The information on the website was created for the 2021 Massey Cities Summit, a global conference on the constitutional status of cities. While the information is not current and will not be updated, we wanted you to have access to the archive of blog posts, podcasts, articles, videos, and other information.
Making the case for constitutional power for Canadian cities
When we think of Canadian cities, we might picture the places where we live, work, and gather—a straightforward concept at first glance. But from a constitutional standpoint, cities in Canada occupy a challenging position, often compared to the “middle child” in the family.
Constitutional Space for Cities
Charting a New Path: Does Toronto Need More Autonomy?
Across Canada, and particularly in Toronto, calls for increased municipal autonomy and the protection of municipal authority in the Canadian constitution have been getting louder. Does Toronto need a constitutionally entrenched city charter? Has COVID-19 revealed the limits of municipal powers and financial resources?
Power and Purpose: Canadian Municipal Law in Transition
Taylor and Dobson’s overview of municipal law in Canada’s 10 provinces identifies similarities and variations among and within provinces in the articulation of municipal purposes and the provincial-municipal relationship, municipal powers and jurisdiction, the organization of municipal institutions, and finance.
It Takes Three: Making Space for Cities in Canadian Federalism
The COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it has produced have highlighted pre-existing cracks in Canada’s federal structure, particularly in relation to Canada’s cities. Tomas Hachard explores the four major challenges cities face during the pandemic.
Constitutions and the Metropolis
Extensive urbanization and the consequent rise of megacities are among the most significant demographic phenomena of our time. Our constitutional institutions and constitutional imagination, however, have not even begun to catch up with the new reality. Ran Hirschl addresses the four dimensions of the great constitutional silence concerning the metropolis.
Thank you to all attendees, panellists, and moderators for helping to make this conference a success.
City in Sight Podcast Series: Episode 3
Indigenous Cities
The Indigenous population in urban areas is growing fast. What are cities doing to provide for these populations, to build cities that reflect these communities, and to address the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission? Would greater autonomy for cities help achieve these goals? To find out, we speak to three Canadian mayors.
Mayor Rebecca Alty, Yellowknife
Mayor Brian Bowman, Winnipeg
Mayor Charlie Clarke, Saskatoon