Rural Development Action Plan – Consultation Submission

Rural Development Action Plan – Consultation Submission
Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada
Rural Economic Development

How can existing federal initiatives be improved to better address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by your rural community?

• The Community Futures Program (provides business support and loans), can be administratively burdensome, making it difficult for communities to access. Strengthening local administrative capacity and providing multi-year funding, so that communities are not required to reapply annually, would make the program more accessible and more impactful.

• National Housing Strategy: To better serve rural and remote communities, the National Housing Strategy should include and prioritize small-scale projects and support a diverse mix of housing types. Shelter and transitional housing provide a critical foundation for community stability and well-being, while multi-tenant rental housing is proving to be an effective solution, particularly in communities seeking to attract and retain skilled labour and health care professionals.

• Rural Transit Solutions Fund – this funding stream is closed, and rural and remote communities continue to need more affordable and accessible transit options.  More funds need to be allocated to this initiative.

• Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a good first step. The pilots need to be expanded, and more consideration given to integrated settlement support and the program needs to align with rural and remote labour market needs. 

What federal, provincial, territorial or regional programs have been notably successful in promoting rural development within your region?

Ensuring that farmers are supported in ways that reflect the needs of their farms and communities making them resilient and sustainable. Farmers contribute to keeping rural communities thriving by providing local jobs, supporting regional economies, and can also help maintain social connections that anchor rural life.

The following programs have been notably successful across the Prairie provinces:

• The On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) – successful because it helps farmers adopt sustainable practices that cut emissions, improve soil health, and boost farm resilience.

• The Agricultural Clean Technology Program – Adoption Stream – successful because it provides funding to farmers to adopt proven clean technologies that cut emissions and boost sustainability. 

• AAFC Living Labs: 

  • Bridge to Land Water Sky, Canada’s only Indigenous-led Living Lab, based in Saskatchewan, generates knowledge and solutions working to inspire a new generation of Indigenous agricultural producers, enriching and diversifying the sector through traditional ways of knowing; 

  • Central Prairies: Led by the South of the Divide Conservation Action Program (SODCAP), focused on the Prairie eco-zone of Southern Saskatchewan, specifically on native grassland management and grazing practices. 

  • Living Lab – Manitoba (LL-MB): Led by the Manitoba Association of Watersheds (MAW) in partnership with all 14 of Manitoba's watershed districts. This project, initiated in 2023, focuses on soil health, water retention, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas reduction.

  • Living Lab – Alberta AgriSystems: Led by the Alberta Beef Producers, this initiative focuses on improving soil carbon sequestration, forage systems, and livestock management.

  • Regenerative Alberta Living Lab: Led by the Alberta Conservation Association and the Food Water Wellness Foundation, focusing on regenerative agricultural practices like cover cropping, intercropping, and adaptive multi-paddock grazing.

  • Living Lab – Peace Region: A partnership led by the Peace Region Forage Seed Association, focusing on carbon sequestration and enhancing agroecosystem services in the region that straddles northern Alberta and British Columbia. 

• AAFC Research Farms and Programs:  Organic and regenerative agriculture, including agroecological systems, play a vital role in ensuring the sustainability of our food systems and addressing broader environmental challenges - from protecting biodiversity to mitigating climate change. Research farms and programs provide essential knowledge for sustainable food production while supporting rural economies through employment and innovation. The work of the Prairie Food System Vision Network spans the Prairie region which is home to four research farms and a leading organic and regenerative research program: 

  • Lacombe – focused on integrated crop production systems, the reduction of environmental impacts of livestock, and honeybee health and management.

  • Indian Head - Long-Term Agroecosystem Experiments dating back to 1958 focused on managing soil organic matter, wind erosion, the effects of no-till on crop yields, recently and intensive crop rotations; Environmental Stewardship initiatives aimed at mitigating climate change impacts and enhancing biodiversity within the agricultural landscape. 

  • Scott – a long-term multidisciplinary cropping system study initiated in 1994 to compare different cropping systems and evaluate the sustainability of arable crop production on the Canadian Prairies incorporating three levels of inputs (Organic, Reduced Input, High Input) and three levels of cropping diversity (low, diverse annual grains, diverse annual forage) in a six-year rotation cycle.

  • Portage la Prairie – research on soil health, water quality, and special crops.

