QUÉBEC, January 17, 2019 – The Réseau des SADC et CAE applauds Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement of the newly created Ministry of Rural Economic Development, and the appointment of Bernadette Jordan as its head. The formation of this ministry meets a real need and will bolster aid to small municipalities so that they can address their specific issues as quickly as possible.

“I would like to congratulate the federal government for creating the new ministry,” said Daniel Dumas, president of the Réseau des SADC et CAE. “This move shows that the government prioritizes support for development in small communities that are in dire need of assistance. I would also like to welcome the new minister, Bernadette Jordan. We are thrilled at the idea of collaborating with her and her team.”

For over 35 years, the SADC et CAE in Quebec have pursued economic development in rural and semi-urban communities throughout the province, serving nearly 4.3 million residents. Our organizations implement solutions that align with the main economic challenges of rural areas, such as internet access, labour shortages, the decline in local services and population retention.

Like the Prime Minister, we believe that the challenges faced by Canadians living in rural settings are very different from those faced in urban areas. We are overjoyed by the plan to create a rural development strategy that aims to encourage economic growth and the creation of jobs in these communities.

“As the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau correctly noted, this economic growth is contingent upon citizens’ and companies’ ability to access high-speed internet, and small businesses desperately need help on that front. How can they be expected to be successful and competitive if they don’t have basic services? We need to act immediately,” said Mr. Dumas.

The SADC et CAE develop concrete measures that are adapted to help communities respond to their challenges. Every year, we work with over 10,000 businesses to support their ongoing success, and we back over 1,000 local projects to keep our communities competitive and attractive. These projects contribute to growth that meets community needs and directly results in the creation and maintenance of high-quality jobs

ABOUT THE RÉSEAU DES SADC ET CAE
The Réseau des SADC (Sociétés d’aide au développement des collectivités) et CAE (Centres d’aide aux entreprises) is a network of 57 SADC and 10 CAE that have been working in community economic development for more than 35 years. It is made up of over 1,400 professionals and volunteers who support and provide funding to more than 10,000 entrepreneurs and local economic development projects every year.

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