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IMFG
@imfgtoronto.bsky.social
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The Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG) focuses on the finance and governance issues faced by cities and city-regions in Canada and internationally. Located in the School of Cities at the University of Toronto. www.imfg.org
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imfgtoronto.bsky.social
Did you miss IMFG's 13th Annual Toronto City Manager's Address with Paul Johnson?

Watch the video: imfg.org/research/doc...
Man standing beside stage with two chairs and a screen with an image of Toronto's City Hall.
December 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
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Want to keep on top of all of our news, reports, and events? Join our mailing list!

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IMFG: Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance Join our mailing list to receive the latest news of IMFG's events, papers, and updates. Logos: IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
December 1, 2025 at 3:25 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
7/ Homeless encampments are a human rights crisis, and an opportunity for municipalities to catalyze change by aligning their approaches with human rights principles and investing in the conditions that make housing stability possible. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada The proliferation of homeless encampments in cities across Canada represents both a housing and a governance emergency, resulting in a human rights crisis. This paper describes the legislative context of municipal encampment governance in Canada and examines various court decisions related to encampments. The authors discuss traditional municipal responses to the crisis (including encampment removal), identify barriers to improving encampment strategies, and highlight how rights-based responses can produce outcomes that are more dignified and efficient than the status quo. By Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner Read the full report: Bit.ly Opportunities for reform: Implement a human rights framework to proactively align municipal policies and practices with human rights norms. Institutionalize human rights within local governance via independent oversight bodies or human rights impact assessments of proposed encampment responses. Pursue new intergovernmental partnerships that clarify roles, establish long-term funding, and enable coordinated planning. Shift public funds toward more effective and cost-efficient responses, such as supportive housing models. Reframe homelessness as a systemic failing rather than an individual choice to foster the political support needed to pursue long-term solutions. Partner with Indigenous governments, organizations, and service providers to develop culturally appropriate housing and shelter options. Logos: IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
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6/ While cities are often on the front lines of the crisis managing parks, bylaws, and temporary shelters, they lack the revenue tools to independently fund and implement long-term housing solutions for unhoused people. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
… by aligning municipal enforcement policies with provincial commitments to housing and health care, governments can create pathways out of encampments rather than simply displacing encampment residents. Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
5/ One of the key barriers to the adoption of human rights approaches is the persistent belief that they are inefficient, expensive, or permissive. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
In practice, many punitive encampment strategies are more expensive than rights-based alternatives due to the cost of repeated encampment evictions, legal challenges, and emergency responses. Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
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4/ The legal landscape continues to evolve, and recent court decisions have largely reinforced the limits of municipal authority to displace encampments in the absence of adequate alternatives. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
Courts have affirmed that shelter beds must be accessible, appropriate, and voluntary to meet constitutional standards. Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
3/ Although the Charter does not contain a right to housing, courts have interpreted the Charter to provide minimum legal protections for unhoused people. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
…[recent] cases have affirmed that, in the absence of accessible shelter or housing, enforcement of anti-camping bylaws can violate section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees the right to life, liberty, and security of the person. Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
2/ The regulation of homeless encampments represents one of the most complex and contested areas of municipal governance in Canada today. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
Most municipalities remain caught in a reactive cycle – torn between political pressures to clear public spaces and recognition that punitive approaches are expensive and potentially unlawful, and do not solve the problem of homelessness. Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
1/ The proliferation of homeless encampments in cities across Canada represents both a housing and a governance crisis. New IMFG report highlights how emerging human rights approaches can better address the issue. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
Cities rely on their status as property owners to assert the authority to remove unhoused residents and their belongings, often invoking trespass laws and engaging law enforcement to carry out evictions. Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
New IMFG report identifies homeless encampments as an urgent human rights crisis and highlights how adopting new encampment strategies based on human rights will achieve a more dignified and efficient public outcome.

bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner IMFG Papers on Municipal Finance and Governance No. 73, 2025
November 27, 2025 at 4:07 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
Still time to register for this afternoon's livestream of IMFG's 13th Annual Toronto City Manager's Address!

