1 The New Rural Economy Project Bill Reimer Tom Beckley David Bruce Omer Chouinard Ivan Emke Greg Halseth Bruno Jean Patrice LeBlanc Dianne Looker Diane Martz Solange Nadeau John Parkins Steve Plante Doug Ramsey Richard Stedman Ellen Wall Derek Wilkinson Anna Woodrow

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3 NRE…The Rural Observatory …an International Network

4 Observations - 1 Rural Canada is diverse Rural Canada is diverse Primary industries are shedding labour Primary industries are shedding labour Manufacturing and services competitive Manufacturing and services competitive Industry has concentrated Industry has concentrated Environment more important Environment more important Knowledge-intensive employment growing Knowledge-intensive employment growing Price of communication and transportation is falling; moving people increasing Price of communication and transportation is falling; moving people increasing

5 Observations - 2 Youth leaving, families returning Youth leaving, families returning Government services more regional Government services more regional Rural aging fastest Rural aging fastest Rural perceived as safe Rural perceived as safe Immigration strong Immigration strong Local capacity is critical Local capacity is critical Rural and urban Canada are interdependent Rural and urban Canada are interdependent

6 ASSETS and LIABILITIES Economic Capital Human Skills and Abilities Social Capital Natural Resources OUTCOMES Economic wealth Social and political inclusion Social Cohesion Environmental security Social and self- worth Health Personal Security outcomes can become new assets and liabilities PROCESSES Market Bureaucratic Associative Communal

7 ASSETS and LIABILITIES Economic Capital Human Skills and Abilities Social Capital Natural Resources OUTCOMES Economic wealth Social and political inclusion Social Cohesion Environmental security Social and self- worth Health Personal Security outcomes can become new assets and liabilities PROCESSES Market Bureaucratic Associative Communal

8 Capacity Findings Capacity-building is complex and dynamic Capacity-building is complex and dynamic Some policies don’t scale Some policies don’t scale Innovations abound Innovations abound Context modifies effects Context modifies effects Challenges remain Challenges remain

9 Implications Rural-urban alliances are strategic Rural-urban alliances are strategic Concordia is well placed Concordia is well placed  Rural-urban intersection  Record of high quality research  Record of community and policy relevance  Resources for economic and community development  Funders with rural links

10 The New Rural Economy Project Bill Reimer

11 Canadian Balance of Trade, 2004

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