All Public Policy is Urban Policy: Reflection
A reflection on the course, and more importantly; Urban Policy.
I can confidently say that I did not know what urban policy meant going into this course. I initially thought that municipal governments were the only bodies to engage in urban policy; obviously, I was wrong.
Urban policy intersects with federal and provincial governments, non-for-profits, community organizations, and more. Federal and provincial governments play an essential role in supporting municipalities to design and develop urban policy as it applies to community needs. All three levels of government — federal, provincial, municipal — engage in urban policy daily, whether in the form of providing funding mechanisms, overseeing governance practices, or designing the policies themselves. This illustrates what we all know now: all public policy is urban policy.
Community organizations also play an instrumental role in urban policy development. For example, United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) is an organization that conducts research to understand the community landscape and the needs of residents. They collaborate with 280 other local agencies, such as Homes First Society and JobStart, to provide financial support for local services and programs. In order to support local agencies, United Way Greater Toronto engages in philanthropic work and partnerships with other levels of government to provide direct funding in the community. Their research creates a pathway of understanding the most pressing issues in communities that require immediate attention. Through their collaborative work, it is evident that everyone makes urban policy happen; residents, volunteers, governments, businesses, organizations, and institutions.
Our collaboration with United Way Greater Toronto has been an enlightening experience. Their dedication to research and engagement to cater to community needs has been evident through our group presentations. The research being done by the organization, and other community organizations, has the potential to influence urban policy greatly. The direct and indirect local programs and services that we use daily are the products of local engagement and research. In reflection of this course and the partnership with United Way Greater Toronto, it is clear that everything and everyone involved in urban policy is interconnected.
While I am still no urban policy expert, I am grateful to have gained an in-depth understanding of urban policy and governance. Now, I can confidently say that I would not have had the knowledge or interest in urban policy that I have now if it were not for this course. Being able to meet and speak with representatives from municipal, provincial, and federal governments and community organizations has made me more excited to explore a career in urban policy.
I still have questions about urban policy and governance, but that is for me to continue exploring.
