Indigenous partnerships needed to revitalize rural Canada: Coates

At the Nation2Nation conference, public policy expert Ken Coates, pictured left, warned that rural and northern Canada are caught in a “quiet struggle” as urban growth leaves smaller communities behind. Coates emphasized that national prosperity has long relied on resource-rich rural regions, yet their economic and social contributions are increasingly overlooked. He urged Canada to move from mere consultation to true partnership with Indigenous nations, arguing that the future of rural renewal and reconciliation depends on shared decision-making and collaborative development.