Planning for our shared future: OurWinnipeg & Complete Communities

Context

OurWinnipeg uses a framework of six sustainable development goals:

• Leadership and Good Governance
• Environmental Resilience
• Economic Prosperity
• Good Health and Well-Being
• Social Equity
• City Building

Part of making progress on these goals means understanding the barriers that communities face so the City can work together with community partners to respond to them. OurWinnipeg policy doesn’t tell us exactly how to achieve the goals, but outlines ways to think about issues in an equitable way.

(For a summary of policy intentions please see the policy index in the draft OurWinnipeg document).

There are barriers to social, economic and political participation that limit the community’s ability to achieve OurWinnipeg’s sustainability goals. Winnipeggers experience life differently depending on factors such as:

• how much money they have;
• how healthy they are;
• opportunities for education and employment;
• where they live (e.g. housing or neighbourhood characteristics); 
• their identity and the colour of their skin.

Municipal and societal systems impact access, affordability and availability of goods, services, safety and opportunity. This is an important element of the draft OurWinnipeg document that deserves discussion. It proposes that the needs of systemically disadvantaged groups (i.e. under-represented, under-served, and/or vulnerable members of the community) are prioritized to remove the barriers to participation, achieve equity, and leave no one behind. The image below is provided to enhance understanding of the difference between Equity and Equality:

Source: http://agentsofgood.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Equality-vs-Equity-Illustration3.jpg 

The City has considerable influence over the achievement of sustainable development goals for the community through its decision-making authority, policy direction, and resources at its disposal. Key areas of influence include:

• allocation of municipal budgets (e.g. revenue generator, priority setting, capital and operating, grant provider);
• policy creation, regulation and enforcement (e.g. planning and land use, building construction);
• service delivery (e.g. water, solid waste, transportation, emergency services, libraries, recreation);
• public asset and infrastructure investor, owner, manager, and operator;
• economic development facilitator;
• major employer and purchaser of goods and services, owner and manager of assets;
• public and employee education provider (e.g. training, reconciliation, engagement); and,
• public safety.

Discussion:

We want to start a conversation about potential priority actions by the City that use its areas of influence above to: 

• address the barriers to participation identified above;
• respond to the most pressing community needs;
• provide the greatest positive impact on the desired and interconnected goal outcomes and related trade-offs; and,
• accomplish priority actions by using existing levels of taxation and resources differently

Question:

What priority actions would you propose for the City based on the information above?

For reference: 

• OurWinnipeg 'At-A-Glance'
• Goal 1-Pagers
• OurWinnipeg – Draft Plan

The Complete Communities direction strategy (CCDS) defines 'complete' communities as places that both offer and support a variety of lifestyle choices, providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to live, work, shop, learn and play in close proximity to one another. 

We know that every community is unique, with different strengths and challenges. Reflecting on the community that is currently home for you:

• Do you feel your community is 'complete?' 
• If so, what makes it that way?
• If not, what is missing?

Please share your thoughts and comment on others below.