Canada’s Urban Strategy A Blueprint forAction FINAL REPORT Prime Minister’s Caucus Task Force on Urban Issues Chair: Judy Sgro,MP November 2002 November 19, 2002 The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear Prime Minister: The members of the Prime Minister’s Caucus Task Force on Urban Issues are pleased to present the conclusion of our deliberations on the future of Canada’s urban regions. Our final report sets the stage for implementing the recommendations for Canada’s Urban Strategy. We are delighted that the 2002 Speech from the Throne included many of our recom- mendations from the Interim Report of May 2002. We believe this final report offers an innovative blueprint for sustainable urban regions in every part of Canada. The Task Force is proud to be part of the continuing debate on Canada’s urban regions. Although this final report concludes our mandate, it is by no means the end of the pursuit for a national agenda on urban issues. Let us have the courage and the vision to take the next steps on our journey. This is an exciting opportunity for all governments and all citizens to shape the future direction of Canada. Thank you for recognizing the importance of the urban regions to Canada’s future prosperity. We trust the ideas and recommendations presented in this final report will inspire and guide our political leaders to work together to ensure the ‘Canada We Want’ is a reality for the 21st century. Sincerely, Judy Sgro, Chair ii CANADA’S URBAN STRATEGY: A BLUEPRINT FOR ACTION Prime Minister’s Caucus Judy Sgro, M.P. The Honourable Dr. Bernard Patry, M.P. York West/Ouest Tommy Banks Pierrefonds-Dollard Chair Senator (Alberta) Vice Chair Vice Chair Reg Alcock, M.P. Carole-Marie Allard, M.P. Mauril Bélanger, M.P. Winnipeg South/Sud Laval Est/East Ottawa-Vanier TASK FORCE iii Task Force on Urban Issues The Honourable Geoff Regan, M.P. Andy Savoy, M.P. Thelma Chalifoux Halifax West/Ouest Tobique-Mactaquac Senator (Alberta) Hélène Scherrer, M.P. Alan Tonks, M.P. Bryon Wilfert, M.P. Louis Hébert York South-Weston/ Oak Ridges York Sud-Weston iv CANADA’S URBAN STRATEGY: A BLUEPRINT FOR ACTION Today’s Vision for Tomorrow’s Reality he Prime Minister’s Caucus Task governments in the Canadian federa- Force on Urban Issues received tion”. [FCM letter to Task Force Tits mandate in May 2001 and members, August 2002] immediately began consulting with There is extraordinary public inter- Canadians to find ways in which “the est in our Interim Report. Since May Government of Canada can work more 2, 2002, our web site has had 12000 collaboratively, within our federal visits and more than 5300 copies of jurisdiction, to strengthen the quality of the report have been downloaded. We life in our large urban centres”. [Press have also received written submis- Release, May 2001] In May 2002, sions and requests for information The Task Force released its Interim from all sectors and all regions. Report, Canada’s Urban Strategy: The Government of Canada A Vision for the 21st Century. This responded to the debate on urban Final Report concludes our mandate. issues on several levels. Within the It marks a new phase in the debate on Privy Council Office, an internal Task the future of Canada’s urban regions. Force on Urban Communities was Our objective was to recommend established to develop a profile of the ways in which the Government of federal presence in urban centres, Canada can work more effectively research into best practices and to within our jurisdiction to enhance the explore ways of integrating federal relationship with our urban partners. programs. Every federal department is It was not within our mandate nor preparing a Sustainable Development within our means to determine a fiscal Strategy and Environment Canada accounting of the recommendations has created a “sustainable develop- contained in either report. Others will ment lens”. As well, Industry Canada decide the financial implications of created a Sustainable Cities Initiative our recommendations. to advance this agenda in Johan- The response to the Interim Report nesburg and beyond. A Sustainable has been overwhelmingly favourable Development Coordinating Committee and positive. We received widespread was established comprising Deputy support from both public and private Ministers from departments that are sectors in response to the direction of responsible for programs related to our recommendations. The Federation sustainable development. of Canadian Municipalities called it “a Provincial and municipal govern- compelling analysis of the urban ment initiatives, such as ‘Smart condition and of the role of municipal Growth’, support the concept that TODAY’S VISION FOR TOMORROW’S REALITY v Canada’s urban regions are part of a summits, and symposiums. Members broader system that integrates many of the Task Force are regularly invited components. to attend as participants and guest During the second phase of our speakers. mandate, members of the Task