Inclusive Cities Canada

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Inclusive Cities Canada

• A Cross-Canada Civic Initiative

www.inclusivecities.ca
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Background

• Collaborative work in 2002 between the Federation
  of Canadian Municipalities (social infrastructure
  committee) and the Laidlaw Foundation
• Research paper and an Ottawa symposium
• ICC launched in 2003 with multi-year funding from
  Social Development Canada and start-up funds from
  the Laidlaw Foundation

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Social Planning Partners

• Social Planning and Research Council of BC
• Edmonton Social Planning Council
• Community Development Halton
• Community Social Planning Council of Toronto and
• Saint John Human Development Council

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Who is involved?

• National steering committee, co-chaired by a
  municipal and a community leader, provides
  strategic leadership
• Civic Panel, co-chaired by a community leader and
  municipal politician (either a mayor or city
  councillor) provides local direction
• Staffing provided by a national coordinator,
  research consultants and regional coordinators in
  each city

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Goals

• To enhance social inclusion in cities and
  communities across Canada by
• Promoting social inclusion as key to the
  development of a Canadian urban strategy for
  cities and communities
• Supporting civic capacity to build inclusive
  communities so that all people can participate as
  valued and contributing members
• Securing a stronger voice for civic communities
  in national social policy
• To ensure that community voices of diversity are
  recognized as core Canadian ones

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Overview of Project

• Stage 2 Validating Findings with
  Additional Research

• Stage 1 Organizing and Conducting Community
  Focus Groups
• Stage 2 Validating Findings with Additional
  Research
• Stage 3 Reporting to Civic Officials and the
  Public
• Stage 4 National Symposium Fall, 2005

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Research Methodology and Focus

• Each city conducted between 10-12 community focus
  groups, local soundings with specific
  populations, and feedback sessions
• Between 1,000 and 1,250 people participated
  across Canada
• Common areas were explored under each dimension

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5 Dimensions of Social Inclusion

• RECOGNITION OF DIVERSITY - How well do public
  institutions, such as local government, the
  police and justice system, and public education,
  provide valued recognition and respond to diverse
  groups in the population?
• OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - What
  opportunities exist for children and youth to
  develop their talents, skills and capacities to
  contribute to the community?
• QUALITIES OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - What are cities
  and communities doing to promote active
  participation in local government, community
  organizations and civic life?
• COHESIVENESS OF LIVING CONDITIONS - Are there
  significant differences in levels of income,
  decent jobs, safe neighbourhoods, and the
  availability of affordable housing among city
  residents?
• ADEQUACY OF COMMUNITY SERVICES How well is your
  city served by important public services such as
  health care, crisis, and transportation services?

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Inclusion Perceptions Across Cities
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Local Reports Highlights and Follow-up

• Five reports were released on March 23, 2005
  called Community Voices, Perspectives and
  Priorities
• Visit website-www.inclusivecities.ca for reports
  and media releases
• Follow up includes
• Presentations to city councils, to regional and
  national conferences, planning of a mayors summit
  on inclusive cities and communities, and
  convening civic meetings on priority areas

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Follow upcontinued

• Particular interest and action on the following
  recommendations
• Extending the municipal franchise to youth ages
  16 and to immigrants and refugees (Toronto)
• Establish a Youth Cabinet of City Council (Saint
  John)
• Establishing an inclusive Burlington Civic Panel
  to monitor and evaluate the state of social
  inclusion in Burlington. Membership includes
  City and Regional Municipality of Halton
• Establishing an Edmonton Inclusion Office

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Common Themes

• Inadequacies and disparities in living conditions
  are the biggest barrier to inclusion.
• Income and Employment
• Housing
• Spatial Polarization
• Despite stated commitment to inclusion in public
  policy and practice, the civic capacity for
  inclusion is being threatened.
• Fragile social infrastructure
• Entrenched attitudes and practices
• Low levels of civic literacy and uneven
  opportunities for civic engagement
• Lack of strategies to translate goals into
  realities

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Next Steps

• Cross-Canada Report Building the New Canada
  The Civic Challenge of Social Inclusion
  released at National Symposium in Ottawa on
  November 27 and 28, 2005.

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Objectives and Focus of Cross-Canada Report

• To report the major issues and priority
  recommendations from the local reports
• To frame a discussion on a 5-year plan for
  government and community action to build
  inclusive cities and communities

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Four Priority areas where recommendations will be
made

• Making civic democracy work
• Cities are the first order of governance
• Affirming urban diversity
• Diversity is a major social, economic, and
  cultural asset
• Reducing disparities in living conditions
• Disparities in income, employment, and housing
  threaten the social cohesion of our communities
  and impede the capacities of cities to create
  inclusive environments for all residents.
• Investing in local communities
• A strong network of public institutions and
  community services at both the local and
  city-wide levels is required.

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National Symposium

• A cross-Canada event to be held in Ottawa,
  November 27 and 28, 2005
• To release, profile, and discuss the cross-Canada
  report
• To develop action strategies for moving a policy
  agenda forward
• To introduce and support new community voices

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Program includes

• The Social Development of Canadian Cities An
  Overview
• Keynote on Urban Diversity and Citizenship
• Release and discussion of cross-Canada report
  response by political co-chairs of civic panels
• Sessions on
• Making civic democracy work
• Affirming urban diversity
• Reducing disparities in living conditions and
• Investing in local communities
• Political panel on Federal governments role in
  investing in local communities

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Inclusive Cities Canada

• A Cross-Canada Civic Initiative

www.inclusivecities.ca