The Role of the City Manager: The Forgotten Link in Municipal Administration

This presentation discusses one of the most important changes in municipal administration — the rise of the City Manager/Chief Administrative Officer. It looks at the development of the position, as well as its strengths and some of the shoals that need to be navigated to ensure that the position continues to fulfill its important role.

Local Governance and Public Finance Challenges of the Fracking Boom: Lessons for the US and Canada

Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Room 208N 1 Devonshire Place, North House, Room 208N, Toronto, ON, Canada

Hydraulic fracturing drilling – commonly known as fracking – makes up the majority of US oil output. Canada may soon follow. This presentation focuses on the impacts of boom-bust resource extraction cycles on local revenues and expenditures and intergovernmental relations.

Local Transparency and Accountability: The Role of Municipal Accountability Officers

Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Room 108N 1 Devonshire Place, North House, Room 108N, Toronto, ON, Canada

Andrew Sancton, one of Canada’s foremost authorities on municipal government, explores the role of accountability officers in Canadian municipal government, highlighting both their accomplishments and the challenges they face.

Learning to Steer: Reflections and Progress on Reducing Urban GHG Emissions

Campbell Conference Facility Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

As part of an ongoing series on climate change and cities, this event features speakers from Toronto, Los Angeles, and New York, who discuss their experiences with climate change mitigation and effective steering strategies for local governments.

Can Ontario municipalities borrow more to make needed investments?

Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Room 108N 1 Devonshire Place, North House, Room 108N, Toronto, ON, Canada

Which new financial instruments and strategies could municipalities rely on to take advantage of today’s low interest rates? What can we learn from municipal lending markets elsewhere?

BIG CITY, BIG IDEAS: The Bays

Isabel Bader Theatre, Victoria University 93 Charles St. W., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Sydney and Toronto share remarkable similarities in culture, community and global economic status, and in major waterfront and city centre revitalization. This event features a discussion on the very different ways these cities are achieving similar goals from the leaders of waterfront renewal in both cities.

What We Do Is What We Fund: The 5th Annual IMFG Toronto City Manager’s Address

Campbell Conference Facility Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto is facing tough decisions in the coming years: does the City have the right toolkit to fund high quality public services and badly needed capital improvements? Do we have a solid foundation on which to position our city-building objectives?