perhaps I need to extend some invitations, and that other people need to be receptive to those invitations."

1 Asking Citizens What Matters for Quality of Life in Canada, Canadian Policy Research Networks' (CPRN) Quality of Life Indicators Project, April 2001, page v.

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