"In step with rural development initiatives across Canada today, these fourteen case studies examine the shift toward sustainability-based planning as a key element of community development. Further, they explore the growth of partnerships between communities and post-secondary institutions, which extend beyond research and education into community development practices, capacity building, and participatory action research. Rural development researchers, decision makers and elected officials at all levels of government, political scientists and policy analysts, and community engagement practitioners will benefit from Sustainability Planning and Collaboration in Rural Canada's ideal, rational progression--which mirrors the policy process itself--from problem identification to engagement, solutions, and evaluation."-- Provided by publisher.