In 2001, the NRTEE launched a program to address the emerging importance of Canadian cities. In particular, it aimed to determine a continued and expanded role for the federal government in urban environmental issues, through the use of more effective fiscal policy.

This report is the product of research and consultation among key stakeholders including representatives from across the country, all three levels of government, the private sector and the environmental community. It proposes 11 high-priority recommendations for immediate implementation, falling under four mutually supportive themes: getting the federal house in order; supporting the use of urban transit; promoting sustainable infrastructure; and encouraging the efficient use of energy and land.

Foreword

As rapid urbanization occurs worldwide and the global economy shifts toward the clustering of knowledge-based industries and enterprises, a nation’s competitive advantage is often directly related to the performance of its cities. Furthermore, the quality of life in urban communities is becoming a prime determinant of investment decisions and, hence, the attraction of knowledge workers.

The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) established the Urban Sustainability Program to catalyze momentum toward alternative, more coherent strategies aimed at improving the quality of life in and competitiveness of Canada’s cities or urban regions. More specifically, a task force undertook a range of ground-breaking research and multistakeholder consultations in order to determine a continued and expanded role for the federal government in urban environmental issues, through the use of more effective fiscal policy.

As Chair of the NRTEE, I am pleased to present this State of the Debate report, which details the program’s findings and puts forth a small set of practical recommendations whose implementation will support improvements to the quality of life in urban communities, with an emphasis on environmental quality. The NRTEE believes that this suite of recommendations provides an opportunity for the federal government to lead the way, in partnership with its provincial and municipal counterparts, toward stronger, more sustainable cities in Canada.

Harvey L. Mead
Chair

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Summary of Recommendations

Adobe PDF Version (3.2 MB)

Glossary

1. Introduction

• Urban sustainability and urban environmental quality
• Cities and the environment
• Urban environmental quality and the economy
• Canada’s urban agenda
• The federal government and cities
• A role for fiscal policy in improving urban environmental quality
• The Round Table approach

2. The quality of the environment in Canada’s cities

3. Energy use and urban environmental quality

• Energy use for transportation
• Energy use for buildings

4. Addressing urban environmental quality— current fiscal policies

• The federal government
• Case study: the Greater Toronto Area
• A lack of synergy

5. High-priority recommendations

• Getting the federal house in order
• Supporting the use of urban transit
• Promoting sustainable infrastructure
• Encouraging the efficient use of energy and land

6. Areas for further exploration

• Additional fiscal measures
• Priority areas for further research
• A more coherent approach to urban sustainability

7. Final thoughts

To order

Environmental Quality in Canadian Cities: The Federal Role

Price: C$19.98 ($14.00 US) plus postage and tax
ISBN 1-894737-08-3

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