The Rural Secretariat was a focal point for the

Government of Canada The government of Canada (french: gouvernement du Canada) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the corporation sole, assuming distinct roles: the executive, as the ''Crown ...

to work in partnership with Canadians in rural and remote areas to build strong, dynamic communities. It was dismantled by the Conservative government in 2013. Located in

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC; sometimes Ag-Canada; french: Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada)''Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada'' is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Department of Agriculture ...

, it provided leadership and coordination for the Canadian Rural Partnership; facilitated liaison and creation of partnerships around rural issues and priorities; and promoted dialogue between rural stakeholders and the federal government. Key activities of the Rural Secretariat included: *seeking input of rural Canadians through the Rural Dialogue so the federal government could better understand and respond to local and regional issues; *conducting an Information Outreach program to promote awareness of federal programs and services for rural Canadians; *promoting use of the "Rural Lens" to ensure that rural concerns were considered throughout the federal government; *conducting and supporting research and analysis of economic and social issues affecting rural Canada; *coordinating a partnership approach on rural issues across the federal government, through the provincial and territorial Rural Teams; *providing one-stop access to information of particular interest to rural Canadians through the Canadian Rural Information Service. The

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food The minister of agriculture and agri-food (french: ministre de l'agriculture et de l'agroalimentaire) is a minister of the Crown in the Cabinet of Canada, who is responsible for overseeing several organizations including Agriculture and Agri-Foo ...

was responsible for the Rural Secretariat.

References

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Federal departments and agencies of Canada Agriculture in Canada Rural community development {{Canada-gov-stub