Search Results for: Governance
Presentation | 2019
Metropolitan Governance: Future Necessity or Misplaced Dream?
Alan Harding
Experts 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 academic research on metropolitan governance.
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Perspectives Paper | 2019
The Evolution of Local Governance in Mexico City: Pursuing Autonomy in a Growing Region
Alejandra Reyes
This paper examines the evolution of Mexico City’s governance structure. The City’s latest transition to a city-state, the paper argues, marks a particularly important step forward in the City’s pursuit of greater political autonomy and democratic decision-making.
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IMFG Paper | 2019
The Role of Business Improvement Areas and Neighbourhood Associations in the City of Toronto
Alexandra Flynn
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.
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Presentation | 2019
Consulting in the Smart City: Lessons from Sidewalk Toronto
Kate Nelischer
Using findings from media and policy analysis, participant observation, and interviews, this presentation explores the Sidewalk Toronto consultation processes.
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Presentation | 2019
Steering Low-Carbon Growth in Emerging African Cities: Insights from Dar es Salaam
Chibulu Luo
This presentation by Chibulu Luo, a 2018-19 IMFG Graduate Fellow, explores three key questions: What role do African cities and municipal governments play in producing low-carbon urban growth? Which institutions or governing bodies should take the lead, and why? And what are the opportunities to scale up investments to finance sustainable technologies and infrastructure?
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IMFG Paper | 2019
The Practice of Municipal Cooperation: Australian Perspectives and Comparisons with Canada
Graham Sansom
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.
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Video | 2019
Bold Ideas, Bold Action: Next Steps for the GTHA
Municipalities 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. In this video, four of these leaders discuss their bold ideas.
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IMFG Paper | 2019
Does Local Government Autonomy Promote Fiscal Sustainability? Lessons from Illinois
Matthew Walshe
Whether institutional constraints are desirable is a debate that may alternatively be framed as one over the merits of local government autonomy. This paper contributes to this debate by empirically analysing the effects of local government autonomy on several outcomes, including the size of government, the ownsource revenue mix, and fiscal sustainability.
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Search Research Archive
Toronto Star: 13th Annual Toronto City Manager’s Address
November 25, 2025
Global Radio: Enid Slack on the Challenges Facing Municipalities
October 21, 2025
CBC Calgary: Enid Slack on How Canadian Municipalities Face Similar Fiscal Strains
October 18, 2025
