National Urban Policy: A Roadmap for Canadian Cities

Over the past 50 years, interest in a national urban policy in Canada has waxed and waned. Although the 1960s represented a high water mark in terms of creating national institutions on urban issues, efforts to develop a national urban policy languished until the early 2000s.The 21st century has seen a renewed interest internationally in national urban policies. This paper draws on the experience of countries that have explicitly pursued national urban policies to solve complex and interrelated urban challenges: the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Brazil, and France. It is unclear whether Canada will establish a similar policy or institution. If it does, however, this paper proposes three elements for a national urban policy: Collaborative governance involving cities as joint partners in deciding their fates with the provinces and federal government. Coordinating the diverse policies that affect the quality of life of Canadians living in cities. Robust policy, research, and monitoring mechanisms to identify what is working and best practices both nationally and internationally.