An all-party House of Commons committee has recommended that federal cabinet be expanded to include a federal minister of rural affairs, to bring a rural perspective to all cabinet discussions and decisions.
It was a key recommendation of the natural resources committee which capped months of public hearings in the rural economy with a report to Parliament last week.
Rural Ontario Liberal and committee chair Andy Mitchell called the report a “blueprint for the revitalization of rural economies in Canada.”
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He said the designation of a minister for rural affairs would be an important gesture to rural Canada and also a way to make sure the rural angle always is considered when cabinet decisions are made.
“It must be recognized that rural areas are part of the reality of modern Canada,” Mitchell said. “Policies of government apply to us but their impact in rural Canada is not always the same as in urban Canada. A minister at the table could keep that reality a part of the discussion.”
The committee said governments should pursue policies which encourage rural tourism, investment in rural business and other enterprises. It would involve investment in rural infrastructure such as roads and telecommunications, tax incentives for investors interested in rural development and better access to capital for rural business borrowers.
Mitchell said the committee was not necessarily advocating increased government intervention in rural areas.
“We think development of the appropriate supportive climate is key,” he said.
The first-time MP and former small town banker said the Liberals can go to rural voters in the impending election with a record of growing support for rural Canada.
He noted the last federal budget included some programs for rural Canada, including an injection of capital for the Farm Credit Corporation and money to help small communities connect to the internet.
“I think this government has shown itself to be sensitive to rural Canada,” he said.
But the report, titled Think Rural!, also includes a healthy dose of criticism of recent and present government actions.
Deregulation, government cuts and restructuring have reduced services available to many rural residents, it said.
“Recent federal policy action taken at the national level has had adverse repercussions for rural Canada,” said the report. “For example, devolution of responsibilities from the federal level has resulted in a loss of federal presence and influence in rural areas.”
Consider rural issues
To compensate, the MPs recommended more federal offices that oversee natural resources policies be moved to rural sites and that Ottawa join with other governments and private business in creating a national policy institute on rural issues.
Mitchell conceded the government is unlikely to act on the report, with its 37 recommendations, before an expected summer election.
“But I think the thrust of the proposals will be supported by the government and we can certainly campaign on them,” he said.
