Council for Canadian Urbanism Calls for National Urban Policy

Citing urban policy initiatives as a strategic way to address multiple national priorities, the Council outlines 10 points for a national urban policy, including:

"1) A progressive and influential National Urban Policy, that recognizes the critical role of the success of cities in Canada's future.

2) A National Housing Policy that addresses the acute and growing need for affordable housing.

3) A National Transportation Policy that particularly addresses the need to expand active, cost-effective and sustainable forms of transportation, such as transit, rail, walking, and biking.

4) Effective Federal programs that will make us a world leader in combating climate change. There is a need to align the above three national policies in achieving this goal.

5) A national dialogue involving the Federal Government, Provinces and Cities on the development of new sustainable, long-term funding and legislative tools for urban resiliency and success.

6) Future Federal funding and stimulus programs focused on spending that supports urban resiliency and "smart growth"...[and a] de-prioritization of, or halt to, stimulus funding that promotes auto-dependency and urban sprawl."

Other points refer to eliminating perverse subsidies in the tax system; incentives for the construction of rental housing; reinstating the long-form census; and electoral district reform to more accurately reflect the increasingly urban character of Canada's population.