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Toronto to host meeting of Canada's ten urban centres | | | | |
Mayor David Miller announced today that the mayors of Canada's ten major cities
have been invited to Toronto to plan a strategy for approaching the federal
government on funding and support for urban issues.
The meeting has been set for the evening of January 22 and all day on January
23, and it will be held at the Hotel Intercontinental, Toronto Centre. The
meeting takes place slightly more than a week ahead of the federal government's
throne speech on February 2nd. The mayors of Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary,
Regina, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax have been invited.
Mayor Miller will chair the meeting.
"Canada's largest cities understand that the wealth we produce is shared with
all the people of Canada, and that the success of the country as a whole is
linked to our success," Mayor Miller said. "However, to ensure that wealth is
actually created, we need the legal ability to manage our responsibilities, and
we need immediate action from senior levels of government on proper funding and
infrastructure."
Issues on the agenda may include public transit, affordable housing, settlement
of new immigrants and residents, and legislative changes needed to support
revenue generation and infrastructure. Compared to major urban centres in the
United States and Europe, Canada's hub cities have fewer sources of revenue,
receive less financial assistance from senior orders of government, and enjoy
less legislative autonomy.
"We are the centres of economic, social and cultural development, and we
contribute to the high quality of life enjoyed by all Canadians," said Mayor
Miller. "It is very exciting that we will be working together at this meeting
to promote a common urban agenda - one that cannot and should not be ignored by
senior levels of government."
Media contacts:
Andrea Addario,
Communications, Office of the Mayor,
416-338-7119
Kevin Sack,
Communications, City of Toronto,
416-397-5277
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