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Rural/Urban Relations:Building Alliances

Rural/Urban Relations:Building Alliances

Bill Reimer –Bill Reimer –

with a lot of help from my friendswith a lot of help from my friendsnre@concordia.canre@concordia.ca

2004/04/282004/04/28

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Montreal Gazette March 3, 2002

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How should we respond?How should we respond?

• As VictimsAs Victims

• As CriticsAs Critics

• As StrategistsAs Strategists

• Requires multiple responses

• Founded on analysis

• Focused on common interests

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ArgumentArgument

•The Old Economy and its institutions The Old Economy and its institutions reflected Rural-Urban distinctionsreflected Rural-Urban distinctions

• In the context of the New Economy these In the context of the New Economy these are inappropriateare inappropriate

•We need new institutions for the New We need new institutions for the New EconomyEconomy

•Our research agenda can facilitate the Our research agenda can facilitate the creation of new institutions for the NEcreation of new institutions for the NE

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The Rural EconomyThe Rural EconomyOld (Recent) EconomyOld (Recent) Economy

• Rural as commodity Rural as commodity basebase

• Urban controlUrban control

• Sector focusSector focus

• Successful in limited Successful in limited marketsmarkets

• Undermined rural Undermined rural communitiescommunities

New EconomyNew Economy

• Increased competition Increased competition for commoditiesfor commodities

• Knowledge and Knowledge and services paramountservices paramount

• MultifunctionalMultifunctional

• InterdependentInterdependent

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The new rural economy needs new institutions

The new rural economy needs new institutions

•MultifunctionalMultifunctional

•ReflexiveReflexive

•FlexibleFlexible

• InterdependentInterdependent

Institutions that build rural capacityInstitutions that link rural and urbanInstitutions that build rural capacityInstitutions that link rural and urban

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StrategiesStrategies

• Identify existing examplesIdentify existing examples

•Understand contributing conditionsUnderstand contributing conditions

•Build on common interestsBuild on common interests

It is already happeningIt is already happening

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Miramichi Watershed Management Committee Inc.

Miramichi Watershed Management Committee Inc.

....dedicated to the preservation and ....dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the natural enhancement of the natural environment of the Miramichi river environment of the Miramichi river system....system....

Bowater Pulp & Paper Canada Bowater Pulp & Paper Canada Inc.Inc.

Burnt Church First NationBurnt Church First NationCains River Enhancement Assoc.Cains River Enhancement Assoc.Eel Ground First NationEel Ground First NationNoranda Inc. Heath SteeleNoranda Inc. Heath SteeleJ. D. Irving Ltd.J. D. Irving Ltd.Fraser Papers Canada Inc.Fraser Papers Canada Inc.Miramichi Angling Adventures Miramichi Angling Adventures

Inc.Inc.Miramichi Fisheries Miramichi Fisheries

Management Ltd.Management Ltd.N.B. Guides Association Inc.N.B. Guides Association Inc.Miramichi Headwaters Salmon Miramichi Headwaters Salmon

Federation.Federation.

UPM - Kymmene Miramichi Inc.UPM - Kymmene Miramichi Inc.Miramichi Salmon AssociationMiramichi Salmon AssociationAtlantic Salmon MuseumAtlantic Salmon MuseumN.B. Outfitters AssocationN.B. Outfitters AssocationN.B. Council of Atlantic Salmon N.B. Council of Atlantic Salmon

Fed.Fed.Northumberland Salmon Northumberland Salmon

Protection Assoc.Protection Assoc.Red Bank First NationRed Bank First NationTabusintac Fish and Game Tabusintac Fish and Game

Assoc.Assoc.White Rapids Brook & Other White Rapids Brook & Other

StreamsStreamsEnhancement Assoc.Enhancement Assoc.

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Key ElementsKey Elements

•Focus on common interests (rural-urban)Focus on common interests (rural-urban)

•Use multiple capacities:Use multiple capacities: Started with strength (associative) to build Started with strength (associative) to build

bureaucratic and market capacitiesbureaucratic and market capacities

•Used bonding and linking social capitalUsed bonding and linking social capital

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Can take multiple forms and fociCan take multiple forms and foci

•WaterWater Catskill mountains and New York CityCatskill mountains and New York City JapanJapan

•FoodFood Direct marketingDirect marketing Quality control in production and processingQuality control in production and processing

•Environmental amenitiesEnvironmental amenities Ducks UnlimitedDucks Unlimited Aboriginal communitiesAboriginal communities

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NRE2 Activities re. Rural-Urban Relations

NRE2 Activities re. Rural-Urban Relations

•Review of the literatureReview of the literature

•Development of the frameworkDevelopment of the framework

•Analysis of community identityAnalysis of community identity

•Municipal financing analysisMunicipal financing analysis

•CSD trajectory analysisCSD trajectory analysis

•Rural/Urban ValuesRural/Urban Values

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% Municipalities with high discretionary finances (per capita)

% Municipalities with high discretionary finances (per capita)

0102030405060708090

100

Urban core Urban fringe Rural inCMA/ CA

UrbanoutsideCMA/ CA

RuraloutsideCMA/ CA

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Context Matters:% Municipalities with high per capita discretionary finances

Context Matters:% Municipalities with high per capita discretionary finances

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Local/ Global Stable/ Fluct N.Adj/ Adj High/ LowCap.

Lead/ Lag

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Rural-Urban Relations:Building alliances

Rural-Urban Relations:Building alliances

The Canadian Rural Revitalization The Canadian Rural Revitalization FoundationFoundation

http://nre.concordia.cahttp://nre.concordia.ca

http://www.crrf.cahttp://www.crrf.ca2004/04/282004/04/28Become a

member today!