Toronto Waterfront Redevelopment Agency Needs Teeth

Every successful example of urban waterfront redevelopment around the world has required the establishment of an arms-length agency with sufficient powers to get the job done backed by considerable financial support from senior levels of government. Four years after it was incorporated, Toronto's waterfront redevelopment agency still does not have any direct control over the city's waterfront lands. Meanwhile, a handful of other government agencies that do control the lands seem to be working at cross-purposes. Christopher Hume argues that this needs to change soon, and hopes that the provincial government's upcoming governance review will bring about the required changes.