Alberta already has a strategy for economic development, but a senior
government official says it also needs one for rural development.
“The problem is we have great economic development strategy, but
haven’t designed a comprehensive strategy for rural development,” said
Glen Werner, Alberta Agriculture’s director of rural development.
“We want to develop a rural development strategy that would zip
together with the economic development strategy in the province.”
Werner’s job was created in February during Alberta Agriculture’s
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restructuring and is designed to help develop a framework for rural
development. In June, Werner will hold a series of focus groups to
create a picture of what rural Alberta should look like in 2015.
“We want to know what’s an ideal future state or vision for rural
Alberta. What are some of the goals that need to be put in place to
move towards that ideal state or vision?”
By August, Werner hopes to have a draft vision and set of goals to
provide a framework for rural development.
He hopes it will be ready in September so cabinet can select the
departments that will adopt it into their business plans.
“I could see various strategies in various departments in various
business plans to be implemented by April 1, 2004,” he said.
By involving a variety of departments, Werner hopes it will ensure they
all think of rural Alberta when developing future strategies.
“We need to also have that rural dimension there.”
