Workshops and Roundtables

A Rural Perspective On Linkages Among Communities (March 3, 2005)

Presented by Bill Reimer, Concordia University (Reimer@vax2.concordia.ca)

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Table of Contents

• A strong rural Canada is necessary for a strong Canada
• Strengthening rural Canada is necessary for a strong Canada
• Linkages are multiple and complex
• Linkages create challenges
• Social infrastructure as important as physical infrastructure
• An Inclusive Framework
• A Rural Perspective on Linkages Among Communities

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A strong rural Canada is necessary for a strong Canada

• Rural sustains Urban
  • Provides natural resources
  • Maintains positive balance of trade
  • Minimizes negative externalities

Strengthening rural Canada is necessary for a strong Canada

• A strong rural economy:
  • Increases economic contribution
  • Maintains social inclusion and support
  • Contributes vitality and innovation
  • Contributes resiliency

Linkages are multiple and complex

• Trade and commerce
  • Goods, Finance, Services, People, Information
• Functional integration
  • Carbon sequestration, water protection, recreation
• Institutional integration
  • Health, education, social economy, NGOs, family
• Common environments
  • Water, air, climate
• Common identities
  • Local, regional, national, international

Linkages create challenges

Social infrastructure as important as physical infrastructure

• Social infrastructure:
  • Formal: schools, hospitals, clinics, religious organizations
  • Informal: clubs, voluntary groups, charities
• Social Economy, Social Capital, Governance
  • Slow to build
  • Resilient
• Invisible in dominant frameworks

An Inclusive Framework

Guidelines

• Include all communities
• Adapt to various rural conditions
• Support social infrastructure
• Invest in rural Canada
• Build common interests

Research

• Multiple linkages
• Impacts by density and distance
• New governance, social capital, social economy
• Risk and uncertainty, informal economy
• Food, H2O, Environment

A Rural Perspective on Linkages Among Communities

The New Rural Economy Project
nre.concordia.ca
www.crrf.ca