The Rural Voice, 2006-11, Page 51licencee or invitee of the Crown
because it may be that even the
Crown could not exclude a
legitimate user of a public right of
way. But either way, licencee or
user, I don't believe the plaintiff
can maintain a trespass action."
In the result, the court determined
that the plaintiff's claims both in
negligence and cattle trespass must
fail and the action was dismissed.
However, it is clear from this
Agrilaw
judgment that owners of livestock
which escape onto public highways
may be liable in negligence for the
damage which results. To
successfully defend such a claim,
livestock owners must be in a
position to demonstrate that they
have taken reasonable measures to
prevent the livestock from escaping
or remaining upon the highway.°
Agrilaw is a syndicated column
produced by the full service London
law firm of Cohen Highley LLP. Paul
G. Vogel, a partner in the firm,
practices in the area of commercial
litigation and environmental law.
Agrilaw is intended to provide
information to farm operators on
topics of interest and importance. The
opinions expressed are not intended
as legal advice. Before acting on any
information contained in this column,
readers should obtain legal advice
with respect to their own particular
circumstances and geographical
area.
AgriTech
Revitalizing our rural economies
Janice
Becker is a
computer
enthusiast
and
journalist
living near
Walton, ON.
Sometimes, in my search for.
topics which I believe might be of
interest to readers, I make notes for
later columns, coming back to them
months later, finding myself not
really sure how I discovered the
location in the first place.
Such is the case this month as I
traveled to the Canadian Rural
Revitalization Foundation website at
www.crrf.ca. Founded in 1987 in
Alberta, the foundation has grown
and morphed over the years. An
organization supported by Concordia
University, it is meant to foster strong
rural economies through education
and research, thereby strengthening a
resource essential to all Canadians.
The CRRF notes that pressure to
move from education to action more
quickly, contrary to the traditional
trial and error method of many
agricultural operations, is creating
increased challenges for rural •
communities to sustain development.
CRRF draws together innovative
persons from the agricultural sector,
government and business to look at
"job creation and wealth generating
activities" for rural communities,
while assisting rural business people
in finding ways to sustain
development that works
economically and environmentally.
Members on the foundation board
of directors include university
personnel, with a professor from the
University of Guelph, government
officials and business representatives.
The directors are from several
provinces.
The website offers news releases
from conferences held as well as
reports and research studies on
related topics. Just two such reports
discuss immigration and the impact
on rural Canada and the inter-
dependence of urban and rural life.
A major project currently
underway is the New Rural Economy
Program, nre.concordia.ca, led by
Bill Reimer of Concordia. The
mandate of the project is to "identify
• and address the vital rural issues".
Nationally, research is focusing on
historical data and scrutinizing
statistics. Case studies are being
undertaken within communities.
There are currently more than 30
NRE sites cross the country, with six
in Ontario under two co-ordinators.
Ellen Wall is overseeing work in
Usborne in Huron County, Tweed,
Carden and North Plantagenet while
Derek Wilkinson is working in
Sequin and Pt. Morbert South,
according the web list.
The CRRF also supports an
international project with Japan. The
site offers a link to more info on this
area of research and study.
Unfortunately, I was too late in
researching the site to allow for
participation in the fall conference,
which took place in Ottawa from
October 26 to 28. However, those
interested in becoming involved
should watch for the 2007 dates.
CRRF is also a registered charitable
foundation.
There are numerous links to like-
minded sites dealing with rural
development and sustainability. The
Ontario Rural Council can be found
at www.torc.on.ca. The Guelph -based
organization is a "forum for rural
dialogue". For an idea on how New
Brunswickers deal with similar
difficulties, travel to the Rural and
Small town Programme website at
www.mta.ca. This organization
focuses not only on agricultural
activities, but the small towns and
villages, which are so vital to rural
communities. Centered at Mount
Allison University, this program is
also connected the NRE. For federal
sources of material, try the Canadian
Rural Information Services at
www.rural.gc.ca/cris. Billed as a
clearinghouse for rural information,
the site covers renewal, development,
funding and youth opportunities.
Contact me at'
jlbecker@wightman.ca or through
The Rural Voice office.°
NOVEMBER 2006 47