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Symposium opens national dialogue on future of Canadian cities
November 27, 2005
GATINEAU, Que, - On the eve of a federal election, Inclusive Cities Canada (ICC) brings together federal and municipal officials in partnership with national and community leaders to launch a public dialogue on the future of Canada’s cities.
“If Canada is to escape the rage that swept the streets of Paris it needs a national response to the significant social changes facing our cities”, says ICC national coordinator Christa Freiler. “Every year urban areas receive over 225,000 newcomers from every part of the world, in addition to a significant numbers of Aboriginal peoples from First Nation territories, but communities lack the resources to welcome them.”
“Social disparities between advantage and disadvantaged neighbourhoods are becoming more pronounced, with evidence of potentially dangerous racial divisions. Alienated youth with limited opportunities turn to drugs and violent crime which heightens everyone's sense of insecurity,” explained Dr. Joey Edwardh of Community Development Halton.
Under discussion at the symposium is a report addressing four areas for action by governments and communities: how to make civic democracy work; affirming urban diversity; reducing disparities in living conditions; and social infrastructure investments.
Panelists include Infrastructure Minister John Godfrey; David Christopherson, NDP critic for cities; Dr. Anne Golden, Conference Board of Canada; North Vancouver mayor, Barbara Sharp; Burlington mayor, Rob MacIssac; Edmonton councillor Janice Melnychuk, Saint John councillor Carl White and Toronto councillor Pam McConnell.
“The capacity of large and small municipalities to sustain productive, harmonious communities of social and cultural diversity is a fundamental challenge to the future of Canada,” says Councillor Melnychuk. “Meeting the challenge requires federal and provincial governments to build social infrastructures that protect our cities.”
Building a New Canada: Meeting the Civic Challenges of Social Inclusion, opens at 6:45 p.m. November 27 and 8:45 a.m. November 28 at the Holiday Inn, 2, rue Montcalm, Gatineau.
The symposium program, report and related documents are available at www.inclusivecities.ca.
For further information, contact: Christa Freiler, National Coordinator, Inclusive Cities Canada - 416 899 0699 or Kerry McCuaig 647 295 2808.