Decentralization of Government

The Basic Issue

One of the key issues to be alert for in this area of community dynamic is that of "definitions". Is the government trying to decentralize power or just process.

Sometimes there is a decentralization of process, whereby departments of the government are spread throughout the province (for a variety of reasons). When this happens, the personnel themselves may physically move to a rural community, meaning that a town gets a few new (perhaps high paid) workers, but no new jobs open up for the town folks. In other cases, urban workers do not want to be moved for family reasons (what will the spouse do for a job?). Sometimes, when decentralization takes place, there is a reduction of resources for people to do their jobs.

When a government decentralizes power, it is often downshifting or off- loading tasks to a lower level of government, voluntary agency, or new organization. The thing to watch here is the simultaneous dropping of resource levels with the expectation that the same or better service will take place, with less "agglomeration effect" from the larger city, with fewer resources.

Rural Development Institute Research Studies

• "The Policy of Governmental Decentralization in Quebec: Principles, Status, and Issues" -Marc-Urbain Proulx Chap.5 in Changing Rural Institutions Quebec is a hodge-podge of overlapping jurisdictions and has been in need of reform. This paper highlights the facts and identifies the issues of that province. In the last analysis, it is the provincial government which has to make the decision about the structure of government beneath it, as laid out by the constitution.

  What is at stake is the development of areas which are of viable size now that the population has shifted to the larger centers. He identifies several issues:

  • What makes a "hot" area for development?
  • There is a need for better communication between levels of government
  • There is a need for a sub-level which is logical.

  He feels that the splintering of many sub jurisdictions is a starting point for analysis, so that what can emerge is a set of jurisdictional areas which are each unique and viable in their own right. He states that the goal is excellence from each area.

  He identifies seven areas which need addressing:

  1. Set a framework for analysis
  2. select an appropriate level for types of decisions
  3. move money with responsibility
  4. Facilitate citizen participation
  5. Streamline service delivery
  6. Integrate Networks of service and communications between bodies
  7. establish appropriate boundaries of regions.

Other Resources