What Are Contemporary Rural Development Policies? A Pan-Canadian Content Analysis of Government Strategies, Plans, and Programs for Rural Areas

Abstract

There are long-standing debates in Canada about how to design effective policies to meet the needs of diverse rural communities. This article takes stock of Canadian rural policies through a comprehensive content analysis of provincial and territorial government strategies, plans, and programs. This analysis reveals that many of the common critiques of rural policy remain pertinent today, including evidence of sectoral silos, a lack of policy integration, and continued treatment of rural areas as sites of extraction detached from investment. It also highlights the importance of policy approaches from Canada's northern territories that demonstrate integrated approaches to rural economic development.