Canada
Wal-Mart as Engine for Local Economies?
Some Canadian communities are seeing their local economies thriving despite -- or is it because of? -- the presence of Wal-Mart.
Road Closures, Pedestrianization Key to Successful Urbanization
Chris Turner looks at successful car-free pedestrianization and bicycle planning in Copenhagen and Melbourne and wonders why Canada's sprawling, frigid cities can't adopt these ideas as well.
Canadians Reject 'Green Shift' at the Polls
Canadians went to the polls yesterday and re-elected Stephen Harper's Conservative Party -- which downplayed environmental issues -- while rejecting the "Green Shift" carbon tax plan of the Liberal Party.
Can 'Ecological Economics' Put an Accurate Price on Ecosystems?
Canada's wide open spaces and clean cities are misleading: its arable land could fit in Montana and most of its dirty manufacturing has moved to Asia. A more accurate economic model is required to account for Canadians' ecological footprint.
Canada's Tories Fail to Sway Urban Voters
The Conservative Party may have won Canada's federal election yesterday, but did so without much support from major cities. With few urban MPs in the Conservative cabinet, how will the incoming parliament deal with issues facing cities?
Urban Planners, Butt Out!
The authors of one study assert that vibrant cities can't be engineered by the application of "nuanced criteria"; however, this has very much become the paradigm of urban planning.
Tight Bond Market Hurting Canadian Infrastructure Projects
The municipal bond market is drying up, which is causing Canadian cities to rethink their budgeting for infrastructure projects.
Economic Crisis Putting Condo Projects at Risk
In the current economic situation, condo developers are finding it increasingly difficult to secure financing.
Big Boxes Heading Downtown
With growth controls making suburban properties less attractive and wealth becoming concentrated in older centres, Canada's big box retailers are looking downtown for new locations.
Carbon Tax Too Little, Too Late
With a federal election now underway in Canada, the focus should be on new, green infrastructure, not a national carbon tax, argues Tom Kent.
What Will the Future Look Like?
That's the question the Vancouver Planning Commission has been tossing around with the public for the last year or so, as they prepare a "Change Charter" for City Hall.
Railroad at the Top of the World
On Canada's arctic Baffin Island, engineers are preparing to construct the world's most northerly railway, a 143 kilometer line across permafrost to transport iron ore to Europe.
School Closures Hurting Canadian Communities
Its birth rate declining, Canada is facing an unprecedented drop in school enrollments, leading to a wave of closures.
The Smartest Cities
A recent study has named the "smartest" cities in Canada.
Canada's Missing Historic Preservation Program
Despite a large amount of historic amenities, Canada has no countrywide programs for preserving the nation's built heritage. Many say one is long overdue.
Canada Looks to Boost Security on Mass Transit After Slaying
In the aftermath of a grisly and unprovoked murder on a Greyhound Bus, Transport Canada and municipalities are looking at how to improve security on buses and trains.
Infrastructure is a Hot Commodity
A surge in demand from China and India -- as well as economic troubles domestically -- are leading to an epidemic of infrastructure and scrap theft in Canada.
Big Business and Small Cities Team Up for Bike Sharing
Residents of small and mid-sized cities in the US and Canada are getting an introduction to bike-sharing thanks to large local companies.
Happy Birthday, Quebec City!
While Americans celebrate the birth of their country, Canadians are celebrating the 400th anniversary of Quebec City, the first permanent settlement in New France. David Hackett Fischer reflects on the city's history and importance.
Of Cyclepaths and Psychopaths
Cyclists Bill Reynolds muses on the freedom offered by the bicycle -- and the tragic tendency for cyclists to fall victim to automobiles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
