Ryan Gibson – The Conversation

Federal funding for public transit shows an under-representation of rural and small communities. (Ant Rozetsky/Unsplash)

August 4, 2026

Is Canada finally investing in its rural communities? What funding for rural transit reveals

Sarah-Patricia Breen, University of Guelph; Ela Mastej, University of Guelph, and Ryan Gibson, University of Guelph

While transit programs are often focused on urban places, it’s just as important to rural communities to maintain transportation links.

The town of Innisfail, Alta., in June 2020. Rural Canada is vital to the economic and social health of Canada, but is routinely ignored by federal policymakers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

April 7, 2025

In Canada’s 2025 federal election, is anyone paying attention to rural communities?

Sarah-Patricia Breen, University of Guelph; Heather Hall, University of Waterloo; Kyle Rich, Brock University, and Ryan Gibson, University of Guelph

Rural communities are vital to Canada’s economic success and sovereignty. But rural Canada remains poorly understood and underrepresented in federal programs and policies.

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