Communities across rural, remote, northern and Indigenous Canada have helped define the priorities for the Government of Canada’s upcoming Rural Development Action Plan (RDAP), with consultation participants calling for policies that better reflect local realities, strengthen community capacity and simplify access to federal support.
The federal government released the key themes emerging from a nationwide consultation held between December 15, 2025, and February 20, 2026, alongside a series of roundtable discussions that brought together residents, businesses, organizations and local governments from coast to coast to coast. The feedback will guide the development of the new RDAP, which is expected later in 2026.
Participants consistently emphasized the need for place-based approaches that recognize the distinct challenges and opportunities facing rural communities. They also stressed that economic benefits—including jobs, infrastructure, decision-making and investment—should remain rooted in local communities rather than being drawn into centralized systems that may not reflect rural needs.
The consultation also reinforced the importance of rural Canada’s contribution to national prosperity. Respondents highlighted the critical role rural communities play in food production, energy, labour, culture, resource development and national security while calling for federal programs that are easier to access and better aligned with local priorities.
Another recurring theme focused on building long-term community capacity, with participants encouraging the federal government to measure success not only through short-term program outputs but by the lasting benefits communities are able to retain and sustain over time.
Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger said the consultation was designed to ensure the new strategy is shaped by those living and working in rural Canada:
“Canada’s rural communities do so much for this country—it’s time that federal policies and programs reflect and respond to their unique realities. That’s why we launched a consultation and held roundtables across the country to hear directly from voices on the ground in rural, remote, northern and Indigenous communities about the challenges they face and the opportunities ahead. I want to thank everyone who took the time to share their perspectives and to assure them that the government is listening closely. We are committed to crafting a new Rural Development Action Plan that truly delivers on our government’s plan for rural Canada.”
The government said the consultation findings will now inform the continued development of the Rural Development Action Plan, with the final strategy expected to be released later in 2026.
