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Topic:
THE CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES
Essay Instructions:
I HAVE ALSO attached THE REPORT THE WRITTER NEEDS TO USE TO WRITE THIS ESSAY.
Read the Golden + the FCM (OR TCF) reports + one other of the attached reports (in detail).
Students should use the Golden commentary + Federation of Canadian Municipalities report or the Toronto Community Foundation report, plus one other report (in detail), to identify an issue they passionately believe should be addressed by all levels of government in the next three to four years to improve the quality of life in cities. They should use the reports to base their argument about why the issue they have identified is the most important issue for cities, or a particular city. Their textbooks can be used to frame the theoretical underpinnings of their target issue, and two scholarly articles should be referenced to enrich students' arguments.
The following can also be used to help students identify a topic they think is the crucial one for cities/a particular city and to come up
with solutions:
http://www(dot)gdrc(dot)org/uem/insights.html
http://www(dot)toronto(dot)ca/listeningtotoronto/pdf/report2.pdf
http://www(dot)citiescentre(dot)utoronto(dot)ca/home_4.htm
20% Assignment 2: Report Evaluation Essay (1000-1250 words)
Assignment 2 asks you to conduct a close reading of a report (a set of reports will be posted on Blackboard for your selection e.g.
Toronto Community Foundation, “Toronto Vital Signs-2010”). Select an issue from the report that you think should be Toronto's
priority for the next three-four years, and justify your response using the textbook, and academic references. Direct your reader to best practices from other cities you think could be implemented in Toronto. What stakeholders or partnerships contribute to the
successful initiatives? Conclude your paper with suggestions or recommendations based on the report, the literature, success from
elsewhere, and feasibility or limitations based on what you know about Toronto e.g. interjurisdictional responsibility, the characteristics of Toronto's CBD, taxation and land-use.
This assignment is focused on your justification of a priority-issue, and your ability to convince your reader that it is not only an important issue, but it is an issue worthy of the sustained attention of City Council, that it has “solutions,” and that you have
considered both the opportunities and limitations of addressing the matter. For this assignment you will hand in an essay of not less than 1000 words, with at least 2 academic references, internet references as needed, and reference to both the text and the selected
report. Like the first essay you submitted, this essay must: bepersuasive; grounded in the chosen report; build from the report using outside sources; and conclude with suggestions.
GOOD LUCK!
Essay Sample Content Preview:
THE CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES
INTRODUCTION
Canada is a large state which has many municipalities or cities. The size of a municipality is determined by the size of the community or the size of population living there. The bigger the size of the community, the more issues it has in relation to development and also in terms of requiring more funds from the government. For example, the needs of small cities like Monte Jolie, Whistler and Parry sound which have a population of less than 10000 people, may be less than the needs of cities like Montreal and Toronto which have a population of over a million people. Needs also are determined by whether the city is in urban areas or in rural areas (The Strategic Counsel, 2008). Urban cities tend to be more demanding in terms of infrastructure, education, health care and other social amenities due to their large population sizes as opposed to the rural cities which may only be experiencing shortages in infrastructure.
An interview conducted in several cities of Canada reveals that the major issues or problems experienced in most of the cities include: Community safety, policing and insecurity, lack of clean water, lack of proper and adequate housing, inadequate roads and poor road maintenance and also lack of safe and convenient social amenities. All the municipalities however are in agreement that the local municipalities are insufficiently funded by the government hence cannot be able to solve these problems (The Governments major source of revenue being taxes) (Gad, 2009). The interview reveals that 30% of the population believe that the municipalities receive just over a 10% of the total government revenue from tax while 49% believe that the municipalities are allocated just below 10% of all the government revenues. This is believed to be much lower than what the municipalities need in order to curb the most pressing issues (The Strategic Counsel, 2008).
The interview also reveals that a greater percentage of the people living in different municipalities believe that the major issue facing them is infrastructure and that the municipality together with the federal government should work on it as soon as possible.
