In an era of increasing political polarization, compromise seems difficult to come by. Simultaneously, recent reports show public trust in government is declining. Both conditions can make public consultation more difficult as communities become reticent to engage with one another and with institutions. However, bringing people together in thoughtful dialogue may be especially important in […]

Over the last year, a series of controversial provincial decisions affecting Toronto’s Council size, budget, and transit system have offered a reminder of the power that provinces have over municipalities in this country. As a result, an old debate has emerged about whether the City of Toronto should have more power and autonomy over its […]

To tackle our modern challenges – population growth and changing demographics, climate change, aging infrastructure, congestion, and poverty – Toronto and the region‘s success decades from now will hinge on how we work together. On November 4, Chris Murray, Toronto’s City Manager, will speak about how these challenges require municipalities not only to set their own priorities, but to work together and with other governments, institutions, the private sector, community partners and Indigenous peoples to improve quality of life.

Today, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a multi-state and multi-jurisdictional body that operates and manages the development of one of the largest seaports in the world. Before the Port Authority was established a century ago, however, the Port of New York was governed not by a single body, but rather […]

What form should urban governance take? Is radical devolution the answer, or should we focus on more strategic involvement by senior governments? Zack Taylor will address these questions by presenting ideas from his new book, Shaping the Metropolis: Institutions and Urbanization in the United States and Canada.

Smart 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 […]

The 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 […]

By 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. […]