1. How did you decide upon nine regional councils?
2. How will the regional councils actually influence what will happen in a region?
3. What happens to the Strategic Social Plan (SSP) committees once the regional councils have been established?
4. How is the Rural Secretariat going to be different from the work of other organizations involved in social and economic development?
5. Will the Rural Secretariat fund projects like the SSP did?

Q. How did you decide upon nine regional councils?   top

A. At the Dialogue Day on the Rural Secretariat in October 2004 we heard that communities wanted and needed to be involved in shaping their futures. They wanted to work with government to ensure the long term viability of communities in the province.

We took a good look at what was already happening throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. We know there are areas of the province which have common interests, and share social, cultural and economic backgrounds. We know from research done around the world that smaller rural communities can be most viable when they work collaboratively with the larger communities within their regions. We identified nine areas of the province which we think show natural linkages and the ability and interest to work together for a shared future. Each area has one or two larger centres with a network of smaller communities around them. Our plan is to build on these natural clusters to create nine sustainable regions. People within these regions will all have access to education, training, health care and employment.

Q. How will the regional councils actually influence what will happen in a region?   top

A. The regional councils will bring together a cross section of individuals in a region from both smaller and larger communities. The regional councils will access considerable information on their regions from the Community Accounts and other data sources. They will be able to look at their current assets and challenges and compare themselves with other areas. This will lead to frank and informed discussions about issues, lead to the identification of problems not just symptoms, and then on to suggested solutions which are practical and doable. If there are policy and program implications, their staff support will be able to follow-up with the appropriate organizations in their area. The councils will also have direct contact with the government through their representative on the Provincial Council of the Rural Secretariat.

The provincial council will have representatives from each region and will meet with the full provincial cabinet and with deputy ministers twice annually to discuss regional development issues, priorities and suggested solutions. These face-to-face dialogues are a new way of doing business.

Q. What happens to the Strategic Social Plan (SSP) committees once the regional councils have been established?   top

A. Government will not provide funding for the current SSP Committees beyond March 31, 2005. The SSP was introduced as a five year strategy to advance social development. The regional SSP steering committees did some excellent work. Certainly the SSP influenced the collaborative ways in which individuals and organizations are working. It also promoted the use of evidence in decision making and led to the development of the Community Accounts. The regional councils will be the next step toward more collaboration with government and more shared decision making - it builds on the lessons we have learned and honours the requests from communities to have a more direct involvement.

Q. How is the Rural Secretariat going to be different from the work of other organizations involved in social and economic development?   top

A. The Rural Secretariat does not have the same role as other social and economic development organizations. Other social and economic development organizations have mandates which, in most cases, are more specific than that of the Rural Secretariat. The role of the Rural Secretariat is to provide a community forum for coordinated discussion by economic, social, environmental and cultural sectors from the viewpoint of the region and its stakeholders. It is an umbrella group which will be asked to contribute to policy directions.

Q. Will the Rural Secretariat fund projects like the SSP did?   top

A. No. The SSP provided each regional steering committee with a small budget for pilot projects. By having regional councils that can directly influence policy and program development, we hope to make programs more responsive and flexible in meeting regional development needs.

March 2005

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