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Some of the issues facing rurals:

• Lack of rural representation at the council table, disproportionate taxation, reduced services and the imposition of unfair city bylaws, are hurting rural landowners and businesses. (Contains several subject links.)
  
  

• Munster-to-Richmond forcemain issue - This is the only known place in Ontario, where sewage under pressure will be put through a fragile aquifer serving over 5000 residents on shallow wells. A tragedy ---worse than Walkerton's--- is certain to unfold if this is not stopped.
  
  

• Chats Dam Boat By-Pass - This needless waste of tax dollars appears only to serve political ambitions ...and places children in harms way.
  
  

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  Links relating to the negative impacts of the new Drinking Water Systems Regulation 170/03:
  
  

• Rural residents vent frustrations over water rules - New drinking water regulations are putting owners of campgrounds, bed and breakfasts, restaurants and other small business owners in jeopardy. - (Reported in The Ottawa Citizen, April 30, 2004).
  Who can afford "Clean" water? - (Related Article in The Ottawa Citizen - May 3, 2004)
  Water testing about to boil over - All I really need to know about Ontario's new drinking water regulations I learned at the Richmond Co-operative Nursery School...(May 10, 2004)
  'Solution' could cause more problems than they solve - London Free Press, April 3, 2004
  Meeting held by WCRA on negative impacts of water regs: 170/03 -May 25, 2004
  Wellsafe.net - is dedicated to co-ordinating the efforts of communities throughout Ontario who are opposed to Drinking Water Systems Regulation 170/03
  Letter to Env. Minister argues that Regs: 170/03 would hurt the environment
  Message from Rural Council President - on Water Regs.-170/03 - September 9, 2004
  Rural Council applauds city's efforts to modify Prov. Water Regs. - September 8, 2004
  
  

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• Unequal application of MOE's nutrient management rules, as applied to municipalities vs. farmers.
  
  

• Ontario Farmer Analysis - March 30, 2004: Environment officials get an earfull - Local politicians chide fisheries and environment staff for not taking farm concerns into consideration
  
  

• Municipal restructuring - The subject of election promises to allow returning to "pre-existing local governments", and post-election concerns over lost local democracy through amalgamation, were discussed in the Ontario Legislature during Oral Questions on March 29, 2004.
  
  

• Rural Council, is there a need - Having a “rural voice” at City Hall is paramount! Many residents however, sense that their concerns are often over shadowed by the demands of their urban/suburban cousins. Quite frankly, they are right! Rural services and service levels have unquestionably decreased since 2000. Residents, citywide, are becoming increasingly concerned about rising costs of all levels of government. None, more so, than in the rural areas of this province! (By Councillor Glen Brooks, Ward 21, City of Ottawa)
  
  

• Ottawa Sun: - Tax talk irks rural folk ... Tue, March 2, 2004, by HOLLY LAKE, Ottawa Sun. "There was little tolerance for talk of tax increases last night in Greely. Instead, at the final public budget consultation meeting, it was word of tax revolts and de-amalgamation" ...
   

• Provincial government using city-focused power base against rurals - "In a major turning point, an Ontario government report suggests a restructuring and eventual abandonment of much of the provincial hinterland." (Financial Post - Rural phase out - April 21, 2004)
  
  

• Federal gun registry program hurts rural residents, leaves criminals untouched - "Given that the majority of gun-related homicides and crimes in Canada are committed by career criminals using unregistered handguns, it seems absurd that the federal government has wasted nearly $2 billion on the gun-registry program that targets rural duck hunters and their long guns." (Three Letters to the Editor - The Ottawa Citizen, May 4, 2004.) 
  
  

• Health centre called model for rural Ontario - "This is a success story for this community." Ontario Agriculture Minister Steve Peters said the new centre sent an important message that rural Ontario deserves the same level of service as urban areas. (London Free Press, May 1, 2004)

• Canada Election-2004: "Liberals' rural dilemma" - They're as popular as grasshoppers, drought: Many disenchanted rural Canadians view Liberals as an affliction, Doug Fischer discovers. "Some alliances once created by geography are now determined by whether a person lives in the country or the city."  (Ottawa Citizen - June 7, 2004)