LAMBETH, Ont. – Prime minister Jean ChrŽtien is under pressure from his rural MPs to add a minister of rural affairs to his cabinet.
And even though agriculture minister Ralph Goodale warns it could “ghettoize” rural issues in cabinet even as it gives them focus, some rural MPs think ChrŽtien will act before the next election.
“I think it is highly likely that the prime minister will look favorably on this, on naming someone who can take the lead in cabinet,” rural Ontario MP Jerry Pickard said last week. “That is what has to happen.”
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He suggested Goodale have the title added to his current duties. Other MPs say it should be a minister separate from existing departmental responsibilities.
Lambton-Middlesex MP Rose-Marie Ur, one of more than 30 MPs who attended an August rural caucus in Nova Scotia, said ChrŽtien has proclaimed himself a rural MP with an interest in rural issues.
“I think that has to be translated into a lead minister in cabinet who can focus attention on rural issues.”
Ur said a minister responsible for rural affairs could make government more sensitive to rural drawbacks.
Rural Liberal caucus members have been working on a strategy for the next election, focussing on the need to raise the rural profile in government decision-making and on promoting economic development and jobs in the country.
The majority of rural MPs are promoting another federal infrastructure program.
“If we are going to build rural Canada, we need the tools and I support an infrastructure program that could be used to build some of those tools like good roads, water systems, communications,” said MP Murray Calder.
He has suggested that a $1 billion fund be set up, available to communities making application and offering matching funds.
In Ontario, there has been a focus on rural phone service. Many areas still have a party line system not suitable for use of fax machines or access to the internet.
Miss out on information
During a tour of rural Ontario last week, Goodale heard complaints about telephone service which makes it impossible for farmers and businesses to tap into the “information highway” to expand their markets.
Bell Canada estimated it would require hundreds of millions of dollars to provide good single-line service to rural areas.
Huron-Bruce Liberal MP Paul Steckle said it would mean a phone bill increase of $6 or $7 per month for his rural constituents.
Goodale said he was amazed to hear of the telecommunications problem in rural Ontario.
“Many urban people would be shocked to know that an hour and a half from Toronto, there are rural residents who cannot send a fax or receive an e-mail,” he told one audience. “This is a tool rural businesses need. This is not acceptable.”
