The Canadian water and wastewater deficit has been estimated to be in the billions of dollars. Drawing upon the political, economic, and technical history of the Southern Ontario water sector, IMFG Graduate Fellowship winner Lesley Herstein explores how short-term decision-making has often resulted in greater municipal expenditure over time on water assets.

As the city region expands and the number of actors increases, governing transportation becomes more and more complicated. Scott Sams discusses whether an effective, accountable, and coordinated transportation system can be achieved without resorting to amalgamating all existing transit authorities into one.

Although the metropolitan areas of Mumbai, Dehli, and Kolkata contribute a major chunk to the growth and income of India, only 52 per cent of urban households have tap water, only 741 out of 1000 urban dwellers have access to toilets, and 77 per cent of the urban households are covered by closed surface drainage. Faced with these major challenges, can Indian cities find the revenues they need to improve services?

Drawing on his substantial knowledge of metropolitan Los Angeles' transit infrastructure and financing, Richard Katz examines the advantages and disadvantages of different revenue tools for financing transit.

What new financial tools and collaborative approaches are currently being used among different levels of government, and among public, private, and non-profit sectors to expand and maintain parks and open space in North America?

Jane Bird examines the relationship between government and the private sector and their respective roles in developing and operating transportation infrastructure. As part of her presentation, she discusses how private sector participation in the development of the 19 km Canada Line in Vancouver inspired innovation and delivered the project on time and on budget.

This session examines the changing role of libraries in the digital age along with their role in the broader public learning continuum. In an era of fiscal austerity, are there new operating models for libraries which could prove more effective at responding to changing civic needs and rapid changes in information technology?

Around the world, there is a broad understanding of the role that strategic investments in transportation play in advancing metropolitan and national economies. In the current context, investments in roads and transit are more important than ever. We need new approaches to how these projects are conceived, funded, and delivered while, at the same time, reinvesting in existing infrastructure.

This presentation focuses on the role that parks and libraries play as contributors to broader urban policy objectives. How do libraries and parks affect and leverage the quality of life, sustainability, and economic growth in the city? In a period of fiscal austerity, what are the appropriate roles for the public sector, the private sector and the scope for partnerships in both the funding and management of these spaces?