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY OF MONTREAL, TORONTO AND VANCOUVER
Infrastructure in this case refers to public transits, roads, water systems and also sewerage systems. 90% of the total population in Canada believes that infrastructure is a big issue facing almost all the cities. The big question here is whether the federal government should fund infrastructure from taxes, transfer some financial support from other provincial governments or reduce its spending on other cities and other municipalities (Freeman, 2010). From the interview, the majority feel that infrastructure should be funded by provision or transfer of funds from other states and provinces. Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto are cities which have been facing infrastructural shortcomings or issues for a long period of time.
Montreal is a big city in Canada with a population of over three million people. It is a city where tourism is the major source of revenue to the community as well as the whole state. This renders infrastructure in this area a critical and major area of concern. Roads in Montreal are well built and connected (The Strategic Counsel, 2008). However, there are problems arising on the security of tunnels, bridges and the overpasses that are across the major highways. Recently, some bridges have been collapsing though no deaths or injuries have been recorded but they are posing as a great danger to human life. The tunnels and bridges have been unsafe and are considered of imminent danger by the users. The bridges are of age since they were built approximately 40 years ago, have not been at any one time inspected and hence need immediate repairs (Gad, 2009).
There is also lack of proper access to Mirabel International Airport which is one of the most used airports in the city. The highway leading to this airport has been under construction for some time now and is facing great financial threats hence may not be finished any time soon unless the government provides funds. Train stations and railways have been completed though there lacks fast speed rails and also access to these rail stations is limited (Freeman, 2010). The Federal Government has shifted the responsibility for the infrastructure funding to the local municipality. It is however clear that these funds are not sufficient for the completion and improvement of the infrastructure in the area.
Toronto is also a city which contributes a lot to the federal government from its cultural diversities and entertainment features. It is a city with over two million people with different cultural backgrounds (The Strategic Counsel, 2008). There lacks a proper connection from the Pearson International Airport to the rail link and though it is under construction, there’s a risk of financial threats. The major infrastructural issue in Toronto is in water and sewerage systems. Communities have been protesting against local wastewater treatment plants which are not keen on how they dispose the sewers. The sewers have been posing a great health threat from pollution and the bad odor (Gad, 2009). However, as much as Toronto may be well infrastructure, experts warn that proper maintenance measures have not been put in place. The roads, railways and the airports have been in existence for over 30 years yet have never been inspected as they should be done after every four years.
The city of Vancouver has been experiencing very high projections in its population growth which was over 500000 on the 2006 census. Just like Toronto, the city has been experiencing problems in its sewerage and drainage systems. The city’s roads have been said to be deteriorating while the municipals are concentrating on the construction of pavements on the same roads (Gad, 2009). The residents are for these pavement constructions but would prefer that the municipalities solve the bigger issues first. The city has also been recording increasing accidents from its traffic congestions.
The infrastructural problems facing these three big cities have been as a result of poor management and allocation of the governments funds. The little that the municipalities get can only be used for short term basis leaving the bigger issues untouched. The government should be keen on the resourcefulness of these cities n terms of their contribution to the total revenue in the country and employ long lasting solutions to these problems. More funds and expertise should be allocated for new projects, more contributed to repairs and maintenance and also more funds allocated for inspections (The Strategic Counsel, 2008). The government should allocate more funds to the most resourceful and highly pop...
INTRODUCTION
Canada is a large state which has many municipalities or cities. The size of a municipality is determined by the size of the community or the size of population living there. The bigger the size of the community, the more issues it has in relation to development and also in terms of requiring more funds from the government. For example, the needs of small cities like Monte Jolie, Whistler and Parry sound which have a population of less than 10000 people, may be less than the needs of cities like Montreal and Toronto which have a population of over a million people. Needs also are determined by whether the city is in urban areas or in rural areas (The Strategic Counsel, 2008). Urban cities tend to be more demanding in terms of infrastructure, education, health care and other social amenities due to their large population sizes as opposed to the rural cities which may only be experiencing shortages in infrastructure.
