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Position Paper on Rural Development
Publisher: National Farmers Union, Saskatoon, CanadaYear Published: 1978 Resource Type: Article Cx Number: CX837 In the above paper submitted to the Canadian Council on Rural Development, the National Farmers Union (NFU) encourages the CCRD to continue to press for federal policies which develop a publicly planned economy in Canada and which include all sectors in a definite development plan. Abstract: In the above paper submitted to the Canadian Council on Rural Development, the National Farmers Union (NFU) encourages the CCRD to continue to press for federal policies which develop a publicly planned economy in Canada and which include all sectors in a definite development plan. The first part of the paper deplores the federal government's deliberate policy of "underdevelopment" of Canada's natural resources with the consequent decrease since the 1971 census statistics of employment in agriculture, fishing and logging. The authors note that the government has thereby placed the economy of the entire country, either directly or indirectly, under the control of powerful transnationals. They observe, moreover, that the transnationals can exploit labour by relocating to the Third World while local and national governments stand to lose their management role and control of their countries' natural resources and economic development. It is crucial, the writers point out, for the present and future survival of Canada's autonomy and freedom from large foreign-owned corporations to undertake immediately a comprehensive publicly planned economy that will include policies on: land use, transportation, energy conservation, resource development and self-sufficiency in production. The NFU is concerned, furthermore, that no studies have been conducted to determine the state of actual services in the rural communities across Canada. It therefore urges the CCRD to pressure the commissioning of "a study of the breakdown of rural Canada." The paper concludes with seven specific recommendations dealing with the above issue and asks the CCRD for ongoing support in solving the problem of growing rural decay. Subject Headings |