Why don't the 4 biggest cities just simply become provinces?
Why don't the 4 biggest cities just simply become provinces?
Toronto Star Sat May 20/06 F5
Canada's cities, big and small, must pull together
Karen Wilkie of the Canada West Foundation writes "Increasingly, metro Canada is struggling with intergovernmental relationships both horizontally and vertically. Horizontally ... (with) surrounding municipalities. And vertically ... with other levels of government.
Cities are fighting for a seat at the table because, for too long, they have had no voice in the development of policies that directly affect their residents and the quality of their communities.
When considered individually, each one of these issues would be difficult to address. When considered collectively, the challenges are daunting, if not overwhelming.
She winds up her comments with "The first step is to pay more attention to the needs and potential of our metro areas."
Her articles was about the common funding/services problems of Canada 4 big metroplexes and the mid & mini-metro's of Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Halifax (and I'll add Ottawa/Hull, London ON ... maybe even Hamilton and Windsor ON too).
She and every other source I've read believes that 80% of Canadians live in cities and that 50% in the four biggest urban centres.
Why, if we have a 'democratic element in our governing system', does 80% of the population have a funding problem?
Further, how in the world can the local administrations in the 4 biggest voting concentrations, be having the WORST of the problems?
Why do not these 4 voting concentrations just simply become provinces?
They'd then have the income tax FROM their urban densities, to DIRECTLY fund the more intensive service need of their dense populations, without needing to wait for the money to be funneled up to Ottawa, to a department or transfer envelope, passed to the provincial Treasurer and then finally allocated to city needs/programs guided by by 'policies and priorities' attached at both senior levels.
Ontario has already laid the groundwork for Toronto - they neatly set up watershed boundaries for the New Province in their Greenbelt plan.
Let's just DO it.
Toronto Star Sat May 20/06 F5
Canada's cities, big and small, must pull together
Karen Wilkie of the Canada West Foundation writes "Increasingly, metro Canada is struggling with intergovernmental relationships both horizontally and vertically. Horizontally ... (with) surrounding municipalities. And vertically ... with other levels of government.
Cities are fighting for a seat at the table because, for too long, they have had no voice in the development of policies that directly affect their residents and the quality of their communities.
When considered individually, each one of these issues would be difficult to address. When considered collectively, the challenges are daunting, if not overwhelming.
She winds up her comments with "The first step is to pay more attention to the needs and potential of our metro areas."
Her articles was about the common funding/services problems of Canada 4 big metroplexes and the mid & mini-metro's of Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Halifax (and I'll add Ottawa/Hull, London ON ... maybe even Hamilton and Windsor ON too).
She and every other source I've read believes that 80% of Canadians live in cities and that 50% in the four biggest urban centres.
Why, if we have a 'democratic element in our governing system', does 80% of the population have a funding problem?
Further, how in the world can the local administrations in the 4 biggest voting concentrations, be having the WORST of the problems?
Why do not these 4 voting concentrations just simply become provinces?
They'd then have the income tax FROM their urban densities, to DIRECTLY fund the more intensive service need of their dense populations, without needing to wait for the money to be funneled up to Ottawa, to a department or transfer envelope, passed to the provincial Treasurer and then finally allocated to city needs/programs guided by by 'policies and priorities' attached at both senior levels.
Ontario has already laid the groundwork for Toronto - they neatly set up watershed boundaries for the New Province in their Greenbelt plan.
Let's just DO it.
posted by Walk a Kb or Two in my cassins | 6:40 pm
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