Metropolitan Governance: Future Necessity or Misplaced Dream?
Campbell Conference Facility Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaExperts from multiple disciplines have argued in principle for the benefits of metropolitan governance, but how has it played out in practice? On September 19, IMFG Visiting Scholar Alan Harding addressed this question by drawing on his experience as Chief Economic Adviser to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority as well as his many years of […]
Consulting in the Smart City: Lessons from Sidewalk Toronto
Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, Room 208N 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, ON, CanadaSmart city projects are rapidly becoming a dominant part of the worldwide urban agenda, including in Toronto, where Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto have launched Sidewalk Toronto, an initiative to develop the waterfront Quayside neighbourhood as a smart city. Smart city projects like Sidewalk Toronto promise to improve order, efficiency, safety, sustainability, and inclusivity in […]
From the Top Down: The Governance of Urban Development in Mexico
Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, Room 208N 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, ON, CanadaAlthough efforts were made to decentralize in Mexico during the late 20th century, federal and state-level policy has continued to supersede local governance. Local governments in Mexico have limited financial and institutional capacities and are seldom able to guide urban development and construction processes, for example. The result of this top down approach has sometimes […]
Funding the Canadian City – Book Launch
Boardroom, 315 Bloor Street West Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, Toronto, ON, CanadaThe Canadian Tax Foundation and the Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG) celebrated the launch of Funding the Canadian City, a collection of papers by leading experts, scholars, and policy makers in the field of municipal taxation and finance. The book – edited by Enid Slack, Lisa Philipps, Lindsay M. Tedds, and Heather L. Evans […]
Steering Low-Carbon Growth in Emerging African Cities: Insights from Dar es Salaam
Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, Room 208N 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, ON, CanadaBy the end of the 21st century, over 30 African cities will have populations exceeding 10 million people, placing them among the world’s largest megacities. The region’s rapid urbanization will stimulate investments in new urban infrastructure, including power plants, roads, and residential buildings, which will push city-level energy use and carbon emissions to new levels. […]
Sharing the Costs of a Growing City: The Case for Development Charges
Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Room 108N 1 Devonshire Place, North House, Room 108N, Toronto, ON, CanadaNew development is essential to supporting a growing city but it also leads to added costs for municipal governments. New housing developments often require new or expanded infrastructure, including roads, sewers, and water treatment plants. There is ongoing debate on how cities should pay for this growth-related capital. Some argue that user fees and property […]
Bold Ideas, Bold Action: Next Steps for the GTHA
Campbell Conference Facility Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaMunicipalities across the GTHA face many shared challenges. Ahead of last year’s municipal elections, the Institute on Municipal Governance and Finance (IMFG) published a series of essays from some of the GTHA’s most respected leaders offering bold ideas to push the region forward on key issues. On February 28, four of these leaders discussed their […]
Governance Models for Successful Regional Transit: Who Owns It? Who Pays for It? Who Delivers It?
Campbell Conference Facility Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaIn tightly connected metropolitan regions, who should make transit decisions? Who should run the system? Who should pay for it? On February 12, Michael Schabas, Patricia Wood, and Joe Berridge will explore how different cities and regions around the world have confronted these questions.
Building Inclusive Cities: Diversity in the Infrastructure Industry
Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Room 208N 1 Devonshire Place, North House, Room 208N, Toronto, ON, CanadaOn January 14, Matti Siemiatycki and Yoko Cecelia Pye will present new research on the diversity of the infrastructure sector, discuss how women and racial minorities are underrepresented in leadership positions in the industry, and share strategies to overcome this diversity gap.
Toronto’s Future: Who’s Paying? The 7th Annual IMFG Toronto City Manager’s Address
Campbell Conference Facility Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaChris Murray, Toronto's new City Manager, is a former planner who thinks of the future in terms of decades, not years. In his address, Toronto's Future: Who's Paying?, he will discuss the "elephant in the room" when it comes to municipal government: what kind of city are we leaving behind for future generations?