Rural Summit – February 15, 2018

Jeff Leal – Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs

Welcome remarks, spoke about funding programs and issues that arose from 6 rural roundtables (Warden Lever attended 1). Main Street Revitalization Fund (announced at ROMA); RED funding of $5 million/year. Work towards high speed internet.

Steven Del Duca – Minister of Economic Development & Growth

Need in rural areas to balance growth with small town values. The Ontario economy is in a good place currently. There are funding mechanisms available for small business.

Danielle Rocheleau – Laridae Communications

Rural experiences show many struggling with the disappearance of businesses that employed many people. While rural communities are close-knit and personable, there is not much for young people to do. Many young people move away, not able to envision a meaningful career in rural settings. The challenges are many: youth retention; population decline; decline of skilled workforce. Many of the needs are similar to urban areas but rural solutions are different.

Her work now consists of technology transfer from universities and colleges to local development. Currently working on a provincially supported pilot project in agriculture and environmental sciences. It is a centre of excellence for goats, partnering with University of Guelph on plant physiology and crop yield.

Three key points:

1) Planning – know where you are going, develop strategy without which you do a lot of work for little result and look for momentum among current players. 2) Collaboration – employ a strategy that levers each other’s strengths after breaking down silos 3) Flexibility – develop the ability to adapt to change such as the changing expectations in rural employment.

Adrian Foster – Mayor of Clarington

Spoke of development activities in Clarington, then joined with Grenville Anderson, MPP for Durham and PA to Minister of Education and Dr. Gezahgan Wardofa, Multi-Cultural Association of Perth Huron to present the Rural Ontario Leaders Awards.

Individual Youth Award – Grant Sparling – Cowbell Brewing Company, Blyth

Community Award – Eabametoong First Nation – Fort Hope Farm, Thunder Bay

Not-For-Profit Award – New Vision Unlimited – The Hub, Huntsville Business Leadership Award – Freshwater Cuisine, Kenora

Kathryn McGarry – Minister of Transportation

Unable to attend, sent video pertaining to the Community Transportation Grant Program

Jeff Leal - Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs and Lou Rinaldi MPP and PA for Minister of Municipal Affairs

Questions: A series of prepared questions were posed and the audience voted on them then open questions posed. Topics included:

1) Biggest need - Broadband need in rural areas. 2) Potential transportation idea - Ability to utilize school busses in off hours. 3) What type of transport is most needed – Rail 48%, Regional roads 33% 4) What role will infrastructure have – big role 5) What role will agriculture have in future economy 6) What will province do to support agriculture

Ted McMeekin – MPP, PA to the Premier

Spoke about building healthier rural communities, opportunities and challenges. Rural areas are by and large fiercely independent and sometimes have trouble admitting to need.

Need for government to address the reduction of poverty and improve health outcomes in rural communities. Rural communities have a strong sense of community. Broadband may be the largest single factor in the immediate future.

During the meeting I sat with the Warden of Grey County, to whom I highly recommended checking into the library wi-fi hot spot program currently in Wellington libraries. I also sat with County Councillor Rob Black and was there when he received confirmation that his being named to the Senate of Canada was now public news.