Who Does What Series

Canadian municipalities play increasingly important roles in addressing the policy challenges that are at the centre of political debate, including addressing climate change, increasing housing affordability, reforming policing, and confronting public health crises. The growing prominence of municipalities, however, has also led to overlapping responsibilities with provinces and the federal government. Such “entanglement” between orders of government has the potential to result in poor coordination and opaque accountability. At the same time, combining the strengths and capabilities of different orders of government – whether in setting policy, convening, funding, or delivering services – can sometimes lead to more effective action.

The Who Does What series gathers academics and practitioners to examine the role municipalities should play in key policy areas, the reforms required to ensure municipalities can deliver on their responsibilities, and the collaboration required among governments to meet the country’s challenges.

Produced by the Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance and Urban Policy Lab

Editors: Gabriel Eidelman, Kass Forman, Tomas Hachard, and Enid Slack

About the Urban Policy Lab

The Urban Policy Lab is the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy’s training ground for urban policy professionals, offering students career development and experiential learning opportunities through graduate fellowships, skills workshops, networking and mentorship programs, and collaborative research and civic education projects.

Media Mentions

Toronto Star, June 6, 2023 - Transportation
Novae Res Urbis, September 21, 2022 - Climate Change
Municipal World, July 2022 - Housing
Municipal World, July 6, 2022 - Economic Development
Kelowna 1150 AM, April 11, 2022 - Housing
Vancouver Sun, April 5, 2022 - Housing
Canadian Press, April 5, 2022 - Housing