Zack Taylor

Power and Purpose: The Quiet Evolution of Canadian Municipal Law By Zack Taylor, Craig Mutter, Joseph Lyons, and Alec Dobson Over the past four decades, the role of municipalities in Canada has evolved significantly. This paper provides an accessible and systematic overview of municipal authority and responsibilities across all ten provinces and three territories. The authors find that while the general trend has been toward more permissive authority and the recognition of municipalities as democratic and accountable governments, significant variation persists in both law and practice across - and within - provinces and territories. Read the full report: https://bit.ly/4pOu9kL Key Takeaways: 1. Provinces and territories increasingly recognize municipalities as accountable, democratic governments in law. 2. Municipal grants of authority are increasingly expansive and permissive, significantly broadening the scope of municipal action and discretion. 3. The courts have increasingly demonstrated a generous interpretation of municipalities’ permissive authority. 4. The governance landscape is becoming increasingly complex, the costs and benefits of which are unclear. 5. The trend toward municipal empowerment co-exists with provincial intervention. 6. Fiscal innovation has lagged legal innovation, increasing the risk of insufficient resources and unfunded mandates. Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities

6/ This second edition of a 2020 IMFG paper provides an accessible and systematic comparative overview of municipal authority and responsibilities across all ten provinces and three territories, concluding with key trends and suggested research agenda. bit.ly/4pOu9kL

This broadening of local legislative scope and discretion has far-reaching implications, potentially enabling municipalities to enter new policy fields while unlocking local policy innovation. - Zack Taylor, Craig Mutter, Joseph Lyons, and Alec Dobson Power and Purpose: The Quiet Evolution of Canadian Municipal Law Logos of IMFG, School of Cities, and University of Toronto

5/ While the general trend has been toward more permissive authority and the recognition of municipalities as democratic and accountable governments, significant variation persists in both law and practice across - and within - provinces and territories. bit.ly/4pOu9kL

Local governments have more authority and the capacity to exercise it than ever before, yet unilateral provincial government intervention in municipal affairs continues. - Zack Taylor, Craig Mutter, Joseph Lyons, and Alec Dobson Power and Purpose: The Quiet Evolution of Canadian Municipal Law Logos of IMFG, School of Cities, and University of Toronto

4 / Major trends in Canadian municipal law include local empowerment, provincial policy centralization, and judicial deference to local legislation. bit.ly/4pOu9kL

The question of whether the configuration of the provincial- and territorial-municipal relationship reflects contemporary values and meets current needs is perennial. Zack Taylor, Craig Mutter, Joseph Lyons, and Alec Dobson Power and Purpose: The Quiet Evolution of Canadian Municipal Law Logos of IMFG, School of Cities, and University of Toronto

3/ Defining the relationship between a province or territory and its municipalities is a central task of local government law. bit.ly/4pOu9kL

With these changes [in municipal law], Canadian municipalities became defined in law as accountable, democratic governments with broad, flexible powers and greater discretion to exercise them. Zack Taylor, Craig Mutter, Joseph Lyons, and Alec Dobson Power and Purpose: The Quiet Evolution of Canadian Municipal Law Logos of IMFG, School of Cities, and University of Toronto

2/ Provincial and territorial governments have expanded the scope of municipal legal authority through revisions to general municipal legislation and the adoption of special statutes for major cities. bit.ly/4pOu9kL

We’re proud to have produced this substantial expansion and update of our overview of municipal law in all 10 provinces and 3 territories in Canada. We draw some original and potentially contrarian conclusions. We hope this contributes to the ongoing debate about municipal authority and its limits.

I am excited to renew my association with the University of Toronto as I begin a six month visiting fellowship at the @uoftcities.bsky.social and the @imfgtoronto.bsky.social. I look forward to connecting with colleagues old and new, and getting lots of work done.

A similar agreement has been a win for Canadian researchers for some years. It will certainly have an impact on our @regstud.bsky.social journals.

