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^ 10 - Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, July 25, 2001 j Junior Rangers with the Ministry of Natural Resources spent most of last week at the Orono Grown Lands. The crew was removing brush and branches from all arterial roads ensuring a 14 foot clearance for emergency vehicles. Rural Thoughts by Andy Mitchell, Secretary of State for Rural Development Creating opportunities for rural and urban Canadians There has been consider- ral resource industries includable includable debate in the printed ing agriculture, fishing, media in the last few months forestry, energy and mining, about the future of both rural ■ •' Rural and remote Canada and urban Canada,. It is my is a source of petroleum that belief that a strong Canada drives, urban industries, as can only exist when its com- well as cars, trucks and buses, ponenf parts, both rural and , It generates the natural gas urban are healthy and our cit- and electricity that heat and izens have the opportunity to light homes and businesses, access the wealth of the It produces the wood that nation. builds houses and the food Canadians have a long tra- that goes, on the nation's dition of nation building, of tables. If it wasn't for rural working together for the com- a hd remote Canadians, who mon good, of seeing that the would supply these resources country is more than the sum forms? of its parts. That is why we Some think that the diffi- take pride in our national culties faced by rural Canada institutions. are simply ttie result of poor It is important to make the government policy That point to our urban neighbours view displays more an adher- that rural, remote and cnee to a political ideology Aboriginal communities than to a description of the make a vital and, sigjfificant real situation. Rural Canada contribution to the economy, faces different challenges society and to the well-being than urban Canada not of all Canadians . Appropriate because it is less efficient or new investments and tools less industrious or less corn- will mean that rural milted but because the struc- Canadians call contribute tural realities of urban and even more to oür national rura i Canada are different, prosperity. Rural Canada's vast geog- Rural and remote Canada raphy and the challenges it accounts for 17 percent of the; creates in'delivering services, employed workforce and 15 ruralCanada'slackofpopula- percent of GDP. More impor- , tion apd the. limitation It tant than that, .rural based places on attracting invest- resource Industries account ment, the long distances rurai for about 40 percent of our Canadian businesses are from exports - primarily from natu- their market and the increased business costs this presents are not the result of government government policy but are structural realities that will always exist. Government's role is to mitigate those challenges working to ensure that all Canadians have an opportunity opportunity to access the wealth of the nation. As Canadians we would never suggest that a rural Canadian should expect inferior medical treatment just because it is more expensive to deliver, I believe that it is appropriate, that the entire nation contribute to help improve the transportation infrastructure on the prairies that brings our food to market. market. It should not be forgotten that all Canadians also contribute contribute toward rapid transit facilities in urban areas because they benefit our nation as a whole. Another proposed investment investment that can help all Canadians is the one recommended recommended by the National Broadband Task Force to extend high-speed Internet access to ntral, remote and Aboriginal communities. Such an investment can overcome overcome some of those challenges challenges I mentioned through technology. It can provide rural and remote communities with access to medical services services that otherwise would require patients to be flown long distances to see the appropriate specialist. It can overcome the issue of distance distance to market and make the world the market place. It can deliver services inexpensively over large geographic distances distances at significantly reduced costs. It would also enhance educational educational opportunities through distance learning and create job opportunities that would make small communities more viable. Proposals like this one can give rural Canadians new tools to compete compete on an even playing field not only with their urban neighbours but also with the entire world. It will be an investment in the young people people who will be required "to sustain rural and remote Canada in the future. But the contribution of rural Canada to the nation should not only be measured in dollars. Its very existence has long defined us as a people people and a nation. All Canadians benefit from the tourism, the environmental stewardship and natural attractions available in rural and remote Canada. Rural, remote, Aboriginal and urban Canadians all have a role to play in oUr economy and society. All face distinct challenges. I believe, and I think most Canadians would agree, that we should work to create opportunities for all - Canadians, rather than trying to pit one group against the others. g Orono Country Cafe jv ?/ Full Menu Main Street., Orono, Ontario • 983-9009 r J Pedicures/Manicures Waxing Nail Extensions Ear Candling Eyelash Tinting Air Brushing Electronic Muscle Stimulate (EMS) Paraffin Wax Brigitte | Brown * *** r I I I I I 15% DISCOUNT with coupon | ESTHETIC STUDIO I Certificates | Available I 1*71 Mill Street, Orono, ON LOB 1M0 • (905) 983-8169 Ai ■ mm .mm mm nr mu' mm mm m Enjoy a meal at the New Dutch Oven Buffet Dinner (all you can eat!) 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