ABSTRACT
The geographical basis of the concept of rurality is significantly conditioned by the political and social evolution in different national contexts. There are important policy-making implications arising from different governance models that shape the relationships among the different levels of government and drive the dialogue with local communities. In the US, for example, the definition of “rural” is an integral part of several key programs such as health, housing, and transportation. Whether one is identified as rural or metro will, therefore, have important implications for access to resources and services. In Canada, “rural” seldom appears as a program condition since the constitutional and policy preoccupations have more often been with relations among specific social groups as defined by language, Indigenous, or provincial status. As a result, any preoccupation with “rural” in Canadian policies and programs is eclipsed by the attention given to regional and provincial differences. This chapter compares the definition, use, and implications of “rural” in specific government programs in the US and Canada.
