Liberals Are Working To Bridge Rural-Urban Divide
Friday, February 05, 2010

GUELPH ON – Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is taking part in a daylong roundtable meeting focused on bridging the rural-urban divide by strengthening economic opportunity and access to critical services in rural communities.

“I believe in a strong Canada, a Canada in which economic opportunity and quality of life can be achieved in all regions, urban and rural,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “The road to prosperity in rural Canada starts here – by addressing the real priorities that rural Canadians have told us to pursue.”

Liberals addressed four priorities for rural Canada during the Guelph roundtable event: 

•    Working with provinces and municipalities to help get doctors in rural communities
•    Creating a National Food Policy
•    Achieving 100% high-speed internet connectivity
•    Creating new green jobs in rural Canada.

“Part of bridging the rural-urban divide is finding solutions to improve access to healthcare services in rural Canada,” said Mr. Ignatieff.  A key part of finding the healthcare solution in rural Canada is an open discussion with the provinces and rural communities – something we don’t see the Harper government doing.”

The roundtable discussions at Ignatius College in Guelph were hosted by Liberal Agriculture Critic Wayne Easter and local Guelph MP Frank Valeriote and featured representatives from the food, health, rural infrastructure and clean energy sectors.

“Canadian farmers produce the highest quality of food in the world, but we need to do more to link farmers with the consumer,” said Mr. Easter.  “We need to address farm incomes in a serious way.  That’s why we need to build a National Food Policy from the ground up.”

“Canada’s farming communities also have a bright future because of agriculture’s potential to capture energy and turn it into renewable materials,” said Mr. Valeriote, Liberal Critic for the Southern Ontario Economic Development Agency. “Embracing innovation will help to reduce the disparity between rural and urban employment opportunities.”

 “Rural infrastructure like internet, roads and water services in every rural town needs to be modernized,” said Liberal Rural Caucus Chair Mark Eyking.  “That’s why we’re setting a goal of achieving full high-speed internet connectivity in every corner of the country.”