Manitoba Research Alliance On

Manitoba Research Alliance on Community

Economic Development in the New Economy

Information Package

September 2005 Manitoba Research Alliance on Community Economic Development in the New Economy

Project Summary

In recent years, the emergence of a new knowledge-based economy has been credited with generating robust economic growth, new and challenging employment opportunities, new wealth creation possibilities, and the promise of greatly enhancing productivity in the rest of the economy. Current evidence, however, suggests that the rewards and opportunities presented by this New Economy have not been shared equally. The New Economy might actually impose additional obstacles to communities that already faced sizeable barriers to economic development under previous economic conditions.

The Research Alliance has identified Community Economic Development (CED), a development strategy that emphasizes local self-sufficiency, local decision-making and local ownership, as a strategic response to assist communities in taking up the opportunities and meeting the challenges created by the transition to a New Economy.

While focusing primarily on Manitoba, the composition of the Alliance enables it to draw on experiences from across Canada and beyond. The Alliance will formalize the economic and political theory of the New Economy to assess its compatibility with democratic and participatory economic development. It will identify opportunities where the pursuit of New Economy activities might be integrated with current CED activities to produce greater development returns. It will determine which capital, infrastructure and policy supports are required for such activities. And the Alliance will consider how CED might be transformed to be more effective in today’s environment. The research projects are attentive to both theory and practice, and give voice to the personal experiences of people who live in those communities.

The research goals of the Alliance can be summarized into five main categories:

 To document and assess the practical impacts of the New Economy on disadvantaged rural, urban and northern communities in Manitoba;  To document current CED practices and to evaluate the potential of CED as a response to the dislocations and opportunities presented by the emergence of the New Economy;  To evaluate existing state initiatives related to the New Economy and CED that are directed towards excluded communities;  To formalize the economic and socio-political theory underlying successful CED and to assess its compatibility with that underlying the New Economy; and  To investigate the policy implications of the research for sustainable community development in the New Economy.

The unique character of the Alliance, combined with its participatory methodology, will produce a transfer of knowledge generating tangible policy and community outcomes.

CED & the New Economy Research Project Page 2 Sponsors and Partners

The Research Alliance brings together academic researchers from the universities of Manitoba, Winnipeg and Brandon; senior government policy makers; and practitioners active in Manitoba’s dynamic CED community (and elsewhere). The Alliance has initiated 42 research projects that involve the participation of 16 academic staff, 31 undergraduate researchers, 13 graduate researchers, 4 doctoral researchers, 41 community researchers, and 21 community partner organizations. Leadership is being provided by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Manitoba, a community-based research institute uniquely positioned to make such community-university connections. The diversity of the research group has created a context for innovative, inter- disciplinary assessments of the impacts of the New Economy on disadvantaged communities.

Definition of the New Economy

The New Economy, as we define it, is underpinned by three major structural changes:

 a rise in general education levels;  the development and availability of new information technology; and  an increase in "invisible" trade in services, mergers and acquisitions, and the flow of information.

These changes have affected the spatial character of economic activity and government policy.

Management structure

The Principal Investigator (Dr. John Loxley) and the Director of CCPA Manitoba (Todd Scarth) act as the Co-Chairs of this project. With the assistance of members of the Research Committee, they take responsibility for general oversight of the program, staffing decisions, financial monitoring, and communication with SSHRC officials.

The Research Committee functions as the Executive Committee of the Project. It is made up of the Co-Chairs, the Coordinators of each of the Research Stream Teams (who represent all three university partners), a community representative (Nanette McKay – North End Community Renewal Corporation), and a government representative (Molly McCracken – Community & Economic Development Committee of Cabinet). It is responsible for the intellectual direction of the project. It assists the Co- Chairs in providing general oversight of the project. It has specific responsibility for project selection; budget allocation; monitoring the quality of student development; planning conferences, workshops and colloquiums; communicating with all of the partners; monitoring progress against commitments; problem solving etc.

The Research Alliance is made up of all of the academic, community and government partners. It is the primary forum for all members to obtain an overview of the entire project, provide feedback on the quality and direction of the research, provide feedback on the way resources are being allocated, ensure that the needs of the community and

CED & the New Economy Research Project Page 3 government partners are being met, identify issues related to student development, and share research progress and results with one another. The Research Alliance meets in January and September each year. The September meeting serves as a “mini- conference” for the purposes of planning, recruitment, and project evaluation.

All of the above units are supported by a staff team made up of a Project Manager (Garry Loewen), and a Financial & Administrative Support person (Harold Shuster – CCPA).

Some Project Details

 3 year project ending December 2005  Total grant $895,000  42 research projects  32 undergraduate researchers  15 graduate researchers  4 doctoral researchers  37 community researchers  21 community partner organizations

For further information visit our website at: http://www.manitobaresearchallianceced.ca

Or contact:

Garry Loewen Project Manager 204-257-6053 [email protected]

CED & the New Economy Research Project Page 4 Original Project Team

Lead Organization Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Manitoba

Principal Investigator John Loxley (Economics, University of Manitoba)

Co-Investigators Robert Annis (Rural Development Institute, University of Brandon) Jim Silver (Politics, University of Winnipeg)

Collaborators Lawrence Deane (Winnipeg Education Centre, University of Manitoba) Alison Dubois (Native Studies, University of Manitoba) Parvin Ghorayshi (Sociology, University of Winnipeg) Heather Hunter (Manitoba Department of Education Training and Youth) Peter Hudson (Social Work, University of Manitoba) Peter Kulchyski (Native Studies, University of Manitoba) Christopher Leo (Politics, University of Winnipeg) Michael Lewis (Canadian Community Economic Development Network) Kathy Mallet, Community Member Thibault Martin (Sociology, University of Winnipeg) Byron Sheldrick (Politics, University of Winnipeg)

