A Rational Approach to Gaining “Citizens” Perspectives on Services in Rural Remote and Rural Adjacent Communities: A Case Study of the Grand-Falls-Windsor-Baie Verte-Harbour Breton Rural Secretariat Region

The overall objective of this project is to answer the question, from a stakeholder’s perspective, “what levels of basic services and accessibility are required to make rural communities attractive and healthy places to live”? The innovative approach, analytical network process models (ANP), used in this study will permit the stakeholders of the region to participate in focus groups that will avoid intrusive coaching and advice when prioritizing the level of services related to health, education and recreation. In addition, the use of TurningPoint technology will allow the focus groups, for 3 the sub-regions of the Grand fall-Windsor-Baie Verte-Harbour Breton Rural Secretariat Region, to anonymously enter their prioritizations for the level of services required to make their communities liveable. The methodology used in the study will: [1] allow stakeholders to have constructive inputs to a regional public service model where they will interactively see the impacts of choices and alternatives, [2] allow the Regional Council to compare perspectives on public services from 3 different sub regions that are comprised of rural remote and rural adjacent communities, and [3] allow the Regional Council to develop well structured regional service plans that reflect the needs of its sub-regions.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Alvin Simms

Student:

Janie Ward

Partner:

Rural Secretariat

Discipline:

Urban studies

Sector:

Construction and infrastructure

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland