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Canadian Rural Partnership
Working Together in Rural Canada 
Secretary of State's Message 
Whether it is geography, distance from markets, or the cyclical nature of a resource-based economy, Canadians who live in our rural and remote communities face a unique set of challenges. The Government of Canada is working with rural Canadians to help them meet those challenges. It started with a commitment made in the Speech from the Throne in 1996. A year later, the Think Rural report spelled out the nature of the issues facing rural communities. The Canadian Rural Partnership, announced in 1998, was the Government of Canada's response. And in 1999, the Prime Minister created the position of Secretary of State for Rural Development to be the advocate of rural Canada at the Cabinet table. One of the priorities throughout has been to keep the lines of communication open between government and citizens. The Rural Dialogue has seen a free flow of information in both directions as rural Canadians made their views known and were listened to. This annual rural report, the first of its kind ever to be presented to Canada's Parliament, is designed to ensure that this two-way communication continues. It is a report card all Canadians can use to judge how well the federal government is living up to its commitments to rural Canadians. As the first Secretary of State for Rural Development, I am proud to join with the Minister Coordinating Rural Affairs in presenting Working Together in Rural Canada to the House of Commons.
Andy Mitchell
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