University Partners University of Brandon (Rural Development Institute) University of Manitoba (Economics, Native Studies, City Planning, Social Work) University of Winnipeg (Politics, Sociology)

Community Partner Organizations Bayline Regional Roundtable Canadian Community Economic Development Network Community and Economic Development Committee of Cabinet Secretariat, Manitoba Community Futures Partnership of Manitoba Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health Canada North End Community Renewal Corporation Prairie and Northern Regional Office, Environment Canada Rural Secretariat, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada SEED Winnipeg West Broadway Development Corporation

CED & the New Economy Research Project Page 5 Other Collaborators

Boreal Forest Network Chaboille Community Development Corporation Conseil de Development Economique du Manitoba Dungannon Consulting Emerge Knowledge Design Gardenton Ukrainian Museum & Village Society Ian Skelton, University of Manitoba Julie Guard, University of Manitoba Manitoba Eco-Network Northern e-Business Centre Prairie Skills Inc. Prairie Women’s Health Centre Raymond Wiest, University of Manitoba Susan Heald, University of Manitoba Triple R Community Futures Corporation Wanda Wuttunee, University of Manitoba Western Diversification, Industry Canada

CED & the New Economy Research Project Page 6 Research Projects Currently Underway

Following is a listing of the research projects currently underway.

Stream #1: Assessing the Impacts of the New Economy

1. An assessment of the efforts of a number of northern & rural communities to engage the new economy through satellite facilities and ownership of telephone and telecommunications systems. 2. A review of how call centres are engaging with populations who are typically marginalized from the labour market. Are disadvantaged communities getting any benefit. What are the barriers & the factors that contribute to making it work? 3. An assessment of how new banking & airline technologies have affected efforts by the aboriginal community to gain access to employment. 4. An assessment of the impact of new textile technologies on the composition of the labour force in the garment industry in Manitoba. 5. An assessment of the degree to which aboriginal people have participated in community development initiatives in the William Whyte and Spence communities. 6. A interview-based study of Adult Learning Centres and their effectiveness with Aboriginal students. 7. Document the ‘life stories’ of Aboriginal people in Winnipeg who are effective participants in community development initiatives, identify barriers, and why and how some Aboriginal people overcome those barriers. 8. Examine the various ways people in a tiny rural community (Gardenton) are affected by, and use, developments in the new economy to remain a viable community. 9. Examine 3 existing models of food production in MB, evaluate how they and the communities they take place in are impacted by new technologies, and develop an alternative model consistent with CED principles. 10. To outline the scope, nature and impact of new economy industries in Manitoba 40. Examine the impact of IT on three northern communities 44. Examine the suitability of an agricultural community land trust as a CED intervention in the RM of Franklin. 48. A census of CED initiatives in Winnipeg that focuses on the degree to which these initiatives have improved the lives and livelihoods of women. 49. To document the impact of large scale hydro electric development on northern aboriginal communities, especially Grand Rapids

Stream #2: Evaluating the Potential of CED in the New Economy

11. From High School Drop-Out to High Tech Worker - Identifying opportunities for low income workers within the Province of Manitoba Industrial Development Strategy. 12. Exploration of the level of IT knowledge among inner city aboriginal young people, and how this can be leveraged into untapped economic opportunities. 14. Identify models of CED business revitalization used elsewhere, and how they could be implemented in the north end of Winnipeg. 15. Assess the possibility of using new economy businesses with a cultural component (e.g. producing French language content for the internet) to promote the retention and growth of French language and culture in Manitoba. 16. A scan of all CED activity in Manitoba, including a subset scan to identify new economy CED activity.

CED & the New Economy Research Project Page 7 17. Identify how the high technology approaches towards management of natural resources in Manitoba have created barriers to aboriginal participation, and provide CED models for this to become a new opportunity. 18. A case study of the network of community enterprise centres and the role they are playing in assisting smaller communities in their goal of promoting life-long learning 19. Investigate the trust governance of Long Plains First Nation & its capacity to implement a CED program. 21. How the new economy could be used to create economic opportunities for francophone immigrants to Manitoba. 51. To identify and evaluate CED activities outside of Canada that specifically relate to the New Economy. 52. To identify ways for rural businesses to use broadband/high speed internet to enhance business success. 53. To research the implementation of a Local Exchange and Trading System in the West Broadway area. 54. To determine how CED initiatives can prevent poverty and support young women in the new economy. 56. To encourage the development of a learning community in Deloraine & surrounding area. 58. To examine the effectiveness of community based housing programs to produce CED benefits, and identify where these could be strengthened. 59. To research training options to increase the participation of local people in land reclamation projects in northern communities.

Stream #3: Evaluating the Role of Policy

22. An examination of the possibilities for reshaping welfare policies to create stronger economic opportunities for welfare recipients. 24. Trace the development and implementation of CED policy by all three levels of government in Manitoba over the past 2 decades. 25. A review of the effectiveness of the CED lens policy as implemented by the government of Manitoba 26. A review of strategies and policies used by the Manitoba government and other governments to attract and promote new economy industries. 61. To identify the systemic barriers to aboriginal participation in employment, and possibilities for an aboriginal employment succession strategy for future job vacancies. 62. To study the importance of partnerships with first nations people in hydro development as a tool for CED. 64. Examine the level of knowledge and participation of aboriginal people in the political process. 67. To assess how climate change is impacting economic prospects for Churchill MB, and how to use traditional ecological knowledge to create local adaptations for recovery.

Stream #4: Theorizing CED in the New Economy

27. Develop an economic theory of CED & the new economy 28. Develop a political theory of CED & the new economy 29. Develop a sociological theory of CED & the new economy

CED & the New Economy Research Project Page 8