Question Period Note: RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

What is the Rural Economic Development Strategy and how does it address the unique needs of rural Canadians?

• Rural communities are integral to Canada's economy, culture, and social fabric. The country’s economic growth includes important economic activity which occurs in rural Canada.

• The Rural Economic Development strategy addresses priorities for rural economic growth, including high-speed Internet access, infrastructure, skills and labour, housing, tourism and managing the impacts of climate change.

• The Strategy is based on feedback submitted by hundreds of rural Canadians and contributions from 21 federal departments and agencies.

• An integrated approach to meeting the economic, social development and sustainability needs of rural Canada is a cornerstone of the strategic approach.

• A report was released in August 2021 outlining the progress made since the Strategy’s launch in June 2019.

• The Government of Canada’s efforts will continue to ensure that federal programs, policies and investments better address the needs of rural Canadians.

The Rural Economic Development Strategy (the Strategy) was released on June 27, 2019, following extensive consultations with residents in rural communities across Canada. A progress report on the Strategy was released in August 2021.

To support the Strategy, key investments in rural infrastructure and broadband are made through the Rural and Northern infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Plan.

The stream provides funding for projects in small communities –from roads to wastewater to connectivity. It supports nearly 700 rural projects, with $2 billion in contribution funding.

Rural communities face increased pressures to their economic and social infrastructure. These pressures were only compounded by COVID-19. One critical gap highlighted by the pandemic is the urgent need for high-speed Internet access. A reliable Internet connection is required to access essential services like health care and education.

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of connectivity and its role in rural Canada’s post-pandemic recovery. The government is diligently working to increase connectivity through the implementation of the Connectivity Strategy and the Universal Broadband Fund. These investments will help ensure that 98% of Canadians have high-speed Internet access by 2026, with 100% having access by 2030.

The lack of capacity in rural communities to plan, secure funding and implement projects is also a critical issue for the government. The interrelated challenges of rural and remote communities highlights the need for an inclusive and whole-of-government approach to addressing these issues.

The Strategy will guide a coordinated response that ensures the critical needs of rural and remote communities are considered in federal recovery efforts.