The New City

Shaped by immigration, globalization, and demographics, our hub cities demonstrate what's best about Canada: our commitment to education, tolerance, culture, and innovation. Since the early 1990s, however, troubling trends have threatened to undermine our much-envied quality of life. Large urban centres are experiencing a widening gap between rich and poor, mounting levels of violence, and sprawl-induced health and environmental damage. Well-trained immigrants struggle to find suitable jobs and decent housing, while big-city schools suffer from underfunding. Local governments lack the resources and political clout to act decisively. In "The New City", award-winning urban affairs writer John Lorinc offers a compelling vision of how to make Canada's metropolitan centres sustainable, livable, and competitive in a world dominated by powerful mega-cities. Incisive and broad-ranging, this is a timely reminder that all Canadians must confront urban issues if the country is to succeed in the tumultuous economy of the 21st century.