Civic Change - The Government Response

The Basic Issue

The pressures on the rural community have been felt at municipal, regional, provincial, and federal levels of government. All levels of government have been under pressure to bring about changes in light of these pressures in order to ensure that equity and justice continue t extend to the rural areas now that the balance of power has shifted to the urban scene. Several types of problems have had to be addressed:

• The basic need for boundary re-alignment in voter ridings at all levels, with such a major shift in population.

• A re-examination of municipal structure is an ongoing issue, with need for regional collaboration in many areas having to be balanced against the need to keep local service local.

• Theconcern for proper waste management and pollution reduction as well as safe potable water supply has raised a host of complex questions.

• The needs for changes in service delivery owing t changes in transportation and communications with a the smaller population base and its wide geographic spread.

The issue of the actual rate of change is a central issue in making any civic changes, as people feel the diminution of power generally in rural areas, and know that any changes in the structures of government power can be either an improvement or else a further loss to their place in the Canadian fabric. Policy making issues are central in this particular era as political power shifts away from the rural area, and a loss of voice at the table may well have disastrous consequences for rural people, instituted by urban people who do not have to live with the results.

Besides the changes made by government and regulatory bodies, the non-governmental organizations have changed as well. This institutional response to pressures in the rural scene has given rise to changes in social support institutions.

Aspects of Civic Change

• Decentralization of Government
• Municipal Government
• Municipal Partnership Agreements
• Community Facilities
• Water
• Waste Management
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Rural Development Institute Research Studies

Other Resources