BU’s Rural Development Institute (RDI) has released two reports examining both the geography of where people live and work and the indicators of strong rural municipalities. The reports, funded by the Province of Manitoba, are intended to inform discussion about rural amalgamations as proposed in the government’s Bill 33.

“Using census data, we identified 18 self-contained labour areas within the province and the municipalities within those geographical regions,” says RDI Director Dr. Bill Ashton, who has been involved in rural amalgamations in Alberta and New Brunswick. “We have determined that strong municipalities positioned for capacity and growth should meet two key baseline thresholds: population of 3,000 or more and tax base of $130 million or more.”

“Our research,” says Dr. Ashton, “indicates that strong rural municipalities are not islands but rather engines of growth and economic development.

The reports are available at http://www.brandonu.ca/rdi/publications/rural-adaptation-and-change/.

Brandon University, founded in 1899, promotes excellence in teaching, research, creation and scholarship; educating students so that they can make a meaningful difference as engaged citizens and leaders. RDI functions as a not-for-profit research and development organization designed to promote, facilitate, coordinate, initiate and conduct multi-disciplinary academic and applied research on rural issues.

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Indicators and Criteria for Strong Rural Municipalities in Manitoba

See http://www.brandonu.ca/rdi/publications/rural-adaptation-and-change/

Strong municipalities provide Manitoba with the capacity to fund much needed infrastructure; improve and maintain quality of services, and to grow and change with the economy.

RDI’s report identifies 8 indicators of strong Manitoba municipalities; based on previous work in this area and accepted statistical modeling. Strong municipalities are characterized by both capacity and growth. Both are necessary now and into the future. The indicators reflect the ability of a municipality to provide services to its citizens and invest in economic opportunities.

Indicators to be useful also require measurements or metrics. RDI has recommended two key baseline thresholds or minimum requirements for strong municipalities:

• population threshold of 3,000 or more and
• tax base (taxable assessment) of $130 million or more.

RDI’s work can contribute to defining larger municipalities, with the goal of moving all municipalities toward a position of long-term viability and strength.

Identifying and Explaining Self-Contained Labour Areas in Rural Manitoba

See http://www.brandonu.ca/rdi/publications/rural-adaptation-and-change/

Rural municipalities and their boundaries can be defined by commuting patterns or where people live and work. Using Statistics Canada data and statistical techniques, RDI’s report shows residents of municipalities live and work within larger geographic regions.

These larger regions (or self-contained labour areas) are functional economic areas comprising many municipalities sharing common economic interests. Functional economic areas are one cornerstone of strong municipalities.

RDI identifies 18 regions (self-contained labour areas) in Manitoba and the municipalities within each region. These 18 regions provide a geographic framework to organize strong municipalities. RDI’s work can contribute to discussions amongst municipalities in determining amalgamation partners.

For more information contact:

Bill Ashton, PhD., Director

Rural Development Institute

Phone: 204-571-8513 or

e-mail: ashtonw@brandonu.ca

Further details on the conference will be provided soon, and can be found at www.crrf.ca/?page_id=2076.

BU’s Rural Development Institute (RDI), with support from Manitoba Immigration and Multiculturalism and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, examined two regions with recent upward growths: Neepawa and area surged as much as 20% since 2006 due to local employment opportunities; Winkler and area experienced tremendous population influx through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, including an increase of 63% over 10 years in one rural municipality.

Dr. Bill Ashton, Director of RDI, says a key recommendation within Discerning Growth Strategies is the establishment of a liaison to organize community efforts between different provincial departments and organizations.

“What seems to be missing and what both local stakeholders and government representatives talked about were better ways to coordinate existing policies and programs,” says Dr. Ashton. “Rapid population growth can stress any number of services including health care, education, transportation and housing and more.”

Discerning Growth Strategies outlines 20 recommendations developed through interviews and workshops with service providers, government and business. Dr. Ashton says, “The recommendations address challenges evident from the pace of growth and will enable local stakeholders to better manage growth.”

The full report is available at http://www.brandonu.ca/rdi/publications/rural-immigrationrural-migration/.

Brandon University, founded in 1899, promotes excellence in teaching, research, creation and scholarship; educating students so that they can make a meaningful difference as engaged citizens and leaders. RDI functions as a not-for-profit research and development organization designed to promote, facilitate, coordinate, initiate and conduct multi-disciplinary academic and applied research on rural issues.

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See http://outreach.brandonu.ca/whatsnew.asp for more information or to apply.

