Alberta British Columbia Memorandum of Understanding

							                                Alberta & British Columbia
                              Memorandum of Understanding
                                                  “Rural Development”
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) executed this 1st day of October, 2008,
Between:                                          Overview:                                         Areas of Collaboration:
Her Majesty The Queen                             The Parties enter into this Memorandum of         Examples of joint initiatives that may be
in right of British Columbia                      Understanding (“MoU”) with the intent to          pursued in an effort to achieve the objectives
                                                  achieve the following goals:                      of this MoU include, but are not limited to,
As Prepresented by The Minister of                                                                  initiatives related to research and discussion
Community Development (hereinafter                ◆ To explore opportunities for working
                                                    together toward mutual objectives in a          of the following:
called “British Columbia”)
                                                    manner consistent with each province’s          ◆ Rural policy development models,
And                                                 own strategic direction and legislative         ◆ Mechanisms and models for inter-
                                                    mandate,                                          ministry cooperation,
Her Majesty The Queen
in right of Alberta                               ◆ To enhance the co-operation between             ◆ Community capacity building and
                                                    the Parties in order to share information         sustainability,
As Represented by The Minister                      and ideas regarding the diversification of
of Agriculture and Rural                            rural and regional economies, and,              ◆ Research and data initiatives and best
Development (hereinafter called                                                                       practices,
“Alberta”)                                        ◆ To identify best practices for improving
                                                    the overall socio-economic health and           ◆ Rural connectivity,
(Collectively hereinafter referred to as “the       sustainability of rural communities in
Parties”)                                                                                           ◆ Outcomes of programs and regional
                                                    both provinces.                                   approaches,
Whereas:                                          Shared Objectives:                                ◆ Importance of agriculture to rural
Strong rural community and regional                                                                   communities,
                                                  The purpose of this MoU is to establish
economies are key to the future development of                                                      ◆ Strategies for community adjustment,
                                                  collaborative approaches between the Parties
British Columbia and Alberta, and                                                                     adaptation and transition to address
                                                  to facilitate the pursuit of rural development
Whereas:                                          initiatives of mutual interest and benefit,         challenges affecting rural communities,
                                                  addressing the following objectives:                including those impacted by Mountain
British Columbia and Alberta are committed                                                            Pine Beetle.
to rural communities achieving economic,          ◆ To improve the quality and accessibility
social and environmental sustainability             of provincial programs designed to              Implementation:
within healthy, diverse and regional                be responsive to the needs of rural
                                                    communities,                                    Implementation of the MoU and means of
economies,                                                                                          engagement will be developed by the Parties.
                                                  ◆ To review opportunities for new policies
Now, Therefore, the Parties hereto                  and programming that meet the unique            Other Provisions:
agree to establish a co-operative framework         needs of rural communities and regions in
to facilitate the pursuit of sustainable                                                            Any provision of this MoU may be amended
                                                    each province,
development initiatives and interests of rural                                                      or waived by mutual written consent of the
communities as follows:                           ◆ To engage communities and local                 Parties, except where contrary to law. This
                                                    governments, directly or through                MoU will be effective upon signature by the
                                                    respective local government organizations,      Parties and will remain in effect for five (5)
                                                    regarding challenges, opportunities and         years from the date of signing.
                                                    needs,                                          This MoU represents a statement of general
                                                  ◆ To work together to engage the federal          intention on the part of the Parties and
                                                    government where appropriate,                   does not represent any manner of binding
                                                  ◆ To identify best practices on engaging          contractual or other legal agreement on the
                                                    the participation of First Nations in rural     part of either of the Parties.
                                                    community sustainability.                       In Witness Whereof this MOU
                                                                                                    has been executed by British Columbia
                                                                                                    and Alberta.
                                    S ig ned in Princ e G e org e, B.C., th is 1 st day of O cto b er, 2008




                   The Honourable Blair Lekstrom                                   The Honourable George Groeneveld
                 Minister of Community Development                                 Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
                  Government of British Columbia                                               Government of Alberta