An interview conducted in several cities of Canada reveals that the major issues or problems experienced in most of the cities include: Community safety, policing and insecurity, lack of clean water, lack of proper and adequate housing, inadequate roads and poor road maintenance and also lack of safe and convenient social amenities. All the municipalities however are in agreement that the local municipalities are insufficiently funded by the government hence cannot be able to solve these problems (The Governments major source of revenue being taxes) (Gad, 2009). The interview reveals that 30% of the population believe that the municipalities receive just over a 10% of the total government revenue from tax while 49% believe that the municipalities are allocated just below 10% of all the government revenues. This is believed to be much lower than what the municipalities need in order to curb the most pressing issues (The Strategic Counsel, 2008).
The interview also reveals that a greater percentage of the people living in different municipalities believe that the major issue facing them is infrastructure and that the municipality together with the federal government should work on it as soon as possible.
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY OF MONTREAL, TORONTO AND VANCOUVER
Infrastructure in this case refers to public transits, roads, water systems and also sewerage systems. 90% of the total population in Canada believes that infrastructure is a big issue facing almost all the cities. The big question here is whether the federal government should fund infrastructure from taxes, transfer some financial support from other provincial governments or reduce its spending on other cities and other municipalities (Freeman, 2010). From the interview, the majority feel that infrastructure should be funded by provision or transfer of funds from other states and provinces. Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto are cities which have been facing infrastructural shortcomings or issues for a long period of time.
Montreal is a big city in Canada with a population of over three million people. It is a city where tourism is the major source of revenue to the community as well as the whole state. This renders infrastructure in this area a critical and major area of concern. Roads in Montreal are well built and connected (The Strategic Counsel, 2008). However, there are problems arising on the security of tunnels, bridges and the overpasses that are across the major highways. Recently, some bridges have been collapsing though no deaths or injuries have been recorded but they are posing as a great danger to human life. The tunnels and bridges have been unsafe and are considered of imminent danger by the users. The bridges are of age since they were built approximately 40 years ago, have not been at any one time inspected and hence need immediate repairs (Gad, 2009).
There is also lack of proper access to Mirabel International Airport which is one of the most used airports in the city. The highway leading to this airport has been under construction for some time now and is facing great financial threats hence may not be finished any time soon unless the government provides funds. Train stations and railways have been completed though there lacks fast speed rails and also access to these rail stations is limited (Freeman, 2010). The Federal Government has shifted the responsibility for the infrastructure funding to the local municipality. It is however clear that these funds are not sufficient for the completion and improvement of the infrastructure in the area.
Toronto is also a city which contributes a lot to the federal government from its cultural diversities and entertainment features. It is a city with over two million people with different cultural backgrounds (The Strategic Counsel, 2008). There lacks a proper connection from the Pearson International Airport to the rail link and though it is under construction, there’s a risk of financial threats. The major infrastructural issue in Toronto is in water and sewerage systems. Communities have been protesting against local wastewater treatment plants which are not keen on how they dispose the sewers. The sewers have been posing a great health threat from pollution and the bad odor (Gad, 2009). However, as much as Toronto may be well infrastructure, experts warn that proper maintenance measures have not been put in place. The roads, railways and the airports have been in existence for over 30 years yet have never been inspected as they should be done after every four years.
The city of Vancouver has been experiencing very high projections in its population growth which was over 500000 on the 2006 census. Just like Toronto, the city has been experiencing problems in its sewerage and drainage systems. The city’s roads have been said to be deteriorating while the municipals are concentrating on the construction of pavements on the same roads (Gad, 2009). The residents are for these pavement constructions but would prefer that the municipalities solve the bigger issues first. The city has also been recording increasing accidents from its traffic congestions.
The infrastructural problems facing these three big cities have been as a result of poor management and allocation of the governments funds. The little that the municipalities get can only be used for short term basis leaving the bigger issues untouched. The government should be keen on the resourcefulness of these cities n terms of their contribution to the total revenue in the country and employ long lasting solutions to these problems. More funds and expertise should be allocated for new projects, more contributed to repairs and maintenance and also more funds allocated for inspections (The Strategic Counsel, 2008). The government should allocate more funds to the most resourceful and highly pop...
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