The Director of BU’s Rural Development Institute (RDI), Dr. Bill Ashton, is chairing the Prairie node of Pathways to Prosperity: New policy directions and innovative local practices for newcomer integration and attraction. Dr. Ashton says this project dovetails with the Institute’s key strategic directive of rural immigration.

“We know that only a small percentage of newcomers settle in rural Canada,” notes Dr. Ashton, “while the vast majority locate to Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Call it the ‘MTV’ effect. This study will allow us to drill down into the challenges of rural immigration, including language training, housing and a host of other factors which may not be present in big cities.”

Dr. Victoria Esses at Western University initiated the $12.5 million study which involves dozens of partners; Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, University of Waterloo, University of New Brunswick, Carleton University and York University; the cities of Calgary, Saskatoon, London, Moncton and Ottawa; the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Government of Canada Citizenship and Immigration, and Government of Manitoba Labour and Immigration. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) is contributing $2.5 million through a Partnership Grant.

BU’s Acting Vice-President (Academic & Provost), Dr. Dean Care is “extremely pleased that Brandon University is joining other Canadian universities as a partner on this important research project. Being a rural-based university, BU is well positioned to make a significant contribution to this project; especially one with such relevance to our local community.”

Brandon University, founded in 1899, promotes excellence in teaching, research, creation and scholarship; educate students so that they can make a meaningful difference as engaged citizens and leaders. RDI functions as a not-for-profit research and development organization designed to promote, facilitate, coordinate, initiate and conduct multi-disciplinary academic and applied research on rural issues.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. William (Bill) Ashton
Director
Rural Development Institute
T: (204) 571-8513
Email: ashtonw@brandonu.ca

Glen Kirby
Communications Officer
Brandon University
T: (204) 727-9762
Email: kirbyg@brandonu.ca

3rd Rural Research Workshop
Rural Labour Markets & Rural Livelihoods: A Focus on Resource Value-Chains

The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) will hold it’s 3rd Rural Research Workshop in Ottawa on May 9 & 10, 2013.
More information to come soon.

Rural Development Institute (RDI) at Brandon University in partnership with the Upper Assiniboine River Conservation District (UARCD) has initiated a new project website http://prairieshelterbelts.ca/. The website is assisting livestock producers and those interested in learning more about the benefits of shelterbelts in beef production—why they matter and how to establish them.

The new website is a component of the project entitled Demonstration and Investigation into Livestock Systems Adoption and offers quick and easy access to beneficial information on shelterbelts as well as some of the project activities. Information available includes:

• shelterbelt benefits (economical, environmental, etc)
• shelterbelt construction and maintenance
• biological and economic research results on shelterbelts
• reviews, demonstration, farmer experiences on shelterbelt

It is user-friendly with quick access to resources, including virtual tours of Manitoba shelterbelts and demonstration sites as well as interviews with local farmers on their personal shelterbelt experiences. In addition, you can give us feedback by participating in an online survey.

Visit http://prairieshelterbelts.ca/ today!

Media Contact
Bill Ashton, Director
Rural Development Institute, Brandon University
Tel: (204) 571-8513

Email: ashtonw@BrandonU.CA

The Manitoba Planning Excellence Awards acknowledge individuals, organizations, companies and Manitoba municipalities and planning districts in their efforts to enhance communities through innovative and high quality planning initiatives. The Awards promote outstanding planning practice deliberately guided by and supporting sustainable development principles in Manitoba communities. This includes planning processes, as well as products, that support well-being by design. Sustainable development principles as described by the Manitoba Round Table on Environment and Economy can be found here: www.gov.mb.ca/ia/plups/pdf/pgsd.pdf

The $100,000 support by the province enables RDI conduct research on strategic topics to Manitoba.  Dr. Ashton, Director of RDI, stated: “We are currently examining how jobs are created in rural regions, beginning in the food processing sector.  Another project is investigating how SME businesses in rural areas are retaining new comers.  RDI is also conducting future-oriented research into the implications of demographic changes with population-based scenarios to better understand the implications on rural economic development services.” RDI also supports the continued learning for Master of Rural Development students by providing opportunities for them to attend several conferences, workshops and summer institutes related to economic development and policy. Brandon University Outreach is funding three new research project focused on rural Manitoba communities under this agreement

Looking forward both Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives and Brandon University look forward to continuing with research from RDI that addresses opportunities and issues facing rural Manitoba.