Paul Johnson will speak on "Feeding Focus and Starving Distraction: Focusing on Priorities to Deliver on Torontonians' Investment."

www.eventbrite.ca/e/livestream...
13th Annual Toronto City Manager's Address Image of a man in a suit Feeding Focus and Starving Distraction: Focusing on Priorities to Deliver on Torontonians' Investment November 18 at 4:30 pm Logos of IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
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In-person event: Maintaining and Renewing the Social Housing Stock: Canada in Comparison.

On Dec. 8, Dr. Collin Bernard will draw on international cases to examine how different systems govern and fund the maintenance and renovation of their social housing stock.

www.eventbrite.ca/e/maintainin...
Tall brown buildings line a river with trees and boats below.
November 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
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Join us for our 13th Annual Toronto City Manager's Address as
Paul Johnson speaks on "Feeding Focus and Starving Distraction: Focusing on Priorities to Deliver on Torontonians' Investment."

Nov. 18 at 4:30 at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.

www.eventbrite.ca/e/13th-annua...
13th Annual Toronto City Manager's Address Feeding Focus and Starving Distraction: Focusing on Priorities to Deliver on Torontonians' Investment November 18 at 4:30 pm Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
October 27, 2025 at 6:35 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
5/ However, growth-related gains turn out to be temporary because the corresponding rise in population ultimately puts a strain on services and leads to an increase in per capita spending. bit.ly/FiscalGains
The divergent impacts of growth and size on municipal finances, however, call into question the sustainability of this gain. Jean-Philippe Meloche Fiscal Gains from Real Estate Development: The Case of Québec Municipalities Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
October 22, 2025 at 7:10 PM
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4/ Meloche adds that growing municipalities also benefit significantly from one-time growth-related revenues such as building permits, land transfer taxes, and development charges. bit.ly/FiscalGains
... growing municipalities had additional revenues equivalent to almost 7 percent of their tax revenues, compared with non-growing municipalities. Jean-Philippe Meloche Fiscal Gains from Real Estate Development: The Case of Québec Municipalities Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
October 22, 2025 at 7:10 PM
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3/ Jean-Philippe Meloche shows that faster-growing municipalities tend to experience smaller increases or even decreases in their property tax rates, indicating a fiscal gain from development. bit.ly/FiscalGains
Québec municipalities with a population of 1,000 or more that had stronger real estate or population growth from 2008 to 2018 were also those in which tax rates increased the least (or decreased the most) over that period. Jean-Philippe Meloche Fiscal Gains from Real Estate Development: The Case of Québec Municipalities Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
October 22, 2025 at 7:10 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
2/ New IMFG paper examines the relationship between municipal growth and property taxation in Quebec to evaluate the fiscal impact of real estate development on municipalities. bit.ly/FiscalGains
Although growth generates fiscal gains for municipalities, a larger size leads to higher per-capita spending. Jean-Philippe Meloche Fiscal Gains from Real Estate Development: The Case of Québec Municipalities Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
October 22, 2025 at 7:10 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
1/ Property taxes are well suited to finance municipal infrastructure and services. But does the dependency on property taxes force municipalities to encourage real estate development as a way to improve their financial situation without having to raise taxes? bit.ly/FiscalGains
Representatives of several Québec municipalities have complained that this level of dependency on property taxes acts as a brake on the expansion of municipal services. Jean-Philippe Meloche Fiscal Gains from Real Estate Development: The Case of Québec Municipalities Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
October 22, 2025 at 7:10 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
New IMFG report evaluates the fiscal impact of real estate development on municipalities, by examining the relationship between municipal growth and property taxation in Québec.
bit.ly/FiscalGains
Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities Fiscal Gains from Real Estate Development: The Case of Québec Municipalities Jean-Philippe Meloche IMFG Papers on Municipal Finance and Governance No. 72, 2025
October 22, 2025 at 2:58 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
Join us for an in-person seminar on November 4 on Municipal Finance in Germany – Caught Between Investment Needs and Transformation Pressures, featuring Dr. Henrik Scheller.

