Cities
Urban Nation: Why We Need to Give Power Back to the Cities to Make Canada Strong
by ITM publisher Alan Broadbent
In a thoughtful and provocative book Alan Broadbent looks at the two major forces that have shaped Canada, urbanization and immigration, and makes a clear case for creating cities as a powerful order of government. As a longtime proponent of a more central role for Canada's cities, he argues that city-level government is the body citizens encounter most regularly and the one that most influences their lives. Yet cities are hamstrung by a lack of financial and governing clout with which to exercise any real control of their destinies. Urban Nation looks at American and European models, examines the now ubiquitous "New Deal for Cities" and shows how citizens and action groups are coming together for practical urban reform solutions. Urban Nation is an essential new book for all Canadians concerned about their cities - and their country's future.
Published by HarperCollins
Release date: April 2008
Please join Alan Broadbent for the public launch of Urban Nation on Thursday, May 8th, 7:00 p.m., at the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom in Toronto, 1214 Queen Street West. The event will be hosted by the Toronto Star's Christopher Hume, with opening remarks by Mayor David Miller.
This event is supported by Pages' This Is Not a Reading Series and HarperCollins Publishers.
Building a 21st Century City
On Wednesday, December 7th, 2005 The
Global Cities Program of the Munk Centre for International Studies at the
University of Toronto, in conjunction with Ideas That Matter, hosted a presentation
of the Final Joint Task Force Report of the Province of Ontario and the City
of Toronto on the review of the City of Toronto Act.
Click here
to download a PDF of the presentation by
Phillip Abrahams, Manager, Intergovernmental Relations, Strategic & Corporate
Policy Division, City Manager's Office, City of Toronto
Click
here to download a PDF of the Final Joint Task Force Report
Towards a New City of Toronto Act
 With
contributions by Alan Broadbent, Paul Bedford, John Cartwright, David Crombie,
Frank Cunningham, Anne Golden, Ken Greenberg, John Sewell, Enid Slack, Don Stevenson
and comments from selected civic leaders.
In late 2004 a group of interested and informed community leaders headed by
businessman and philanthropist Alan Broadbent began meeting to discuss the opportunities
and implications of a new City of Toronto Act, the legislative framework which
sets out the relationship between the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario.
This volume contains highlights of those discussions.
Published by Zephyr Press for Ideas that Matter
Release date: June 14, 2005
Number of pages: 110
Click
here to download a PDF of the publication
A New City Agenda
By John Sewell
 While Canadians have quickly recognized the importance of healthy cities in their own lives and communities, governments have lagged far behind. In A New City Agenda, journalist and former mayor, John Sewell answers the question: What would a new deal for cities look like? He articulates a new vision for Canada's largest urban regions and the implementation of required changes in social services, public education, settlement, health, housing, policing, land use and governance.
Published by Zephyr Press for Ideas that Matter
Release date: July 8, 2004
Number of pages: 110
Download PDF at www.localgovernment.ca
Avana Capital wins 2004 CIU Urban Leadership Award
 Avana Capital Corporation was honoured on May 26th, 2004 by the Canadian Urban Institute for its work in advocating a new role for Canada's largest urban regions. Alan Broadbent, CEO, Avana Capital Corporation and Mary Rowe, director of Ideas of Matter (Avana's public discourse unit). received the 'City Renewal' award for their efforts in the public realm.
"Much of our work has been aimed at trying to get provincial and federal governments to give our large cities more control of their destinies. Sometimes when governments are gridlocked in constitutional and jurisdictional stalemates, they need a jolt from outside the frame, and that is what we have been trying to do.", said Alan Broadbent.
Click here for more information on the 2004 Canadian Urban Institute awards.
An Open Letter to the Next Prime Minister of Canada
An Open Letter to the Next Prime Minister of Canada
identifies twelve action items the next Prime Minister of Canada should do to
strengthen Canada and its cities. The action plan argues that, following the
June 28th 2004 election, the prime minister will have to deal with the rapidly
declining health of Canada's largest urban regions by addressing transportation,
housing, culture, settlement of immigrants and refugees and leadership.
Ideas that Matter for the New Mayor of Toronto
This is a unique and critical time for Toronto. What happens to the City of Toronto and the surrounding region over the next three years is of utmost importance not only to the people who live, work and visit Toronto but also to the country as a whole. As Toronto goes, so goes Canada.
What is needed over the next three years is a Mayor who will be a forceful and relentless advocate of the region's interests, a Mayor who is prepared to harness ideas with strong leadership and a Mayor who is prepared to be political with other levels of government.
Ideas that Matter For the New Mayor of Toronto argues for an eight-point agenda for Toronto's new leader.
The Quarterly on Cities
Volume 3, Number 1
The New Urban Agenda
Making the Case for Urban Autonomy
A New Canada for the 21st Century
Volume 2, Number 1
C5: Historic First Meeting of Canadian Mayors with Jane Jacobs
The Urban Challenge
Defining the Problem
Next Steps
C5 at a Glance
Towards a Greater Toronto Charter
The Toronto Charter, published in 2001, developed from a broad civic
discussion involving input from academics, journalists, urban planners and
thinkers, business people and professionals, community workers, labour
unions, former municipal staff and politicians, and concerned citizens. Click here for Toronto Charter.
Toronto: Considering Self-government
paperback, $18.95
Toronto: Considering Self-Government is a collection of articles
exploring the potential for the Toronto region to gain greater control over
its future. The book includes contributions from authors Jane Jacobs, Joe
Berridge, Alan Broadbent, David Crombia, Meric Gertler, Richard Gilbert,
Michael Mendelson, David M. Nowlan, John Sewell and Enid Slack. Edit by
Mary W. Rowe and published by The Ginger Press, the book is available from
local bookstores, on-line from www.gingerpress.com or by calling
1-800-463-9937.
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