Global Urban Challenges, Shaping Futures

Another great day at the International Economic Forum of the Americas Toronto Global Forum.

Thank you to Councilor Shelley Carroll, ICD.D for leading this morning’s panel discussion on Global Urban Dynamics: Addressing Challenges, Shaping Futures, where I joined John Beck, Founder and Chairman of Aecon Group Inc. and Daniel Bernhard , CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship /?Institut pour la citoyenneté canadienne (ICC) , in offering my take on the challenges facing Toronto and the innovations, opportunities and economic levers our city needs to leverage in order to continue to shine on the world stage.

?

For more than a century, PortsToronto role as a city-builder and steward of the waterfront has contributed to making Toronto the global city it is today – but can we keep this status? Toronto is lagging internationally in terms of downtown economic recovery post-pandemic, and is facing crises on multiple fronts including housing, transit and affordability.

?

To meet these challenges, Toronto needs increased connectivity, tourism and the investment capital that these will bring. When I think of existing, downtown transportation infrastructure like Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport?and the marine Port of Toronto, or arts and culture hubs like Harbourfront Centre or gathering places like Exhibition Place and the Rogers Centre, it’s clear to me that Toronto already has what it takes to attract tourism, but we need to do more to ensure that people come back, and invest.

?

Jobs, housing, arts, culture, sport – these are all ingredients of a global city. When you visit a city that is truly great, you can feel those layers of complexity working together. The ingredients for success are already here, we just need to recognize them and unlock Toronto’s full potential.