Force Much has been written about the continued to visit major urban state of Canada’s cities and the effects centres, to meet with provincial minis- of urbanization on the lives of ters, civic officials, urban experts, and Canadians. According to the business and community leaders. Conference Board of Canada, “cities The Government of Canada listened are at the centre of our new economy, and acted on the Interim Report. We the cradle of innovation, and the venue are pleased the 2002 Speech from the for wealth creation” [Anne Golden Throne recognized that “healthy presentation, “Cities and communities and competitive cities are Globalization: Communities in a vital to our individual and national Changing World”, 71st Annual well-being”. The Throne Speech also Couchiching Conference: August included many of our central recom- 2002]. Clearly, there is wide recogni- mendations including the development tion that urban regions have become of a national urban strategy. This is a more relevant and more important clear signal that the Government of within the Canadian federation. Canada is committed to this impor- At the same time, municipal tant and essential agenda. governments face enormous chal- Since the Task Force was created in lenges. There is pressure on all May 2001, there has been tremendous governments to meet their obligations. national interest in urban issues. It is Canada West Foundation refers to one of the ‘hottest’ topics among “cities at the crossroads” [Canada West federal, provincial and municipal Foundation, Discussion Paper August governments. Media, economists, 2002]. We agree with the assessment social scientists, and business leaders that if we do not act now, the oppor- all talk about the growing importance tunity for change will be lost. The of urban regions to Canada’s options for action being debated range economic prosperity and the subse- from restructuring the constitution to quent socio-economic and environ- provide more autonomy for cities to mental effects. developing new means and new fiscal Several important non-government tools to serve municipalities. organizations such as the Conference At the core of the debate is the rela- Board of Canada, Federation of tionship between and among federal, Canadian Municipalities, Canadian provincial and municipal governments Policy Research Networks, Canada and how to develop opportunities to West Foundation, Organisation for strengthen these partnerships. The Economic Co-operation and significant presence of the Government Development, and the National of Canada in urban regions is a major Roundtable on the Environment and factor in this equation and key to its the Economy, held conferences, success. The Organisation for vi CANADA’S URBAN STRATEGY: A BLUEPRINT FOR ACTION Economic Co-operation and economic growth and social capital Development endorses this concept: that will ensure a successful and “Currently, there is a new rationale for prosperous Canada. more federal involvement, not to repro- In this report, we present a blue- duce centralised management but print for action that will provide through negotiated planning with mechanisms for the Government of formal institutional mechanisms Canada to implement Canada’s concerning area-based partnerships Urban Strategy. This blueprint will between three levels of government” shape the future direction of our [OECD: Territorial Review of Canada, relationship with our key urban 2002]. Canada’s Urban Strategy is partners and with provincial and the Task Force’s response to this municipal governments. It refines the challenge. recommendations from the Interim The shift from a rural-based econ- Report on transit/transportation, omy to an urbanized population that housing and infrastructure and offers has seen urban centres emerge as the new tools to ensure sustainability in main engines of the nation’s economy these areas. with social and environmental conse- A new approach means reviewing quences, has led to one of the most and reorienting existing partnerships important debates of the century for while building new ones, at the same Canada and enormous challenges for time respecting our federal jurisdic- rural Canada. tion and obligations. The Task Force Canada is now one of the world’s recommends a Cabinet Minister be most urban nations. Four out of five assigned the responsibility to develop Canadians currently live in large Canada’s Urban Strategy and urban centres and there is every indi- implement an action plan to ensure cation that this trend will continue. the voices of urban regions are heard. There is widespread agreement that it Otherwise, our efforts will, at best, be is time for a new approach. fragmented and our results will be We cannot ignore the major chal- incremental. lenges facing our country; an aging This blueprint will assist political population, urbanization, growing leaders in making the right choices to cultural diversity and a widening realize Canada’s potential.