The University of Toronto’s Institute for Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG) has just released a research paper that reviews the City of Toronto’s longstanding system of community councils and takes the opportunity to ‘re-imagine’ the scope of this form of local governance. The review follows moves by the government of Ontario to strengthen the use of community councils across the province.
The IMFG paper considers the function and scope of community councils across Canada, including their theoretical underpinnings and how they fit into cities’ legal and policy framework. It notes that cities are made up of neighbourhoods that have their own histories and practices, and residents who claim a place within the city’s governance model. So one way in which large cities have reacted to this complexity of interests within their boundaries is to create governance bodies, including community councils, that operate at a smaller scale than the city level and offer a forum to capture local voices.
The paper outlines a broad range of options for strengthening the role of Toronto’s community councils, and makes three specific recommendations aimed at striking ‘the right balance between the needs of the community and the authority of City Council.’ First, to redefine what is considered to be a ‘local’ or ‘citywide’ matter, thereby allowing community councils to examine a greater range of issues. Second, to expand delegation to community councils, perhaps including some budget decisions, and thereby take more issues off the City Council’s own agenda. This would not only increase legislative efficiency, but also empower more local decision-makers. Finally, to allow residents to serve directly on community councils (currently membership is limited to ward councillors), whilst perhaps introducing a further layer of advisory resident committees.
A number of the issues discussed in the IMFG papers mirror debate about Auckland’s much newer ‘local boards’. And whilst the scale of the City of Toronto and hence its community councils far outstrips anything that might be created in Australia, much of the experience, theory and matters of principle explored in this review also resonate here.
The paper is available at: https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/imfg/research/doc/?doc_id=447
Fresh thinking about the future of local government and governance 