Balancing Needs at the Regional Level
If there was one takeaway from this week it would definitely be that there is no single best strategy for governing at the regional level. I really enjoyed the assigned readings this week because they delved into a lot of issues I’ve found myself thinking about throughout my time at Munk. We often talk about how Canada is an urbanized or urbanizing country, focusing on issues specific to cities and how to support dense population areas. Many of us in this class have reflected on our experiences growing up in suburban or more rural areas on the outskirts of cities. As the readings pointed out this week, in Canada’s major metropolitan areas the portion of residents living in suburban areas is upwards of 80%. This begs the question, how do regional governments balance the needs of those living in urban centres with those in suburbs at the peripheries?
Undoubtedly, big city issues like public transit, affordable housing, and climate change are top priority issues that should dominate municipal agendas. But take for example the region of Peel, which includes big cities like Mississauga but also small towns like Caledon. How can regional governments make sure they are giving adequate attention to smaller town issues, like transit equity and economic development, when many citizens and councillors alike may consider the needs of supporting Mississauga as a central economic contributor a higher priority? I think it is imperative that regional governments encompassing transit and auto-suburbs focus more attention on these developing areas, especially from an economic and climate change perspective.
With such high proportions of the population living in areas where cars are the only option for transport or where there is a lack of local businesses and commercial centers, regional governments will be hard-pressed to promote sustainable living or support job growth if their attentions are consistently directed at urban cores. On the one hand, expanding transit and commercial business into the suburbs might seem to defeat the purpose of suburban neighbourhoods, where residents often move to separate themselves from the busyness of city life. On the other hand, failing to do so creates the risk of making inequalities in suburban and rural areas worse for low-income families who cannot afford to live in cities near amenities.
However, this is why I think regional governments are really valuable; specifically because they link resources between urban centres and more rural areas. While the biggest cities in our nation are well-suited to operate under single-tier municipalities, I think regional governments may become more and more necessary as areas across our country continue to develop unevenly. Regional governance could very well be the key to ensuring our rural communities don’t get left behind.
