Canadian Rural Partnership
The Rural Lens

Since it began in 1998, the Canadian Rural Partnership has promoted greater consideration of rural issues and concerns in the design and delivery of federal policies and programs. It encourages federal departments and agencies to scrutinize their policies and programs through the Rural Lens.

Part of this commitment is the Rural Lens, a way of viewing issues through the eyes of rural Canadians. The Rural Lens raises awareness of rural and remote issues across federal government organizations by asking them to assess the effect of new policies, programs and services on Canadians living in rural and remote areas. The Lens also highlights rural and remote implications for consideration by the Federal Cabinet when assessing the impacts of new federal initiatives.

The Rural Lens is ensuring that new federal initiatives support the social and economic well‑being of rural and remote communities and strengthen the capacity of communities to meet local challenges. Additionally, the Rural Lens highlights other rural concerns including maintaining safe communities and promoting the value of rural Canada as a place to live, work and raise a family.

How do federal officials assess the effects of their initiatives on rural Canada? There are two main tools available to them: the Checklist of Rural Lens Considerations and the Federal Framework for Action in Rural Canada. These tools were developed in Rural Dialogue Sessions, a series of discussions between the federal government and rural and remote Canadians. They help analyze the effects new federal government services, policies and/or programs will have on rural Canada. This way, we can ensure, among other things, that federal programs and services are accessible in rural and remote areas, and that there is flexibility for decision‑making at the local level.

For further information on the Canadian Rural Partnership and the Rural Lens, please call 1-888-781-2222 or contact the Senior Policy Advisor, Rural Secretariat, in your region.

For more information:
Checklist of Rural Lens Considerations