www.eventbrite.ca/e/municipal-...
Man standing with arms crossed and windows behind him.
October 7, 2025 at 7:25 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
Latest IMFG report examines how municipalities can use innovative eco-fiscal tools, such as taxes, fees, and charges, to influence behaviour to help fight climate change.

bit.ly/4mHizah

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@enap-qc.bsky.social
Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities Eco-Fiscal Tools and Municipal Finance: Current Practices and Opportunities Jean-Philippe Meloche and Fanny Tremblay-Racicot IMFG Papers on Municipal Finance and Governance No. 71 2025
September 17, 2025 at 3:21 PM
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Don't want to miss our upcoming City Manager's Address or our latest paper?

Keep up with the latest in IMFG's papers, events, and updates by subscribing to our mailing list here.

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Large logo of IMFG (Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance) Join our mailing list to receive the latest news of IMFG's events, papers, and updates. Logos: IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
September 9, 2025 at 4:25 PM
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Jean-Philippe Meloche and Fanny Tremblay-Racicot conclude the latest IMFG paper with observations of the state of eco-fiscal tools in Canada.

bit.ly/4mHizah

@fannyrose.bsky.social @enap-qc.bsky.social
Eco-Fiscal Tools and Municipal Finance: Current Practices and Opportunities By: Jean-Philippe Meloche and Fanny Tremblay-Racicot Municipalities are playing an increasingly important role in addressing climate change through the use of eco-fiscal tools. These tools, which include taxes, fees, and charges, influence behaviour in ways that impact the environment. This paper explains the advantages of eco-fiscal tools and explores the range of such mechanisms implemented by various Canadian municipalities. The authors argue that eco-fiscal tools, such as water charges, waste collection fees, and congestion pricing, are not only a source of revenue for municipalities, but also a means to incentivize climate-efficient behaviour. Read the full report: bit.ly/4mHizah Key findings Eco-fiscal tools should be seen not just as a way to diversify sources of revenue, but as a way to achieve certain environmental objectives. Although their potential is great, information on eco-fiscal measures remains anecdotal, apart from the use of pricing for water and waste. Québec municipalities are currently the only ones in Canada to be able to impose regulatory charges aimed at changing behaviour; the use of general taxation powers for environmental purposes remains relatively uncommon outside Québec. Measures currently being studied in Québec or operating as pilot projects need to be tested before they can be scaled up, which requires innovation and major administrative and political efforts. Logos for IMFG, U of T, School of Cities
September 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
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The report argues that fiscal tools, such as water charges, waste collection fees, and congestion pricing, are not only a source of revenue for municipalities, but also a means to incentivize climate-efficient behaviour. 3/4

bit.ly/4mHizah

@fannyrose.bsky.social @enap-qc.bsky.social
Actors for whom the costs of adapting to environmental standards are too high will pay the environmental tax, while those facing lower adaptation costs will modify their behaviour to avoid the tax. This is voluntary adaptation under constraint. - Jean-Philippe Meloche, Fanny Tremblay-Racicot Eco-Fiscal Tools and Municipal Finance: Current Practices and Opportunities Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
September 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
Jean-Philippe Meloche and Fanny Tremblay-Racicot explain the advantages of eco-fiscal tools and explore the range of such mechanisms implemented by various Canadian municipalities. 2/4

bit.ly/4mHizah

@fannyrose.bsky.social @enap-qc.bsky.social
These taxes, fees, or charges correct market price signals to help internalize the social and environmental costs of individual choices, while providing financial resources to supply public goods and services. - Jean-Philippe Meloche, Fanny Tremblay-Racicot Eco-Fiscal Tools and Municipal Finance: Current Practices and Opportunities Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
September 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM