People flock to major cities to take advantage of unique experiences. In theory, most of the types of activities tourists seek out can be replicated most anywhere, but people are willing to pay a large premium and go out of their way to see a show on Broadway, or eat...
Urbanization
Craft Beer: A Tool for Urban Revitalization?
Most people don’t think of breweries as tools for economic development. In fact, the default assumption among politicians seems to be that alcohol is an unavoidable evil. However, the growth of the craft brewing industry has been a major boon to urban revitalization...
Heated Sidewalks are Worth Consideration
People laughed when Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman called in the army to help clear snow in 1999. But snow and ice present many challenges for municipal government. When snow is plowed to clear the way for vehicles, parking becomes difficult, and icy sidewalks are also...
Heated Sidewalks are an Option for Some Canadian Neighbourhoods
Snow presents many logistical challenges for Canadian cities. Street parking is difficult; snow plows exacerbate traffic congestion; excessive snow needs to be trucked out of the core; and melting snow turns streets and neighbourhoods into swamps. These challenges are...
Featured News
Weaponizing the Law
The indictment of former U.S. president Donald Trump for crimes invented by his political opponents is the most egregious example yet seen of the weaponizing of the law. The United States is now full of examples. However, in Canada, we also see the law being...
“Looking At” Seizing Control Over Western Canada’s Natural Resources
OTTAWA, REGINA - Last week, two things happened that could have profound impacts on natural resources development in Saskatchewan. One is a hint the federal government might want to take control of natural resources away from the provinces, and the other is the...
Megacity, Schmegacity – It’s Time For The Microcity!
The megacity was supposed to be more efficient and less costly, with a new arrondisement system that promised suburban-style service for everyone. But even with the best intentions, it’s just created more layers of arrondo-bureaucracy, piled atop mega-bureaucracy, piled atop blue-collar-ocracy. It’s become obvious that bigger is not more efficient. It’s slower, more bureaucratic and less friendly.
Rural Tigers Transforming Manitoba Landscape
In spite of great odds, many Canadian rural communities, like in rural Manitoba, are experiencing an economic boom and are enjoying population growth, thanks in large part to an influx of newcomers and a regional oil boom.
Internet-Savvy Families Desert Cities For Coast
With rapid communications and internet access becoming available in rural areas, many are favouring “the simple life” and are emmigrating from urban centres.
More myths bite the dust.
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Alternatives to Smart Growth
In recent times we need to ask why Smart Growth carried the day for so long
Planning
Last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court provoked widespread outrage when, by a 5-4 decision, it allowed cities to take people's land by eminent domain and give or sell the land to private developers. But few noted that the justification was "a comprehensive development...
The New Feudalism: The Future of Cities
New Feudalism is living up to its name. It is undemocratic, arbitrary and unfair to average families. It is socially divisive and it relies on unscientific folk tales for its support.
Young Winnipeggers optimistic about city’s image
Probe research conducted a survey about Winnipeg
Portland: Lost in Its Own Reflection
Few cities in North America are as widely feted as Portland. For many, Portland represents the epitome of "smart" urbanism, a paragon that puts other, less-brainy places to shame. Pilgrims travel once or twice a month from as far as California and Canada to study...