Abstract: Following the Ice Storm of 1998, the Quebec government adopted a bill on crisis management in order to improve the mitigation of risks and the level of preparation. The implementation, however, occurred only by small steps. One of the major challenges is that the most part of this implementation is under the responsibility of municipalities. This communication analyzes the evolution of the implementation of this crisis management policy through the development and calibration of its instruments (regulation, economics instruments, convention, communication, best practices and norms) through years and past crises. It is based on document analysis (parliamentary committees, press reviews, examination of estimates of expenditure) and semi-structured interviews. First, this analysis underscores the difficulty to implement a policy that normally arouses little interest in by politicians and its primarily public, that is to say municipalities. Second, it demonstrates how officials try to move this policy forwards through tools designed to foster collaboration with stakeholders.

Abstract: The “partnership” model established by the Government of Canada to address the “homeless crisis” has generally received favorable feedback and reviews at the federal level in responding to the issue of homelessness in Canada. Comprised of first, the National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) established in 1999, and then the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) in 2008, this partnership model creates a direct connection between the Government of Canada and select local governments across Canada in funding a localized response to the challenges of homelessness. Premised on local planning and resource commitments, this paper examines the challenges and limitations that have emerged from initiatives at the local level as the “partnership” has moved from “managing” the most visible aspects of homelessness to efforts at long-term solutions e.g. “housing-first” model. Based on government and media reports, Homelessness Action plans, and interviews at the community level, it is argued that mismatched goals among the partners (federal, provincial and local), unclear lines of authority, unstable funding commitments, and differences in local capacities have generated important impediments at the local level to fulfilling established plans, particularly for smaller urban centres in British Columbia.

Abstract: A patchwork of accessible transit services has emerged across Canada over the past two decades coinciding with a federal retreat in accessibility regulations in the mid to late 1990s (Baker 2005). Larger municipalities typically have more robust accessible transit services while smaller and rural communities are left struggling with limited to no accessible transit services with higher user fees (Canadian Association for the Deaf, 2014; Mercier, 2011). In the process, municipalities are left scrambling for what to do while increasingly facing legal and human rights commission challenges from citizens looking for redress (King, 2005). This paper explores these dynamics in a case study of New Brunswick’s tri-city communities of Dieppe-Moncton-Riverview. Despite being neighbours and sharing regular public transit services through Codiac Transpo, and a host of other municipal services such as water and sewer infrastructure, no similar sharing of accessible transit services has emerged. Rather each city has developed their own unique accessible transit services ranging from minimalist (Riverview) to full services (Dieppe). The evolution of each of these accessible transit services is traced to reveal the drivers for change and the challenges each currently face. It concludes with an assessment of the prospects for shared yet enhanced accessible transit services to address challenges within the context of a lack of provincial legislation and interest in this policy area.