Rural Initiative - Draft Guidance

Using a rural perspective in policymaking helps ensure government initiatives support economic growth in both rural and urban communities.

The Rural Initiative - Draft Guidance (PDF, 502KB) was released on September 24, 2025.

Close to 1 million British Columbians live in rural, remote, or First Nations communities – covering 98 percent of the province’s land and contributing over $84 billion annually to the economy. These areas are home to key sectors like forestry, mining, energy, agriculture and seafood.

While contributing significantly to B.C.’s economy, rural communities face unique challenges: limited access to services, infrastructure gaps, workforce shortages, and economic disruptions from disasters and shifts in resource sectors. Yet, rural communities remain resilient and continue to be an essential part of B.C.’s economic landscape.

Building on StrongerBC: Good Lives in Strong Communities (PDF, 13.5MB), this new draft guidance supports ministries to assess how provincial policies impact rural areas, improve service accessibility, and strengthen relationships with rural partners and communities.