The Role of Federal in Rural Sustainability for Rural Canada

This report argues that, despite growing urbanization, rural communities remain critical to the economic, social and environmental fabric of Canada. A strong national economy needs all regions functioning well to operate efficiently. And although rural Canada will not disappear, as long as natural resources remain important to our national economy, a chronically weak and under performing rural Canada is not good for those who live there or for the national economy and urban Canada. Balance is needed in economic development, which calls for public policies that can accommodate both rural and urban areas.