Search Results for: Amalgamation or Decentralization

IMFG Forum paper reflects on recent changes to metropolitan governance in Greater Western Sydney in Australia and Peel Region in Canada, and concludes that current approaches are falling short in both countries.
Find out more »

Toronto has more than 80 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and more than 150 neighbourhood associations (NAs) that claim to represent the interests of residents and businesses on matters ranging from the public realm to planning. This paper provides background and comprehensive data on the city’s BIAs and NAs, including their locations, functions, and correlations with other socioeconomic indicators, such as income. The paper concludes with options for City Council in reforming its governance model.
Find out more »

Municipal cooperation is an important feature of local and regional governance in both Australia and Canada. Many of the responsibilities of local governments cannot be addressed satisfactorily within the boundaries of a single municipality, whilst complex issues facing central governments often require complementary action at local and regional levels. This paper documents and evaluates the track record of Australian municipal cooperation within the context of the federal system, state legislation and policy, and the ongoing debate about the respective merits of joint service delivery and mergers.
Find out more »

Elections are a time to assess what has happened in our community since the last election and ask questions – often uncomfortable questions – about the places we live and the environment we are creating for those who live here. In the lead-up to the 2018 Ontario municipal election, the Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance has commissioned a series of short pre-election papers to add to the dialogue and tap into the ideas of some of the GTHA’s most respected leaders. As you read these short papers, you will see that we have covered a wide range of themes – transportation, housing, homelessness, youth, neighbourhoods, Indigenous peoples, mental health, decent work, policing, universities, arts and culture, and regional and local governance.
Find out more »

In 1998, Metropolitan Toronto and its six lower-tier municipalities – Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York, East York, and York – were amalgamated to form the new City of Toronto. The decision to amalgamate was controversial. Proponents argued that streamlining service delivery would yield major cost savings for the city and its residents. Opponents claimed that eliminating Metro’s lower-tier municipalities would diminish the quality of democratic representation.
Find out more »

Constantino Cronemberger Mendes, Country Director (Brazil), Forum of Federations, presented “Municipal Cooperation in Brazil: Challenges and Opportunities“ as part of the event Is Municipal Cooperation a Silver Bullet? Experience from Australia, Brazil, and Canada on June 14, 2018.
Find out more »

Graham Sansom, Visiting Scholar, Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance, presented “Is Municipal Cooperation a Silver Bullet? An Australian Perspective” as part of the event Is Municipal Cooperation a Silver Bullet? Experience from Australia, Brazil, and Canada on June 14, 2018.
Find out more »

Zachary Spicer, Visiting Researcher, Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance, presented “Cooperation, Competition and Collaboration in Canada’s Municipal Sector” as part of the event Is Municipal Cooperation a Silver Bullet? Experience from Australia, Brazil, and Canada on June 14, 2018.
Find out more »