Affordable housing is primarily the responsibility of the provincial government, and municipal planners are restricted by the Municipal Government Act, but municipalities still have many tools they can and should use to improve affordability and safety, prioritizing the basic needs of all residents. [...] This option is the most expensive for the municipality in infrastructure costs, to the residents both in terms of taxes and vehicle operation costs and to the environment, while doing nothing to improve our quality of life, productivity or social cohesion. [...] Recently, Cape Breton University secured provincial funding to study the use of current and unused rail corridors for a light rail system to connect the major communities in CBRM with a realigned bus service to feed the rail stations. [...] This includes developing and funding community and municipal plans that strengthen the food system; building on municipal assets like libraries, community centers and transit systems to promote food access and literacy; providing support for urban agriculture; and adopting healthy and sustainable procurement practices and waste recovery initiatives. [...] It allows you to advocate for positive change, engage with residents and contribute to the growth and development of your area, all of which make a tangible impact on the lives of those around you.
Authors
- Pages
- 23
- Published in
- Canada
Table of Contents
- Environment and CBRM 2
- Introduction to the Ecology Action Centre and team of local experts 2
- How to use this toolkit 3
- Election issues in this guide 3
- Affordable living and housing 4
- Affordable living and housing 5
- Questions to ask 5
- Transit and active transportation 6
- Transit and active transportation 7
- Transit and active transportation 8
- Questions to ask 8
- Transit and active transportation 9
- Questions to ask 9
- Protecting green space 10
- Protecting green space 11
- Questions to ask 11
- Coastal protection 12
- Coastal protection 13
- Questions to ask 13
- Action on climate 14
- Action on climate 15
- Questions to ask 15
- Action on climate 16
- Questions to ask 16
- Energy poverty 17
- Energy poverty 18
- Questions to ask 18
- Community food security 19
- Community food security 20
- Questions to ask 20
- Additional resources 21
- Sample email from a citizen 21
- Sample email from a community organization 21
- Additional resources 22
- Voter information 22
- Thinking about running 22
- Additional resources 23
- Get in touch 23
- Thank you to our local partner organizations that contributed to this CBRM document. To learn more please visit the links below 23
- ACAP Cape Breton 23
- Cape Breton Climate Change Task Force 23
- Cape Breton University 23
- Island Food Network 23
- New Dawn Enterprises 23
- Velo Cape Breton 23