  • Swift Current Research & Development Centre – Organic & Regenerative Research Program - research addresses critical priorities, including diversified cropping systems to enhance sustainability, the impacts of tillage intensity on weed management, cover cropping and living mulches, pathogens and disease in organic field crops, intercropping systems, biocontrol of pests resulting from organic practices, greenhouse gas emissions in organic agriculture, evaluation of farmer-bred and heritage wheat lines under organic management, grasshopper control options, and more.

• Although discontinued in 2013, the following initiatives had a lasting impact on rural development across the Prairie provinces, and their absence continues to be felt today:

  • The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) - successful because it combined strong federal leadership and worked directly with farmers and communities.  It fostered practical, science-based solutions that built long term resilience. 

  • The Prairie Shelterbelt Program - successful because it provided farmers with free trees and technical support to reduce soil erosion, conserve moisture, and protect farmland, helping to restore and sustain Prairie landscapes.

• Community orchards and food forests offer a wide range of social, economic, environmental, and cultural benefits, and are especially valuable in rural and small-town settings. Some successes in Saskatchewan include: 

  • Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Food Forest: The Muskeg Lake community has developed a permaculture-based food forest that integrates fruit trees, berries, vegetables, and medicines, helping improve local food security, reconnect with traditional land-based practices, and serve as a community gathering and learning space. The project has expanded over several years with strong local participation and support. 

  • Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation Food Forest: Established its own Indigenous-led food forest, planting hundreds of trees and berry plants to produce nutritious foods, foster food sovereignty, and provide a living classroom where community members, especially youth, can reconnect with traditional plants, skills, and cultural knowledge. 

  • Muskoday First Nation: Established community garden,  greenhouse operation and a nursery to grow traditional and culturally appropriate foods to support community needs and sell surplus produce to surrounding areas.  They also provide food skills workshops.  These initiatives increase access to fresh, healthy food, share gardening knowledge across generations, and strengthen community resilience and well-being.

  • Town of Indian Head (Community Orchard): The Indian Head community orchard features Saskatoon berry plants that are nurtured for public enjoyment and harvest, enhancing local food access and community engagement. 

  • Village of Elbow Urban Orchard: Elbow’s urban orchard began as a reclaimed park project and has grown into a valued community space with multiple fruit tree varieties, walking paths, benches and interpretive features, offering citizens opportunities to enjoy locally grown fruit, connect outdoors, and strengthen community ties. 

  • The Flying Dust Market Garden is a 170-acre certified organic enterprise that enhances food sovereignty for the Flying Dust First Nation through the production of commercial-scale crops, livestock, and traditional medicines. This social enterprise drives community impact by creating local employment, offering accredited “Green Certificate” agricultural training for youth, and fostering economic reconciliation through partnerships with major Canadian retailers.

What kinds of policy changes or initiatives would make the greatest difference to the long-term sustainability of your region, and how can we measure their success? What nation-building projects could contribute to this sustainability?

Enhance Local Decision-Making

• Decentralize program design and delivery so rural communities can tailor initiatives to local needs. (e.g., agriculture, climate adaptation, housing, or health).

• Establish regional rural advisory councils to ensure policies reflect on-the-ground realities.

Support Sustainable Agriculture and Land Stewardship

• Strengthen research and funding for organic, regenerative, and agroecological practices.

Economic Diversification

• Increase access to micro-grants, cooperative development funds, and support for social enterprises.

• Encourage value-added processing and local food systems to keep benefits in communities.

• Repurpose vacant municipal and community buildings,  such as former schools or banks, to create affordable spaces for food entrepreneurs and small-scale food processing initiatives.

• Support the development of co-operative structures, including local co-ops. They can provide opportunities for both community members and local equity investors to invest in their own communities. When fair and guaranteed returns are offered, these co-ops can tap into the often significant, yet untapped, “quiet wealth” present in rural areas, keeping capital and economic benefits local.

Recognize and Partner with Indigenous Peoples

• Work in true partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments as equal orders of government.

• Support co-governance models that respect Indigenous rights, knowledge, and leadership in land management and food sovereignty.

If you have any other comments or suggestions that have not been captured by the previous questions, please feel free to provide your response below:

On January 23, 2026, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced the elimination of 665positions (12% of its workforce) and the closure of seven agricultural research facilities across the country. Cutting these research facilities and programs, which support regenerative and organic farming, not only undermines Canada’s capacity to address climate change and biodiversity loss but also harms the rural communities where the facilities are located through job losses and the resulting economic ripple effects.

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