Why do it?

• The speed of economic and social restructuring in rural Canada is faster than the ability to learn how to revitalize local economies within competitiveness policies and globalization. New economic and social understanding must be marshaled and harnessed to technology to sustain improvements in rural productivity and to secure the environment. Investment in social capital and cohesion is needed to match investment in infrastructure and enterprise.

• Success for rural business, people and communities depends on replacing ideology and politically inspired handouts with serious education and research. Going forward, an NGO conducting far-sighted research is part of the new way of doing business, of reducing dependency. Resource extraction enterprises, agriculture, rural business and communities act out their dependency on governments by seeking special entitlements and income transfers. Consequently, well-intended rural programs have often given way to short term regional development programs whose benefits flow quickly to metro places. Changes are needed.

Why now?

• Social and economic strategy is urgently needed by rural governments, businesses, communities and families to catch up with the pace of technological change. CRRF contends that a major reason for acknowledged rural difficulties is that a serious imbalance exists in the national research agenda. We don't understand enough about how the environment, technology, competitiveness, social behaviour and globalization fit. Investments in industrial, mechanical, biotechnology and information technology research are quantum levels larger than the social science research.

• Investment in a comprehensive research program for rural Canada has potentially large direct and indirect payoffs for rural and urban Canadians. Sustaining the rural contribution to the national economy is essential to Canada's competitiveness.

• There are too few winners in rural Canada, at significant cost to business expansion, taxpayers, the environment, social fabric, and the maintenance of rural amenities valued by urban Canadians.

Why should I commit to CRRF?

• CRRF makes the argument that the common interest is best served with independent research by a task oriented private foundation supported in partnership with the private sector, universities and governing institutions including NGOs. Reducing dependence on governments and rethinking the relationship between the private sector and rural citizens are part of the new way of doing business.

• Shareholders of public companies and co-operatives operating in rural Canada have a clear mutual interest in a healthy fit between technology, global markets and the rural economy. Their investment in a good fit can lead to better use of sunk costs in rural infrastructure, both economic and social.

• Governments cannot and will not back such investment without tangible participation and support from private business, cooperatives and associations at work in rural Canada.

• Sensible investment in education and research dedicated to rural Canada is good for customers, good for business and especially good for citizens' morale and entrepreneurial spirit.

• The problem is that neither government, small business nor corporate and cooperative firms are well placed or equipped to do this education and research. The issues are longer-term and broader than their mandates. Yet the same issues contribute to uncertainty for their investments and programs, to their bottom line.

• CRRF is in the business of reducing rural dependence, no matter what form it takes.