Mike Stolte & Craig Pollett Presentation to FCM – Rural Forum Calgary, Alberta - June 1, 2007

1. Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF)Partnering with Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM): New Governance for Rural/Urban Linkages Mike Stolte & Craig Pollett Presentation to FCM – Rural Forum Calgary, Alberta - June 1, 2007

2. What is CRRF? • 1987 incorporated not-for-profit with charitable status • Public benefit partnership among Researchers, Policy-Makers, Business People, Activists, Rural People • Building an endowment fund for independent research and education • Workshops, Annual Conference • Twillingate, NL • Gatineau, PQ/Lanark County, Ont. – Rural Canada in 25 Years • Vermilion, Alta. (October 11-13, 2007) • Coordinate National Rural Research Network (NRRN) • Motto: Building rural economies for the 2000s

3. FCM – CRRF Alliance: Launched April 2004 • Partnering with StatsCan: defining urban & rural; understanding urban-rural inter-dependence • Leveraging the New Rural Economy Project • Governance and Capacity • Urban perceptions of rural and vice versa • Launching new research: Local Governance of Rural – Urban Interaction • Innovations in Municipal Collaboration • Inter-community Governance Innovations • Tools and Data to Support Innovation

4. CRRF-FCM Research Project (1) • Assess the Rural-Urban Common Bond • 3 “rurals” • Rural Adjacent (metropolitan regions) • Rural Non-Adjacent (mostly primary resource) • Rural Remote (mostly single industry, plus aboriginal)

5. CRRF-FCM Research Project (2) Rural-Urban Linkages are multiple and complex • Trade and commerce • Goods, Finance, Services, People, Information • Functional integration • Carbon sequestration, water protection, recreation • Institutional integration • Health, education, social economy, NGOs, family • Common environments • Water, air, climate • Common identities • Local, regional, national, international

6. CRRF-FCM Research Project (3) Where we plan to start: • Economic interrelationships • Goods & Services and Labour flow both ways • Service area regions (retail, producer services) • Commuting • Governing and service delivery • Infrastructure • Zoning • Economic Development • Revenue Sharing

7. CRRF-FCM Research Project (4) These mutual economic interests form basis of one form of regional governance/collaboration • If $ are at stake, people find ways of enhancing their mutual benefit in economic development • If families and community livelihoods are at stake, it is easier for people to see common bonds & gains from cooperation • Easier to identify other common needs: planning, zoning, containing sprawl, transportation, future growth • There could be multiple governance structures—one for each issue

8. Possible Types of Regional Governance Arrangements • Informal assistance/support • Mutual aid – formal/written • Contracted/purchase of service • Formation of a joint service provider/organization • Incorporated and unincorporated • Joint Councils (eg. B.C. Regional Districts; Quebec MRCs) • New regional municipal structures • Mergers/regional municipalities • Legislative options: Regional Councils or Services Boards

9. N&L Case Studies: Key Success Factors • Communication • Building relationships, sense of community • Leadership and commitment – time and resources • Necessity (need) • Agreements – not always written • Persistence/patience • Provincial/government support • Equity/fairness in benefits, costs & governance • Cooperative spirit: respect, inclusion

10. Organizing for rural/urban governance • Form should follow Function • Check list of key organizational attributes: • Fiscal Resources • Human Resources • Leadership • Skilled Staff • Community Participation • Authority • Legitimacy • Geography • Time

11. Thank You! Comments? Questions? Ideas? Mike Stolte – mstolte@theCIEL.com www.crrf.ca