Jordan said it is based on ideas from municipalities and other rural organizations.   Ottawa—The federal government is putting the finishing touches on a Rural Economic Development Strategy that will respond to priorities identified by municipalities and other rural organizations, says Bernadette Jordan, Minister for Rural Economic Development. The strategy will be released in the coming weeks and will be “just the beginning of our work with you,” she told a recent Federation of Canadian Municipalities meeting in Quebec City. “Together we'll build an even brighter and more prosperous rural Canada.” While rural Canada accounts for 20 per cent of the population, it generates 30 per cent of the national GDP, she said. Since Jordan was appointed to cabinet in January, Jordan and her officials have consulted with rural Canadians about the problems they face. It comes down to “skills shortages and the pressure of global competition, and the lack of affordable housing,” she said. “Rural Canada faces challenges and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. “We will ensure that Ottawa does better to adapt to the needs of rural Canadians, not the other way around,” she said. The government will work with rural communities to help them “sustain their economy, improve their social and community services, and access federal programs that meet their needs when they need them. That's how together we will ensure that rural Canada remains prosperous and vibrant for future generations.” The No. 1 challenge is ensuring high-speed internet service, which “is critical to removing barriers to growth and community well-being,” she said. Then there is aging infrastructure in need of repair or renewal. “The lack of affordable housing is preventing growth in some regions and making it hard to attract new workers.” As well, rural communities face challenges attracting and retaining labour for the jobs that they need to fill and to provide housing for their current and any new residents, she said. Without high-speed internet, rural businesses are handicapped when it comes to developing business contacts across the country and internationally, she said. “In some rural communities businesses can't even install Interac machines. When customers have no payment options other than cash or cheques, businesses lose sales. “Farmers with agri-businesses--some of the most technically advanced businesses in Canada--still rely on phones and fax machines to run their operations,” she said. “Access to fast reliable internet service allows rural businesses to adopt new technologies, which are increasingly important to the sectors that are at the heart of rural prosperity. “Rural Canadians are just as driven, just as innovative, and just as ready to compete with the rest of the world,” she said. “Connectivity creates all kinds of opportunities for rural Canadians to learn new skills, access essential services, and attract new talents and jobs to their communities.” The government is making unprecedented investments in broadband and wireless infrastructure for rural Canada, she said. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission “will soon be launching a $750 million fund to support infrastructure for fixed or mobile wireless projects.” The federal government is working with our provinces on Canada's first National Connectivity Strategy, “which sets ambitious new commitment to ensure that every single household and business in Canada has access to fast reliable affordable internet service,” she said. “It will also seek to improve access to mobile wireless services where Canadians live and work along major highways and roads.” Jordan said she has received plenty of comments “about the importance of addressing our labor shortages that exist in our communities. Improving broadband connectivity and renewing aging infrastructure will make it easier to attract business investments, newcomers, and help our youth stay in, or return to our rural communities. We have introduced pilot projects to encourage more new immigrants to settle in rural communities.” Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.