Guidelines for Federal Policy Priorities in Urban Areas

A. Introduction

This report presents a number of policy guidelines as a basis for reviewing federal policy priorities in urban areas with a particular focus on Winnipeg. It combines research undertaken during past months and the views expressed at a roundtable on federal policy priorities in the Winnipeg area hosted by the Institute of Urban Studies of the University of Winnipeg. Western Economic Diversification Canada has commissioned this report as a way to promote dialogue on federal urban policy and more specifically, its future focus in Winnipeg.

As background, the paper presents a profile of Winnipeg as an urban community in the context of the North American economy and outlines a number of the themes found in the current literature on North American cities. It also provides a brief overview of the federal role in relation to urban areas in Canada and the United States.

At the outset, it is important to note that there are a number of significant economic, social and demographic forces working to shape the future of Winnipeg. Globalization, advances in technology, the continued integration of North American markets fostered by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and a shift to information and knowledge-based industries are among the key economic forces affecting Winnipeg's economy and indeed the Canadian economy as a whole.

Social and demographic factors will also have an important impact on Winnipeg's future. Over half of Manitoba's population lives in Winnipeg. The city's Aboriginal population is growing, yet the Aboriginal community's participation in the workforce is relatively low. The population of Winnipeg is aging and many young people are leaving to seek employment elsewhere. The city is also facing a shortage of professionals and skilled workers.

Like other Canadian cities, Winnipeg has benefited from the economic resurgence of the past few years. New businesses have been created. There is a renewed interest in the central business district. The cultural and arts communities are thriving. But Winnipeg, like other cities, must address the challenges posed by the diverse forces affecting its future. Meeting these challenges, improving the quality of urban life and ensuring that the city can sustain and enhance prosperity by competing effectively in the national and global economies will frame many elements of the urban policy agenda in the years ahead.

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