Canadian Local Government An Urban Perspective

Written by esteemed political scientist Andrew Sancton, Canadian Local Government: An Urban Perspective is a comprehensive introduction to municipal government in Canada. The text emphasizes that what happens in local government affects our lives on a daily basis just as much, if not more, than what happens at the provincial and federal levels. Addressing all of the key questions political scientists ask about political institutions, the book explores how local governments are defined, why we have them, what they do, and how power is attained and distributed within them. Drawing on years of experience in the field, Sancton examines the legal and political frameworks in which city governments operate; the structural changes associated with annexation and amalgamation; power, politics, and management in Canada's major cities; the important issue of money; and, finally, the future of local government. Current, engaging, and in-depth, this ground-up Canadian text reveals the crucial role local government plays in shaping everyday life.