Atlantic Canada's Urban Growth Agenda - Greater Halifax Partnership

2. Scope of the National Urban Agenda
The national urban agenda has rapidly become one of the dominant public policy issues in Canada over the past 2-3
years. The September 2002 Speech from the Throne argued that, “competitive cities and healthy communities are
vital to our individual and national well-being, and to Canada’s ability to attract and retain talent and investment….
They require new partnerships, a new urban strategy and a new approach to healthy communities for the 21 st
century” (Government of Canada 2002).
It seems clear that there is a new realization that Canada’s urban areas need to be “competitive” and “healthy” in
order for Canada to have a vibrant and strong economy in the 21 st century. However, in terms of the scope of the
national urban agenda it seems that the focus is primarily on how to ‘keep’ the large urban areas competitive rather
than generating competitiveness.
According to figures published in Canada’s Urban Strategy: A Blueprint for Action 3 , Canada’s urban areas are
dominant economic engines for the country:
• Halifax accounts for 47% of Nova Scotia's GDP;
• Montreal’s Urban Community accounts for 49% of Quebec’s GDP;
• Greater Toronto and Ottawa combined account for more than half of Ontario's GDP;
• Winnipeg accounts for 67% of Manitoba’s GDP;
• Calgary and Edmonton together account for 64% of Alberta’s GDP;
• Vancouver accounts for 53% of British Columbia's GDP.
This section will review the changing role of municipalities in the 21 st century and the key issues that are driving the
emerging national urban agenda.
2.1 Historical Perspective on Municipalities
In the late 19 th century, when the provincial/municipal structures were first formally established, provincial economies
were structured completely different than they are today. Population mix at that time was strongly rural with only
about 20% of the population living in defined urban areas. Urban areas played a critical role for commerce, services
and transportation but the lion’s share of economic activity was generated in rural communities.
In the 21 st century, provincial economies across Canada have become highly urbanized (see section 3.12 below for a
more detailed review) with more than 80% of the population and the lion’s share of economic activity located in the
urban areas. However, there has been no fundamental change to the governance model since its introduction. The
City of Toronto, for example (not the CMA), has a population base similar to all of Atlantic Canada. Atlantic Canada
remains the most rural region in Canada with more than 40% of its population located in rural communities. The
format under which Canadians are governed has not adapted to this shift to urban concentration.
3 The Final Report of the Prime Minister’s Caucus Task Force on Urban Issues. November 2002.
…Atlantic Canadian Context 7