Karen Brownlee, The Leader-Post
Published: Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Rural Saskatchewan Told to Work Together
Rural Saskatchewan communities need to work as regions to be competitive and develop economic opportunities, said the keynote speaker at the annual convention of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities.
The challenges of economic development in rural Saskatchewan are the same across Canada, Rob Greenwood told delegates gathered at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina for the convention.
Greenwood returned to Saskatchewan after leaving two years ago to become director of the Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland. Greenwood was assistant deputy minister of economic and cooperative development for the province between 1999 and 2001. He then moved to the Information Services Corporation of Saskatchewan until 2003.
Canada's economy was developed by relying on its natural resources and primary sectors, such as agriculture, said Greenwood. That is no longer enough. "If you want economic development, you better look beyond agriculture because it's not going to get you what you need. It's necessary, but not sufficient," said Greenwood.
Collaboration is critical to rural areas being economically successful, said Greenwood. Working with those in your region and then developing connections outside the area is key to becoming more competitive.
"You better be working on a regional level because as individual rural municipalities ... unless you have the scale of benefit by working with your neighbours, you aren't going to survive," said Greenwood. "The only chance you have is to work on a regional level where you can pool resources, focus your efforts and build competencies you need to succeed."
Local governments need to work with local non-governmental agencies as well as entrepreneurs and established companies in their region before trying to attract outside investment. Unless communities build those preliminary relationships and then have the new company that comes in become "imbedded" by also building relationships with local organizations, the newcomer can leave as easily as it came, said Greenwood.
Municipal governments also need to work well with provincial and federal governments. That does not mean seeking political favours, but understanding how governance works, said Greenwood.
While municipal leaders don't have as much power as provincial or federal politicians, mayors and other local politicians can make higher levels of government do what they want by reminding them they represent voters, said Greenwood. Municipal leaders' power also increases when they speak as regional representatives with the backing of the various associations, businesses and public service organizations.
Keeping or attracting public services, such as hospitals and schools, is not economic development, said Greenwood. Communities can't rely on the jobs those public services provide to sustain them. Those rural areas adjacent to urban centres are growing because people want to be close to services, but enjoy the benefits of rural life, said Greenwood. But that doesn't mean those communities not within commuting distant to cities can't be competitive, said Greenwood. Those centres further away from cities need to recognize not as many people are needed in primary sectors for them to remain productive.
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