OTTAWA  A new report says rural communities across the country are in crisis -
2009-06-23
OTTAWA
A new report says rural communities across the country are in crisis.
Canadian Press
MAY 26, 2009
The report by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities urges the federal government to develop a long-term plan to diversify rural economies.
It says rural communities need "a champion" at the federal cabinet table to ensure their priorities receive the proper resources and attention.
Rural areas have been struggling for decades with shrinking populations and tax bases, lower-than-average incomes, and higher rates of poverty and chronic health problems.
The problems have been exacerbated by the global economic meltdown.
The report argues the national economy depends on reviving the economic health of rural areas - noting that industries such as agriculture, forestry, fishing and natural resources account for more than half of Canada's exports.
FCM vice-president Basil Stewart, the mayor of Summerside, P.E.I., calls the report a "wake-up call" for the federal government.
"This crisis has been quietly growing for decades but the global recession is now threatening to push many rural communities past the tipping point," he said.
"We need a national plan to help rural communities diversify their local economies so they are less vulnerable to the boom and bust cycles of global markets.
