Prejudicial community self-reliance

Although consolidation of services at a regional level provides more effective delivery to all communities, it does require that communities open channels of access for receiving available resources and services.

Although a wide range of services and funds are accessible, communities are hampered from developing these external relationships by several factors. The complexity of the legal procedures for obtaining some grants deters residents from requesting available funds. Land use issues involve baffling relationships with government and neighbours. Access to distant municipal and district services may be limited and awkward. Often police and fire detachments are located at a distance and crisis calls are hindered when shared telephone lines are busy. Medical care for the children may be provided from another district. Yet the heart of this problem lies neither in the distance from services nor in the complexity of procedures. Rather, it has to do with the a determination not to allow government dependency to inhibit self-reliance which is exaggerated into a near rejection of these benefits which others receive as a matter of right.