Publications & Perspectives
ICC Research
This section contains materials related to the Inclusive Cities Canada research process, as well as research reports.
Policy and Practice Papers
Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - Inclusive Cities Canada (ICC) releases its fourth policy and practice paper to advance social inclusion in cities and communities across Canada. The new paper, Respect All Voices: Neighbourhood Councils as a Tool for Building Social Inclusion (208K PDF) by Glynis Maxwell as well as the previous papers by Kathryn Asher, Philip O’Hara, and Myer Siemiatcyki (below) build on the recommendations of the 2005 social inclusion audit reports and can be downloaded by clicking on the download links below.
Glynis Maxwell - Respect All Voices: Neighbourhood Councils as a Tool for Building Social Inclusion
Full Paper (208K PDF)
Glynis Maxwell is the regional coordinator of Inclusive Cities Canada - Burlington, and co-author of the report Burlington — Community Voices, Perspectives and Priorities. For the past twenty years she has worked in education and advocacy for Canadian and global social and economic justice.
Philip O’Hara - Social Inclusion Health Indicators: A Framework for Addressing the Social Determinants of Health
Full Paper (202K PDF)
Philip O’Hara is currently the Coordinator of the Alberta Healthy Living Network’s Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Project. Previously he was the research and social policy analysis coordinator for the Edmonton Social Planning Council and the regional coordinator for Inclusive Cities Canada (ICC) – Edmonton.
Drawing on the national ICC research and the results of the social inclusion inquiry in Edmonton, Mr. O’Hara’s paper explores the close link between the dimensions of social inclusion and social determinants of health. The paper suggests social inclusion health indicators for Edmonton that are based on the ICC research and our knowledge about the SDOH. Key outcomes and lead indicators will be identified for each of the ICC dimensions of social inclusion, which will point to recommendations for public policy and community practice.
Kathryn Asher - An ICC Recommendation Comes to Life: The Municipal Youth Cabinet’s Role in Inclusion
Full Paper (217K PDF)
Kathryn Asher is the coordinator of the Saint John Youth Cabinet (SJYC). Her paper presents a snapshot of Saint John and its local youth community, including challenges faced by a high poverty rate, the looming youth exodus, and local young people’s feelings of exclusion. ICC’s work on social inclusion is explored, particularly in relation to youth civic engagement, and youth (dis)engagement.
The Saint John civic panel recommended creating a youth cabinet as a way of addressing the problem of youth disengagement. The paper examines the emergent youth cabinet model, and places it in a broader context by exploring youth (dis)engagement in Canada and its effect on social inclusion. This evolution from theory to practice offers insights into improving the inclusiveness of communities for their young members. (This paper is jointly published by the Saint John Human Development Council and Inclusive Cities Canada.)
Myer Siemiatycki - The Municipal Franchise and Social Inclusion in Toronto: Policy and Practice
Full Paper (1386K PDF) | Executive Summary (339K PDF)
Dr. Myer Siemiatycki is a Professor of Politics at Ryerson University, where he is Director of the Graduate Program in Immigration and Settlement Studies. His paper addresses the question: Would extending the right to vote in civic elections – for municipal council and local school board positions – significantly advance democracy, civic participation and the prospects for more responsive public policy in Toronto?
The ICC Toronto civic panel concluded that extending the municipal franchise (right to vote) was essential to advancing democracy and belonging in the City. In particular, the report contended that in order to overcome widespread marginalization from the City’s political processes, the civic voting age should be lowered from 18 to 16, and non-Canadian permanent residents should also have the right to vote. This paper explores the link between broadened municipal voting rights and enriched experiences of civic engagement and social inclusion. It contends, perhaps contentiously, that there is no automatic carry-over from expanded voting rights to deeper civic democracy. This conclusion is drawn from an examination of current voter turnout patterns in Toronto, which reflect stark disparities in voter participation based on neighbourhood, income, immigrant and visible minority status. While the case for extending the municipal franchise is strong, there is a need to identify the conditions under which this enlargement of ‘urban citizenship’ could deliver the results its proponents wish would follow. This paper proposes therefore, that a broadened municipal franchise is a necessary – though not sufficient – condition for more equitable political inclusion. (This paper is jointly published by the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto and Inclusive Cities Canada.)
Local Social Inclusion Reports
On March 23, 2005, Inclusive Cities Canada released social inclusion audit reports in five cities – Saint John, Toronto, Burlington, Edmonton and Vancouver/North Vancouver. The reports are the work of local Civic Panels which are made up of community and municipal leaders. The local research was carried out by social planning council staff in each of the partner cities. Over 1,250 people participated in focus groups and local soundings across Canada.
While the cities differ in location and size, consistent positive themes emerged:
- The universal desire of participants to make their cities work;
- The view of diversity as an asset and the rejection of ‘gated’ communities to keep people with differences out;
- A recognition of the contribution of public institutions and services such as schools, libraries, parks and recreation to urban vibrancy;
- Seeing local governments as largely accessible and noting the willingness of local authorities to set policies addressing diversity.
On the other hand, the reports also found:
- A growing income polarization and the marginalization of vulnerable people, such as Aboriginal populations, gay, lesbian and transgendered peoples, seniors, and people with disabilities;
- In the largest centres, a racialized pattern of economic inequality;
- The absence of minorities or those from less advantaged backgrounds in local governance;
- Some entrenched practices and attitudes, and the lack of institutional strategies to translate goals into realities on the ground.
Background Paper and Project Overview, Phase 1
A 13-page background and overview paper that describes ICC and its work and situates the initiative within the larger context of social inclusion in Canada and abroad.
The Factivist is the Edmonton Social Planning Council’s newsletter. The winter 2004 issue features social inclusion and the ICC initiative. Go to www.edmspc.com/documents/factivist winter 2004.pdf