It's officially out! City Politics in Canada, co-edited with @jacklucas.bsky.social and Martin Horak @westernupolisci.bsky.social is in print and available for course adoption. Thank you to all chapter authors for their contributions. bsky.app/profile/did:...

City Politics in Canada - University of Toronto Press

I'm glad it arrived! We are very happy as well! We'll be in touch with all of our chapter authors as we seek to get the word out. utppublishing.com/doi/book/10....

Hi everyone, so this is happening & I would be really glad to have you all join me in this conversation.
Academic writing is tough & publishing tougher. However there are avenues that are a middle grounds of academic publishing where all ideas are open for discussion & writing is flexible.

One of a set of articles in @upejournal.bsky.social discussing my contributions to urban studies. Endlessly grateful!

Your research deserves a spotlight. ✨ Don't wait 😀⏰!
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Yr research. 3⃣ minutes. 1⃣ slide. 🚀
Think you can explain yr thesis in 180 seconds? We know you can!
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🎃Don't let yr research ideas haunt you🕷️🧟‍♀️👾 👹 🙈—submit them #CPSA_ACSP26🧡
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The perfect chance to share yr findings w/colleagues!
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“City Politics in Canada is destined to be a classic. … this volume offers fresh, timely, and incisive observations about the evolution and future of the Canadian urban experiment that will undoubtedly inspire and provoke a new generation of urbanists.” - Jen Nelles, Oxford Brookes University

“The editors make a compelling case for placing municipalities at the centre of Canadian political science. Like the original, this book will quickly become indispensable to the field.” - Michael McGregor, Toronto Metropolitan University

“In City Politics in Canada, … contributors paint a vivid picture of how the central cities in one of the world’s most urban nations navigated a time of often dizzying change” - John Lorinc, author of The New City @johnlorinc.bsky.social

“City Politics in Canada tells a compelling story about Canadian urbanization. It is essential reading not just about Canadian city politics, but about cities in general.”
- Richardson Dilworth, Drexel University & editor, @urbanaffairsreview.bsky.social @richardsondilworth.bsky.social

“This excellent and important book is a thorough, well researched, and fully modern look at the political science of Canada’s biggest core cities. … a long-overdue update to the original that matters well beyond those who study city governments – or run them.” - David Miller, former mayor of Toronto

In this overview of political development in seven large Canadian cities, we illuminate the drivers of continuity and change in urban politics from the early 1980s to the present. Inspired by the 1983 volume (same title) edited by Andrew Sancton and the late Warren Magnusson. We have nice blurbs:

Coming in December from @uoftpress.bsky.social: City Politics in Canada: 40 Years of Continuity and Change, co-edited with Martin Horak (@westernupolisci.bsky.social) and @jacklucas.bsky.social! utppublishing.com/doi/book/10....

🎥Pulling back the curtain✨Meet the section heads who are crafting an unforgettable #CPSA_ACSP26 experience-They're ❤️beat of the conference!
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📣#CPSA_ACSP26 APPEL À PROPOSITIONS
Les politiques de division : conflit, communauté, curriculum
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Congratulations, Twan!

Warren Magnusson Festschrift — Urban Affairs Review

From Guest Editors @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social @rkeil.bsky.social, we’re delighted to announce the publication of this collection of essays celebrating the late great Warren Magnusson on our website!

www.urbanaffairsreview.com/warren-magnu...

Rachel Magnusson, Martin Horak, Ross Beveridge, Delacey Tedesco, bill carroll, Andrew Sancton, Theresa Enright, Julie-Anne Boudreau, Engin Isin, Diane Davis, Margaret Kohn

Thanks to @acuto.bsky.social @bagelwoman.bsky.social
‪@lorenking.org @shawkara.bsky.social @colinmcfarlane.bsky.social @ejmccann.bsky.social

We hope this collection will help to reintroduce Warren's work to a new generation of scholars and activists who are interested in city life and its possibilities.