ABSTRACT
This chapter examines if and how rural regions in Canada are engaged in multi-level collaborative governance, one of the central tenets of new regionalism. New forms of governing are characterized by a shift of power and responsibilities from existing government to a broader, more inclusive network of local/regional stakeholders. Throughout this examination, governance focuses on public policy, participation, collaboration, and processes on multiple scales. The emergence of governance is explored through a review of the leading European and Canadian literature on governance. The empirical evidence from the five cases across Canada suggests limited experiences with some components of multi-level collaborative governance. The landscape across the country is scattered with numerous inter-governmental activities and government engagements; however, few of these illustrations meet the threshold of multi-level collaborative governance. This chapter provides an analysis of rural stakeholders’ engagement in governance activities.
