Service Provision in Rural and Small Town Canada Greg Halseth and Laura Ryser University of Northern B.C. INE Spring Workshop Spring 2004
Challenges for Service Provision in Rural and Small Town Places I Large distances & low population density Large distances & low population density Higher costs Higher costs Questions of quality: Questions of quality: Residents may by-pass local providers Residents may by-pass local providers Urban-based service standards Urban-based service standards Specialized services rarely justified in rural places Specialized services rarely justified in rural places
Challenges for Service Provision in Rural and Small Town Places II Challenges obtaining resources Challenges obtaining resources Human & financial resources controlled by large urban centres Human & financial resources controlled by large urban centres Changes in demographics add new pressures Changes in demographics add new pressures Newcomers, urban commuters, elderly Newcomers, urban commuters, elderly
Methodology I Site Profiles: 1998, 2000, 2003 Site Profiles: 1998, 2000, Site Profile: 22 sites 2003 Site Profile: 22 sites 6 sites in Atlantic Canada 6 sites in Atlantic Canada 4 sites in Québec 4 sites in Québec 4 sites in Ontario 4 sites in Ontario 8 sites in Western Canada 8 sites in Western Canada 11 non-adjacent sites 11 non-adjacent sites 11 metro-adjacent sites 11 metro-adjacent sites
Methodology II Rural Observatory includes data for: Education HealthEducation Health Protection services LegalProtection services Legal Financial services CommunicationFinancial services Communication Elderly and childcare GovernmentElderly and childcare Government Community TransportationCommunity Transportation Recreational ShoppingRecreational Shopping Economic dev. orgs HousingEconomic dev. orgs Housing
Educational Services Table 1: Educational Services Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj Pre-sch. / kindergarten**** Elementary school High school N=10-13 **new category: data not collected for this service this year
Health Services I Table 2: Availability of Health Services Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj Hospital Health centre / CLSC**** Medical clinic**** Pharmacy** Ambulance Emergency services** N=9-13 **new category: data not collected for this service this year
Health Services II Table 3: Availability of Health Professionals Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj Doctors Nurses Dentists Optometrists Social workers N= 9-13 **new category: data not collected for this service this year
Protection Services Table 4: Availability of Protection Services ________________________________________________ Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj ________________________________________________ Police Fire dep’t ________________________________________________N=9-13
Legal Services Table 5: Availability of Legal Services Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj Lawyer Notary Court N=9-13
Financial Services Table 6: Availability of Financial Services ________________________________________________ Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj ________________________________________________ Banks** Credit Union** ATM Insurance office ________________________________________________N=9-13 **In 1998, banks and credit unions included in one category.
Child and Elderly Services Table 7: Availability of Child & Elderly Services Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj Daycare Senior nursing home**** Sr. retirement home N=9-13 **new category: data not collected for this service this year
Government Services Table 8: Availability of Government Services Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj Employment Ins Prov. Auto License Social Assistance Town hall Post office** N=9-13 **new category: data not collected for this service this year
Community Services Table 9: Availability of Community Services Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj Food bank Second hand stores Half-way house Personal aid services N=9-13
Transportation Table 10: Availability of Transportation Services Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj Train – passenger Train – freight Airport Taxi Gas station**** Automobile repair**** N=9-13 **new category: data not collected for this service this year
Recreation Services I Table 11: Availability of Outdoor Recreational Amenities Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj Outdoor skating rink**** Comm. playing field Municipal parks Tennis courts**** Skiing trails**** Hiking trails**** Golf courses**** Campgrounds**** N=9-13 **new category: data not collected for this service this year
Recreational Services II Table 12: Availability of Indoor Recreational Amenities Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj Curling rink Indoor swimming pool**** Indoor skating rink**** Community gym N= 9-13 **new category: data not collected for this service this year
Recreational Services III Table 13: Availability of Cultural Amenities Service % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes % Yes AdjN.AdjAdjN.AdjAdjN.Adj Community centre Theatre-live Cinema-movie theatre Museum** Library N=9-13 **new category: data not collected for this service this year
Challenges and Opportunities I Few services available in a majority of sites Few services available in a majority of sites 24 / 116 services in more than 50% of sites 24 / 116 services in more than 50% of sites Limited service areas: health care, legal services, childcare and elderly services, and community services Limited service areas: health care, legal services, childcare and elderly services, and community services Service provision is declining Service provision is declining 63.5% of services previously tracked declined 63.5% of services previously tracked declined Larger declines: ambulance, emergency services, policing, fire departments, social workers, lawyers, banks, town halls, curling rinks Larger declines: ambulance, emergency services, policing, fire departments, social workers, lawyers, banks, town halls, curling rinks
Challenges and Opportunities II Service declines in metro-adjacent sites: Service declines in metro-adjacent sites: Emergency, protection, & community services Emergency, protection, & community services Service declines in non-adjacent sites: Service declines in non-adjacent sites: Recreational services Recreational services Over 90% of services accessible within 30 minutes Over 90% of services accessible within 30 minutes Some services are growing: Some services are growing: 911, ATMs, 2 nd hand stores, airports, and taxis 911, ATMs, 2 nd hand stores, airports, and taxis
Next Steps Links Links To model To model Tools for capacity Tools for capacity Facilitating capacity Facilitating capacity 2005 Site Profile Inventory 2005 Site Profile Inventory