Book | 2018
Fiscal Decentralization and Local Finance in Developing Countries
Richard M. Bird and Roy Bahl
As experience with decentralization has accumulated, perceptions of both the problems that often accompany decentralization and the best ways to deal with
them have evolved. This book draws on experiences in developing countries to bridge the gap between the conventional textbook treatment of fiscal decentralization and the actual practice of subnational government finance.
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IMFG Paper | 2018
The Public Finance Challenges of Fracking for Local Governments in the United States
Austin Zwick
Fracking has revolutionized international oil and gas markets practically overnight, but its impact on local public finance and governance have largely been overlooked. While operating under federal and state constraints, the key ongoing policy question is whether and to what extent local governments can – and should – have the power to manage the industry’s effects on their communities.
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IMFG Paper | 2018
Climate Finance for Canadian Cities: Is Debt Financing a Viable Alternative?
Gustavo Carvalho
This paper explores climate finance, the provision of financing by private actors for projects intended to decrease carbon emissions or make cities more resilient to the impacts of climate change. It analyzes four climate financing tools used in other jurisdictions – green bonds, environmental impact bonds, catastrophe bonds, and green banks – and their feasibility under current Ontario regulations.
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Forum Paper | 2018
Finding Common Ground: Interlocal Cooperation in Canada
Kate Daley and Zachary Spicer
A range of municipalities are considering or already using interlocal agreements in a variety of policy areas. Canadian municipalities with such agreements generally report high levels of satisfaction with them. Surprisingly, however, we find less cooperation between Canadian municipalities than we find in other parts of the world.
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Other | 2017
2020-2021 IMFG Graduate Fellowship Application Instructions
IMFG
IMFG offers two graduate fellowships in municipal finance and governance. There is one application process for both fellowships. The top two candidates will each be awarded a fellowship.
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Other | 2017
2020-2021 IMFG Post-Doctoral Fellowship Application Instructions
IMFG
The Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG), within the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, invites applications for a one-year IMFG Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Municipal Finance and Governance. Applications must be received by no later than Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 4:00 pm.
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IMFG Paper | 2017
Re-imagining Community Councils in Canadian Local Government
Alexandra Flynn and Zachary Spicer
In 2015, Toronto City Council asked city staff to review community councils as part of the City’s ward boundary review process. Toronto’s ward boundary review realigned the city’s wards, so the City now needs to set new boundaries for community councils. Staff has been directed to report back to Council in 2017 on the “impacts to governance and structure changes to the authority, duties, and function of community councils.” Meanwhile, in November 2016, the Province of Ontario introduced measures to strengthen the use of community councils across Ontario. There is thus a unique opportunity available to re-imagine the authority and use of Toronto’s community councils.
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IMFG Paper | 2017
Paying for Water in Ontario's Cities: Past, Present, and Future
Harry Kitchen
Throughout much of the 20th century, water was seen as plentiful and water rates did not promote conservation. Today, water is treated as a relatively scarce resource and governments are concerned about financing new and rehabilitated infrastructure. However, most municipalities still do not set prices for water at levels that would encourage conservation, thereby allowing the overconsumption of water, and leading to increased demand for expensive infrastructure.
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Globe and Mail: Sean Grisdale on the “Squandering” of Public Land Sales
June 7, 2024
CBC Online: Almos Tassonyi on Brampton’s Strategic Reserve Fund
June 4, 2024
Municipal World: Enid Slack on Municipal Finance
March 5, 2024